Checking Accounts | M&T Bank (2024)

Whether you're in person or on the go, we have checking account options to fit your lifestyle.

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With over 900 branches, we have locations near your office or home. Some of the products we offer may vary between locations. Please enter your home zipcode.

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EZChoice

No Balance Requirements
Get the essentials you need with our most popular option.

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CHECKING ACCOUNT FEATURES

  • No monthly maintenance charge{{d832*}}
  • No minimum balance requirement
  • No minimum transaction requirement

MONTHLY MAINTENANCE CHARGE

$0/month{{d832*}}

MyWay Banking from M&T®

Great for Starting Out
A checkless account without the worry of overdraft fees.{{d1081*}}Learn More>

CHECKING ACCOUNT FEATURES

  • No overdraft fees{{d1081*}}
  • Checkless account with M&T Debit Card
  • No monthly maintenance charge with just one transaction{{d832*}}

MONTHLY MAINTENANCE CHARGE

$4.95/month or$0/month{{d832*}} if requirements are meti

$0/month{{d832*}} with one or more transactions each monthly service charge cycle, such as a deposit, withdrawal or any debit payment.

MyChoice Plus

Earned Interest & ATM rebates
Enjoy ATM surcharge rebates{{d1082*}} {{d496*}} and the option to earn interest.{{d365*}}

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CHECKING ACCOUNT FEATURES

  • Interest-bearing option{{d365*}}
  • Discounted Personal Loan rates{{d835*}}
  • No fee at non-M&T ATMs{{d1083*}}

MONTHLY MAINTENANCE CHARGE

$14.95/month or$0/month{{d832*}} if requirements are met{{d496*}} i

$0/month{{d832*}} with an average daily balance of $2,500 or more per monthly service charge cycle

OR

direct deposits totaling $1,500 or more per monthly service charge cycle.

MyChoice Premium

Premium Features & Benefits
Offering the most checking account perks available at M&T Bank.

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CHECKING ACCOUNT FEATURES

  • Special Deposit Interest Rates
  • Free standard check orders{{d371*}}
  • Discounted Personal Loan rates{{d835*}}

MONTHLY MAINTENANCE CHARGE

$24.95/month or$0/month{{d832*}} if requirements are meti

$0/month{{d832*}} with an average daily balance of $7,500 or more per monthly service charge cycle

OR

combined daily average balances of $25,000 or more in eligible accounts{{d52601*}}

EZChoice

Most Popular

  • No monthly maintenance fee{{d832*}}
  • No minimum balance requirement
  • No minimum transaction requirement

MONTHLY MAINTENANCE CHARGE

$0/month{{d832*}}

CHECKING ACCOUNT FEATURES

  • Customized debit card{{d941*}}
  • Mobile Deposit{{d391*}}
  • Digital Wallet
  • M&T Online & Mobile Banking
  • M&T Alerts
  • Send Money with Zelle{{d487*}}

Learn More

Great for Starting Out

  • No overdraft fees{{d1081*}}
  • Checkless account with M&T Debit Card
  • No monthly fee with just one transaction{{d832*}}

MONTHLY MAINTENANCE CHARGE

$4.95/month or $0/month{{d832*}} if requirements are met.

With one or more transasctions each monthly service charge cycle, such as a deposit, withdrawal or any debit payment.

CHECKING ACCOUNT FEATURES

  • Customized debit card{{d941*}}
  • Mobile Deposit{{d391*}}
  • Digital Wallet
  • M&T Online & Mobile Banking
  • M&T Alerts
  • Send Money with Zelle{{d487*}}

Learn More

MyChoice Plus

Earned Interest & ATM Rebates

  • Interest-bearing option{{d365*}}
  • Discounted Personal Loan rates{{d835*}}
  • No fee at non-M&T ATMs{{d1083*}}

MONTHLY MAINTENANCE CHARGE

$14.95/month or $0/month{{d832*}} if requirements are met.

