SunTrust offers four main checking accounts, each with different monthly fees, minimum balances, and features
SunTrust (now Truist Financial Corporation following a 2019 merger) offers four primary checking account options: Truist One Checking, Truist Relationship Checking, Truist Interest Checking, and Truist Student Checking. Each account is designed for different banking habits and financial situations. The main differences lie in monthly maintenance fees, minimum balance requirements, interest rates, and which account perks you receive.
The account you choose affects how much you pay in fees each month and what services come included without extra charges. If you maintain a certain balance or set up direct deposit, you may avoid the monthly fee on most accounts. Understanding which account matches your actual banking pattern saves money over time.
Key Takeaways
- Truist One Checking is the basic option with a monthly fee that can be waived by maintaining a minimum balance or setting up direct deposit.
- Truist Relationship Checking charges a higher monthly fee but waives it if you maintain a larger balance or link other Truist products to your account.
- Truist Interest Checking pays interest on your balance but requires a higher minimum balance and has a higher monthly maintenance fee.
- Truist Student Checking is designed for students under 25 and typically has no monthly fee and no minimum balance requirement.
- Fee waivers depend on meeting specific conditions—direct deposit, minimum balance, or linked accounts—so verify which option works for your situation.
Truist One Checking: The standard account with basic fee waiver options
Truist One Checking is the entry-level account for most customers. It carries a monthly maintenance fee, but you can waive it by maintaining a minimum daily balance (the exact amount varies by region and changes periodically), setting up direct deposit, or maintaining a linked savings account with a minimum balance.
This account includes standard features: debit card, online banking, mobile app access, and ATM access through Truist's network. You get a certain number of free out-of-network ATM transactions per month before fees apply. There is no interest paid on the balance.
Truist Relationship Checking: For customers with multiple Truist products
Truist Relationship Checking carries a higher monthly maintenance fee than One Checking. The fee waiver typically requires either a higher minimum daily balance or linking multiple Truist products—such as a savings account, money market account, credit card, or loan—to your checking account.
This account is designed for customers who already use several Truist services or who maintain larger balances. The fee structure rewards you for consolidating your banking with Truist. Like One Checking, it does not pay interest on the balance.
Truist Interest Checking: The account that pays interest on your balance
Truist Interest Checking is the only checking account option that pays interest on your balance. However, it comes with the highest monthly maintenance fee and requires the highest minimum daily balance to avoid that fee. The interest rate paid is typically very low—often less than 0.01% annually—so the account makes sense mainly if you maintain a large balance anyway and want to avoid moving money to a separate savings account.
This account is most useful for customers who keep substantial amounts in checking and want to earn something on that money rather than earning nothing. If your balance regularly falls below the minimum, the monthly fee will outweigh any interest earned.
Truist Student Checking: No fees or minimum balance for students under 25
Truist Student Checking is designed specifically for students under age 25. It has no monthly maintenance fee and no minimum balance requirement. The account includes debit card, online banking, and mobile app access, with the same ATM network access as other Truist accounts.
This account automatically converts to a standard Truist checking account (typically One Checking) once you turn 25 or are no longer a student. At that point, the standard fee structure and waiver conditions apply. Student Checking is the simplest option if you meet the age requirement.
How to choose between these accounts based on your banking pattern
Start by asking whether you receive direct deposit. If yes, Truist One Checking with the direct deposit fee waiver is usually the lowest-cost option. If you do not receive direct deposit, check whether you can maintain the minimum balance required to waive the fee—this varies by location, so contact Truist or check your local branch for the current amount.
If you use multiple Truist products (savings account, credit card, loan), Truist Relationship Checking may cost less overall because the fee waiver applies when you link those accounts. If you keep a very large balance in checking and want to earn interest, Truist Interest Checking might make sense, though the interest earned is typically minimal.
If you are a student under 25, Student Checking eliminates the fee question entirely and is the obvious choice until you graduate or turn 25.
Fee amounts and minimum balances vary by location and change over time
Truist operates across multiple states, and monthly maintenance fees, minimum balance requirements, and interest rates can differ by region. The specific dollar amounts and thresholds are not uniform nationwide. Additionally, Truist periodically updates its fee structure, so the amounts you see today may not be the same six months from now.
Before opening an account or choosing between options, contact your local Truist branch or visit Truist.com to confirm the current fees, minimum balances, and fee waiver conditions for your area. This ensures you have accurate information for your decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I switch from one Truist checking account to another after I open it?
Yes, you can convert between Truist checking accounts. Contact your branch or call customer service to request a conversion. There is typically no fee to switch, though the new account's fee structure and minimum balance requirements take effect immediately.
What happens to my Student Checking account when I turn 25?
Your account automatically converts to Truist One Checking (or another standard account, depending on Truist's current offerings). The monthly fee and minimum balance requirements of the new account apply from that point forward. Truist will notify you before the conversion occurs.
Do any of these accounts have overdraft protection?
Truist offers overdraft protection as an optional service on all checking accounts, typically by linking a savings account or credit line. Overdraft fees and protection terms vary, so review Truist's current overdraft policy or ask your branch about the options available to you.
Is there a difference in debit card benefits between these accounts?
All four checking accounts come with a debit card and access to Truist's ATM network. The main differences are in fee waivers, minimum balances, and interest—not in the debit card itself or its rewards or protections.
Can I avoid monthly fees on any of these accounts without direct deposit?
Yes. On One Checking and Relationship Checking, you can waive the fee by maintaining the required minimum daily balance or, for Relationship Checking, by linking other Truist products. Student Checking has no monthly fee regardless of balance or direct deposit. Interest Checking requires the minimum balance to avoid its fee.