Free Checking That Pays You Back
The average bank checking account costs $144 a year in fees. ACU Affinity Free Checking costs nothing, no monthly fee, no minimum balance, and still pays 3.00% APY on your first $1,000.
Free Checking That Actually Pays You Dividends
All ACU checking accounts include free online & mobile banking, a free Visa debit card, and access to 35,000+ surcharge-free ATMs. Compare your options below.
Affinity Free Checking
Ideal for everyday banking with no fees and no minimums
- 0.75% APY on balances $1,000 to $15,000
- No minimum balance requirement
- Free mobile deposit & bill pay
- 35,000+ surcharge-free ATMs nationwide
Affinity Plus Checking
Best for active spenders who want cash back & dividends
- 10¢ cash back on debit purchases over $5
- ATM surcharge reimbursement up to $10/mo
- Cell phone & identity theft insurance
- Nationwide ATM access
Affinity Premier Checking
Best for higher balances earning tiered dividends
- Tiered rates starting at $5,000 balance
- Free box of checks annually
- Identity theft coverage included
- Requires $500+/mo direct deposit
Banking That Pays You. Not the Other Way Around.
Affinity Free Checking comes loaded with features that other banks charge extra for.
3.00% APY on Up to $1,000
Earn dividends on your everyday balance, no certificates or lockups. Your checking account works as hard as you do.*
No Monthly Fee or Minimum
No monthly maintenance fee, no minimum balance, no low-balance penalty. Carry any amount, or carry nothing, and pay nothing to keep your account. When ACU says free, we mean it.
Online & Mobile Banking
Check balances, transfer funds, pay bills, and deposit checks 24/7 from your phone or computer, all at no charge.
35,000+ Surcharge-Free ATMs
Access nearly 35,000 surcharge-free ATMs across the country through the ACU and Co-op ATM network.
Custom Visa Debit Card
Choose from ACU’s instant-issue designs, or order a personalized card with your own photo for a one-time $15 fee.
Free eStatements & Mobile Deposit
Go paperless and deposit checks from your phone, no branch visit required, no fees attached.
Dividend Rates & APY by Balance
All rates require qualification requirements to be met. Subject to change without notice.
Effective October 1, 2026 · View Full Rate & Fee Schedule
| Balance Range | Affinity Free* | Affinity Plus†† | Affinity Premier† |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0 to $999.99 | 3.00% APY | 1.00% APY | None |
| $1,000 to $4,999.99 | 0.75% APY | 1.00% APY | None |
| $5,000 to $14,999.99 | 0.50% APY | 1.00% APY | 0.25% APY |
| $15,000 to $24,999.99 | 0.50% APY | 1.00% APY | 0.50% APY |
| $25,000 to $34,999.99 | 0.50% APY | 0.01% APY | 0.75% APY |
| $35,000+ | 0.50% APY | None | Regular Share Rate |
| Monthly Fee | None | $7.00 | None |
* Affinity Free requires direct deposit of $500+/month, 10 point-of-sale transactions, $15,000 in combined ACU loans/deposits, and eStatements enrollment. If qualifications are not met, all balances earn 0.00% APY. † Affinity Premier requires direct deposit of $500+/month. †† Affinity Plus requires eStatements, 15 debit card transactions of $5+, and one ACU Online/Mobile login per month. Full rate and fee schedule →
Three Simple Steps to Open
Membership is open to Pacific Northwest residents, military members & their families, and qualifying organizations.
Check Your Eligibility
Membership is open to those who live, work, worship, or attend school in the Pacific Northwest, military members & families, AUSA members, and their relatives. See full eligibility →
Open a Share Savings
Unlock all ACU products and services by opening a Regular Share Savings account with a minimum deposit of just $25.
Select Affinity Free Checking
Choose Affinity Free Checking and start earning 3.00% APY on your everyday balance, with no monthly fee and no minimums.
“I made the best banking decision by joining ACU. I have always received excellent service, and the staff is outstanding.”