with an average daily balance of $2,500 or more per monthly service charge cycle

OR

direct deposits totaling $1,500 or more per monthly service charge cycle

CHECKING ACCOUNT FEATURES

  • Customized debit card{{d941*}}
  • Mobile Deposit{{d391*}}
  • Digital Wallet
  • M&T Online & Mobile Banking
  • M&T Alerts
  • Send Money with Zelle{{d487*}}

Learn More

MyChoice Premium

Premium Features & Benefits

  • Special Deposit Interest Rates
  • Free standard check orders{{d371*}}
  • Discounted Personal Loan rates{{d835*}}

MONTHLY MAINTENANCE CHARGE

$24.95/month or$0/month{{d832*}} if requirements are met.

with an average daily balance of $7,500 or more per monthly service charge cycle

OR

combined daily average balances of $25,000 or more in eligible accounts{{d52601*}}

CHECKING ACCOUNT FEATURES

  • Customized debit card{{d941*}}
  • Mobile Deposit{{d391*}}
  • Digital Wallet
  • M&T Online & Mobile Banking
  • M&T Alerts
  • Send Money with Zelle{{d487*}}

Learn More

Checking Accounts | M&T Bank (1)

Every checking account has something different to offer.

View the benefits and features side by side to easily choose the checking account that works best for you.

Compare Accounts

Features with every M&T Checking Account.

Designed to make managing - and spending - your money more convenient and secure.

Checking Accounts | M&T Bank (2)

Manage money with ease.

Use online bill pay,{{d685*}} mobile check deposit{{d391*}} andZelle®{{d487*}} to make payments on the go.

Checking Accounts | M&T Bank (3)

Get cash when you need it.

Visit one of 900+ branches and 2,000 ATMs to access your money.

Checking Accounts | M&T Bank (4)

Customize your debit card.

Add personality to your purchases with custom card designs at no additional fee.{{d941*}}

Checking Accounts | M&T Bank (5)

Use contactless checkout.

Tap to pay is here. Add your card to your digital wallet and pay on the go.

Security is peace of mind.

We offer features to help keep your money safe and provide coverage in case something happens.

Stay up to date with M&T Alerts

Monitor your account with real-time updates such as low balance alerts or suspicious activity notifications.{{d221*}} {{d1060*}}

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Rest assured with M&T Assurance®

Get peace of mind when making purchases with your M&T Debit Card. M&T Assurance® gives you advanced fraud prevention, detection and resolution when you use your M&T Debit card.

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Digital identity protection with AlwaysChecking.

All-in-one digital identity protection. Monitoring all your enrolled digital data, available at no additional charge with any M&T Personal Checking account.

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Digital identity protection with EZShield

All-in-one digital identity protection. Options available with any M&T personal checking account to monitor all your enrolled digital data at an additional charge as low as $1.99/mo.

Learn more

Reliability you can count on.

For more than 165 years, M&T has strived to take an active role in our communities and create long-lasting relationships built on security and stability.

Building a strong foundation.

  • As an institution, we combine the capabilities of a large bank with the care of a locally focused institution
  • Stable and consistent, demonstrating profitability over 186 consecutive quarters
  • Our deposit base is both strong and well-diversified, spanning a breadth of geographies and customers

Open a checking account in less than 10 minutes.

In person or online, get started in just a few steps.

Checking Accounts | M&T Bank (6)

Choose a checking account.

Select the checking options that matter most to you. Please know you must be 18 years or older to open any of our account options.

Checking Accounts | M&T Bank (7)

Apply online or in person.

If you need help, your local branch can offer support. Once an account has been created, you'll receive a confirmation email.

Checking Accounts | M&T Bank (8)

Start enjoying the benefits.

You'll have the option to enroll in online banking after confirming your account. Your M&T Debit/ATM card will arrive in 7-10 business days.

Open Account

Schedule An Appointment

Top questions, answered by our experts.

You must be 18 years or older and a U.S. Citizen to apply. You can open a checking account in less than 10 minutes. Select the checking options that matter most to you and decide if you'd like to apply online or in branch. You can apply online for any checking account type above on this page or schedule an appointment with your local branch for in-person support. Once a checking account has been created, you'll receive a confirmation email and will have the option to enroll in online banking.

