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First National Bank Freestyle Checking account review
This no-frills checking account has no monthly fee, but it’s only available in some states.
First National Bank Freestyle Checking is a basic checking account that doesn’t require a monthly fee. You can open an account with $0 at a branch, but you’ll need to deposit at least $50 to open an account online. And the bank only has branches and ATMs in eight states, with eligibility only open to residents in one of the 14 states it serves.
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$0 per month
Fee
$50
Minimum deposit to open
Details
| APY | N/A |
|---|---|
| Fee | $0 per month |
| Minimum deposit to open | $50 |
| ATMs | 800+ ATMs across Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia |
| Out-of-network ATM fee | $2.95 |
| Overdraft fee | $0 |
Review by
Michael Benninger
michael.benninger@finder.comMichael Benninger is a staff banking writer at Finder. He is a former credit analyst and longtime freelancer whose articles have been published by Intuit, Business Insider and the Los Angeles Times. Michael is passionate about all facets of personal finance and has written hundreds of articles about money management during the past decade.
Expert review
First National Bank Freestyle Checking is a no-frills checking account with no monthly fee. If you live in one of the 14 states where First National has a presence, it might make sense to open this account.But it doesn’t come with a lot of features. And while check-writing is a benefit not all First National Bank checking accounts have, it’s a common feature of most checking accounts at other banks.
Also, the Freestyle Checking account doesn’t earn any interest like other First National Bank accounts do. But it’s not much of a con as the interest you’d earn with the other accounts is only 0.01% APY. If you want to get more out of your account, look for a checking account that comes with more features. For instance, Axos Bank Rewards Checking is free, earns up to 1.25% APY and includes unlimited ATM fee reimbursements.
How do I open a First National Bank Freestyle account?
Follow these steps to open a First National Bank Freestyle Checking account.
- Select Apply now.
- Select Personal then Checking & Savings.
- Select Browse all checking accounts, then select Freestyle Checking.
- Select Add to cart, Proceed to checkout, Apply now, then Checkout.
- Add your basic information, including your full name, email address, ZIP code and phone number.
- Select Apply online, then complete the application’s Funding and Verification sections.
Eligibility
Meet these eligibility requirements to qualify for a First National Bank account.
- At least 18 years of age or younger with an adult co-applicant
- US citizen, permanent resident or nonimmigrant visa holder
- Resident of Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Massachusetts, Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia or Washington, D.C.
Required information
Provide the following information when opening an account with First National Bank.
- Full name
- Physical address
- Contact information
- Driver’s license, passport, military ID, state-issued ID or permanent resident card and visa
- Social Security number
- Mother’s maiden name
- Employment status
2 benefits of First National Bank Freestyle checking account
Similar to First National Bank‘s other checking accounts, the Freestyle account comes with online bill pay and CardGuard, which lets you restrict how and where the card is used. It also includes these features:
- No monthly fee. Some First National Bank checking accounts require you to pay a monthly fee, but this account doesn’t.
- Unlimited check writing. Not all First National Bank checking accounts support check-writing, but this account does.
4 things to look out for
First National Bank Freestyle accounts have a few drawbacks you should bear in mind before applying.- Doesn’t earn interest. Some First National Bank checking accounts like the Lifestyle, eStyle Plus, and Premierstyle checking accounts earn APY, but balances in this account don’t accrue any interest.
- $50 opening deposit. If you open the account online, you’ll need to deposit at least $50. You can avoid the minimum deposit by opening the account at a branch.
- Limited footprint. While First National Bank only branches and ATMs in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia, Virginia and Washington, D.C., you can open an account if you’re a resident in any one of the following 14 states: Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Massachusetts, Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee or Washington, D.C.
- Lack of ATMs. Compared to most other banks that have over 50,000 in-network ATMs, First National Bank only has 800+ ATMs.
First National Bank‘s ATM network and fees
First National Bank has over 800 ATMs throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia, Virginia and the District of Columbia. If you use an out-of-network ATM — either domestic or international — you’ll incur a $2.95 fee.Compare First National Bank Freestyle with other checking accounts
Use this table to compare other checking accounts based on their fees and ATM networks.
How do I deposit or withdraw my money?
Move money into and out of your Freestyle account in the following ways.
Deposit options
- Branch deposit. Deposit cash or checks at any of the eight branches.
- ATM deposit. Add cash to your account at any in-network ATMs.
- Incoming ACH transfer. Link an external bank account and receive free transfers.
- Incoming Zelle. Instantly receive money from other Zelle users.
- Incoming digital wallet transfer. Accept transfers via Apple Pay, Google Pay and other digital wallets.
- Incoming wire transfer. Receive domestic and international wire transfers.
Withdrawal options
- Branch withdrawal. Withdraw funds from your account at any of the eight branches.
- ATM withdrawal. Use your debit card to withdraw cash from ATMs.
- Outgoing ACH transfer. Send funds to a linked account at another institution.
- Zelle. Receive money in minutes from other Zelle users.
- Outgoing digital wallet transfer. Send peer-to-peer payments via Apple Pay, Google Pay and other digital wallets.
- Outgoing wire transfer. Send domestic and international wire transfers.
How to contact First National Bank customer service
If you have questions or need help with your account, you can reach a First National Bank support specialist in three ways.
- Visit any one of First National Bank‘s 340 branches throughout its eight-state footprint.
- Call 800-555-5455 on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. or on weekends from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Send a secure message to a support specialist via the bank’s website, and you’ll receive a response within 48 hours.