Frequently Asked Questions
With Affinity Free Checking, you automatically get these features at no charge:
- Free online and mobile banking
- Free bill pay
- Free mobile deposit
- Free eStatements
- Free ACU Visa debit card (personalized photo cards carry a one-time $15 fee)
- Free ATM withdrawals from ACU and Co-op ATM network machines
- Unlimited monthly transactions
To earn dividends each month, you must meet all of these requirements:
- Direct deposit of at least $500/month
- 10 point-of-sale debit card transactions
- $15,000 in combined ACU loans and/or deposits
- Enrollment in eStatements
The 3.00% APY applies to balances up to $1,000. Balances from $1,000.01 to $15,000 earn 0.75% APY; balances over $15,000 earn 0.50% APY. If qualifications are not met, all balances earn 0.00% APY for that month. View full rate schedule →
Affinity Free Checking has:
- No monthly maintenance fee
- No minimum balance requirement
- No low-balance fee
You can also avoid overdraft fees by linking your checking account to a Share Savings Account or Money Market Account. Other fees (such as overdraft, returned items, or wire transfers) may apply. See full fee schedule →
Many credit unions do charge monthly or minimum-balance fees for checking accounts. ACU’s Affinity Free Checking is genuinely free, no monthly service fee, no minimum opening balance, and no required minimum balance. When we say free, we mean really free.
Yes. Eligible members can open an Affinity Free Checking account online in minutes. You will first need to open a Regular Share Savings account with a $25 deposit. If you are not yet a member, you can join and open both accounts in the same application. Join & open online →
You must be an ACU member to open an Affinity FREE Checking Account. ACU membership is open to:
- Anyone who lives, works, worships, or attends school in the Pacific Northwest
- Members of the armed forces (active, retired, or reservist), civilian personnel, and their relatives
- Members of the Association of the United States Army (AUSA)
- Employees of America’s Credit Union and their relatives
Rate & Account Disclosures
* APY = Annual Percentage Yield, effective October 1, 2026. Affinity Free Checking: 3.00% APY applies to balances $0 to $1,000.00; balances $1,000.01 to $15,000.00 earn 0.75% APY; balances $15,000.01 and above earn 0.50% APY. To earn dividends you must have direct deposit of $500+/month, 10 point-of-sale debit card transactions that post and settle during the qualification cycle, $15,000 in combined ACU loans and/or deposits, and eStatements enrollment. If qualifications are not met, all balances earn 0.00% APY for that month. Limited to one Affinity Free Checking account per primary account holder. Only consumer accounts in good standing are eligible. Regular Share Savings account with a minimum deposit of $25 required to open. Rates subject to change without notice.
† APY = Annual Percentage Yield, effective October 1, 2026. Affinity Premier requires direct deposit of $500+/month. Balances $5,000 to $14,999.99 earn 0.25% APY; $15,000 to $24,999.99 earn 0.50% APY; $25,000 to $34,999.99 earn 0.75% APY; $35,000+ earn Regular Share Rate. If qualifications are not met, all balances earn 0.00% APY. Rates subject to change.
†† APY = Annual Percentage Yield, effective October 1, 2026. Affinity Plus monthly fee of $7.00 applies. To earn dividends, ATM fee reimbursement (up to $10.00/month), and 10¢ cash back on debit purchases over $5.00, you must have eStatements, 15 POS transactions of $5+ that post and settle during the monthly qualification cycle, and log into ACU Online or Mobile App at least once per month. Balances over $25,000 do not earn dividends. If qualifications are not met, all balances earn 0.00% APY.
America’s Credit Union may assess fees for deposit account services. Any changes to the Fee Schedule will be communicated in accordance with applicable law. NCUA insured. Federally chartered credit union.
Stop Paying for Checking You Could Get Free
Open Affinity Free Checking in minutes online. Paying $12 a month just to have a checking account at a big bank is $144 a year you don’t have to spend.
Become a Member