Yes, absolutely! You can open an checking account in less than 10 minutes online. Simply compare checking account types to determine which one best aligns with your individual needs and financial goals then complete the online application by selecting an account above on this page.

​To open an individual account in your name only, you will need (1) a valid U.S. driver's license or U.S. non-driver’s ID and (2) a valid U.S. Social Security number and you must be at least 18 years of age. If you are applying for a joint account, (1) the primary applicant must be at least 18 years of age and the co-applicant must be 16 years of age or older and (2) both joint applicants must have a valid U.S. driver's license or U.S. non-driver’s ID and a valid U.S. Social Security number. You will be required to provide this information, along with a U.S mailing address. If you are not a U.S. Citizen or U.S. Resident Alien and do not have this information, you will not be able to open an account online.

After you have completed the application, a confirmation e-mail will be sent to the email address you provided during the application process. Your M&T Debit/ATM card will arrive by mail within 7-10 business days. The card must be activated by phone or M&T ATM with your PIN before using.

Overdraft protection provides coverage for your checking account when it doesn’t contain sufficient funds for a transaction. Funds are used from a linked account to prevent your checking account from being overdrawn. Learn more aboutoverdraft protection options.

No, not all checking accounts have minium balance requirements. However, you may receive additional benefits for maintaining specified average balances in your checking account, depending on the account type you choose. All checking accounts require a minimum $25 opening deposit. Compare checking accounts to better understand which one best aligns with your individual needs and goals.

Yes! Both online banking and M&T Bank's mobile banking app are great ways to help manage your accounts while on the go. You can enroll at no cost, and they come with additional beneifits and conveniences such as transaction alerts, Zelle, and Bill Pay to name a few.

Open Checking Account

Choose an account

EZChoice

Our most popular option with the essentials you need.

CHECKING ACCOUNT FEATURES

  • No monthly maintenance fee{{d832*}}
  • No minimum balance requirement
  • No minimum transaction requirement

Checking Accounts | M&T Bank (9)

MyWay Banking

Our checkless account without the worry of overdraft fees.

CHECKING ACCOUNT FEATURES

  • No overdraft fees{{d1081*}}
  • Checkless account with M&T Debit Card
  • No monthly fee with just one transaction{{d832*}}

Checking Accounts | M&T Bank (10)

MyChoice Plus

Our premier account that earns interest.

CHECKING ACCOUNT FEATURES

  • Interest-bearing option{{d365*}}
  • Discounted Personal Loan rates{{d835*}}
  • No fee at non-M&T ATMs{{d1083*}}

Checking Accounts | M&T Bank (11)

MyChoice Premium

Offering the most premium features, benefits and perks.

CHECKING ACCOUNT FEATURES

  • Special Deposit Interest Rates
  • Free standard check orders{{d371*}}
  • Discounted Personal Loan rates{{d835*}}

Checking Accounts | M&T Bank (12)

Checking Accounts  | M&T Bank (2024)

FAQs

Is a checking account enough? ›

Having at least one checking account is a good place to start, but it's possible to have multiple checking accounts at the same bank or at different banks. There are various reasons for having more than one checking account. Figuring out the right number of accounts to open depends on your financial needs and goals.

How to manage your checking account answers? ›

Monitor your account online or on your phone. Check your balance by phone or online before you withdraw cash at an ATM. Check your balance by phone or online before you write a big check or make a big payment. Sign up for transaction alerts and low-balance warnings via e-mail or text.

Why is it so important to have a checking account responses? ›

Take advantage of other free tools like online banking and bill pay, a free debit card, ATM transactions and more. Checking accounts can provide both a digital and paper trail for all transactions, allowing you to track expenses, withdrawals and deposits to the penny.

How many checking accounts is it good to have? ›

The answer depends on your financial needs. For some people, one checking account might be enough. But for others, such as those who want to designate different buckets of money for different purposes, at least two checking accounts might be in order.

How much money is too much to keep in one bank? ›

The drawback of too much in savings

(FDIC), which covers up to $250,000 per person, per account type at an FDIC-insured bank, means that your savings are protected by the federal government if your bank fails.

How much money is safe in a checking account? ›

One helpful rule of thumb is to keep one to two months' worth of spending in your checking account. If you prefer an extra safety net, consider adding 30% to that number as a buffer.

What are at least 3 tips to manage your banking account? ›

Automate your budgeting, saving, and spending with SoFi's seamless and secure mobile banking app.
  1. Know Your Account Balance. ...
  2. Download Your Bank's Mobile Banking App. ...
  3. Avoid Paying Extra Fees. ...
  4. Automate Deposits and Payments. ...
  5. Embrace Potential Earnings. ...
  6. Take Advantage of Checking Account Perks. ...
  7. Consider Consolidating.

What are 4 factors that you need to consider when choosing a checking account? ›

Before you open a checking account, consider these factors:
  • Insurance.
  • Minimum deposit requirements.
  • Fees.
  • ATM network.
  • Interest and rewards.
  • Mobile app features.

What are three reasons why people have checking accounts? ›

Why? Because putting your money in an FDIC-insured bank account can offer you financial safety, easy access to your funds, savings from check-cashing fees, and overall financial peace of mind.

What are the disadvantages of checking accounts? ›

Disadvantages are getting little to no interest on the balance of the account, account fees, no physical cash, having to remember a PIN, and not building credit. Most people and businesses would benefit from opening a checking account to manage their finances.

What are three easy mistakes that could result in extra charges to your checking account? ›

Avoid these 5 costly checking account mistakes
  • Mistake 1: Failing to maintain a checking account buffer. ...
  • Mistake 2: Not keeping an eye on checking account transactions. ...
  • Mistake 3: Failing to keep your debit card safe. ...
  • Mistake 4: Treating your checking account like a savings account.
Nov 14, 2021

Do I really need a bank account? ›

The Bottom Line. Checking accounts are fundamental financial tools that can help you manage your money, pay your bills and streamline your finances. Because banks don't check your credit score when you apply, having poor credit or being new to credit won't prevent you from getting a checking account.

How much is too much to keep in checking? ›

About two months' worth of expenses is the most to keep in a checking account. High-yield savings accounts, CDs, and investment accounts are better for money long-term.

Does it hurt to have too many checking accounts? ›

Are there drawbacks to having multiple bank accounts? The more accounts you have, the more you have to keep track of, which can complicate your finances. Depending on the number of banks you work with and the fees involved, you may have to pay a lot to keep your accounts open.

Is it safe to keep all your money in one bank? ›

Keeping all of your money at one bank can be convenient and is generally safe. However, if your account balances exceed the deposit limit that's insured by the FDIC, some of your money may not be protected if the bank fails. And if you're a fraud victim, having cash all in one place could compromise more of your money.

Is it smart to keep money in a checking account? ›

Keeping too much in your checking account could mean missing out on valuable interest and growth. About two months' worth of expenses is the most to keep in a checking account. High-yield savings accounts, CDs, and investment accounts are better for money long-term.

Is it bad to have no money in your checking account? ›

Risks of Not Having Enough Money in Your Checking Account

Banks consider a negative balance an overdraft, and they may charge fees when this happens. Enough overdrafts can also lead a bank to deny future charges from being processed. This can be bad news if there's a bill scheduled to come out of that account.

What are three disadvantages of a checking account? ›

Disadvantages are getting little to no interest on the balance of the account, account fees, no physical cash, having to remember a PIN, and not building credit. Most people and businesses would benefit from opening a checking account to manage their finances.

Should I keep more money in savings or checking? ›

For example, if you have two months' worth of expenses in your checking account and your emergency fund goal is to have six months, aim to save four months' worth of expenses in your savings account. Generally, you'll want to aim to have at least two to four months' worth of expenses in your savings account.

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