A relationship checking account ties your account to other products you hold at the same bank
A relationship checking account is a checking account that a bank uses to measure how much business you do with them across all your accounts and services. The bank looks at the total value of everything you have with them — your checking account, savings account, credit card, mortgage, investment accounts, or other products — to decide what perks, fees, or interest rates you get on your checking account.
The word "relationship" refers to your overall connection to the bank, not to a joint account or a relationship between two people. Banks use relationship accounts to reward customers who keep multiple products in one place and to identify which customers are most profitable to them.
Key Takeaways
- A relationship checking account's fees and benefits depend on the total value of all your accounts at that bank, not just the checking account balance.
- Banks calculate a "relationship balance" by adding up checking, savings, investments, loans, and other products you hold with them.
- Meeting a relationship balance threshold can waive monthly fees, raise interest rates on savings, or unlock other account perks.
- If you close other accounts at the bank, your relationship balance drops and you may lose fee waivers or benefits tied to that threshold.
How banks calculate your relationship balance
Most banks add up the balances in all your accounts at that institution to create a single number called your relationship balance or combined balance. A checking account with $5,000, a savings account with $15,000, and a money market account with $10,000 would give you a relationship balance of $30,000 at that bank.
Some banks also count the outstanding balance on loans or mortgages you have with them, though the way they count it varies. A few banks include the credit limit on a credit card (not the balance you owe), while others ignore credit cards entirely. Ask your bank directly how they calculate relationship balance, because the method differs between institutions.
The bank reviews this number regularly — usually monthly or quarterly — to see whether you still meet the threshold for any perks or fee waivers you have tied to your account.
What perks and fees depend on relationship balance
Banks use relationship balance to decide which of these you get: monthly maintenance fees waived, higher interest rates on savings or money market accounts, reduced overdraft fees, higher ATM reimbursement limits, or access to premium checking tiers that normally require a higher individual account balance.
For example, a bank might waive the $12 monthly fee on a checking account if your relationship balance stays above $25,000. If you withdraw $10,000 from savings to pay for a car, your relationship balance drops to $20,000, and the monthly fee starts charging again the next month.
Some banks also use relationship balance to decide whether to approve you for a credit card, a personal loan, or a mortgage, or to offer you a better interest rate on those products. The logic is that customers with more money at the bank are seen as lower risk.
When relationship balance matters most
Relationship balance matters most if you have multiple accounts at the same bank and want to avoid monthly fees. A customer with $8,000 in checking and $2,000 in savings might hit a $10,000 relationship threshold and get the monthly fee waived, even though neither account alone would may have access to.
It also matters if you are considering moving money between banks. Closing a savings account or paying off a loan at your current bank will lower your relationship balance and may trigger fees on your checking account if you fall below the threshold.
Relationship balance matters less if you keep most of your money at different banks or if you have no other accounts at the bank besides your checking account. In that case, the bank will look only at your checking account balance to decide on fees and perks.
How to find your relationship balance
Log into your online banking portal and look for a section called "Account Summary," "Relationship Balance," "Combined Balance," or "Total Assets." Some banks display it on the main dashboard; others hide it under a menu labeled "Accounts" or "My Accounts."
If you cannot find it online, call the bank's customer service line and ask directly. Have your account number ready. The representative can tell you what your current relationship balance is, what threshold you need to meet for fee waivers, and which accounts count toward that total.
Some banks also send this information in a quarterly or annual statement, though not all do. If your bank does not display it anywhere, ask whether they even use relationship balance for your account type — smaller banks or credit unions may not.
What happens if your relationship balance drops
If your relationship balance falls below the threshold tied to a perk or fee waiver, the bank will usually give you one billing cycle to bring it back up before charging you. Read the terms and conditions for your account to see whether the bank specifies a grace period.
Once the fee starts, it will continue every month until you raise your relationship balance back above the threshold. Some banks allow you to opt out of overdraft protection or other features to lower fees, but opting out does not affect relationship balance calculations.
If you know you are about to drop below a threshold — for example, because you are withdrawing money to buy a house — contact the bank ahead of time. Some banks will temporarily waive fees or move you to a different account tier that does not depend on relationship balance, though this is not may provide.
Relationship accounts versus individual account requirements
A bank may offer two paths to the same perk: meet the relationship balance threshold, or keep a high balance in the checking account itself. For example, a bank might waive the monthly fee if your relationship balance is $25,000 OR if your checking account balance alone stays above $15,000.
If you have only one account at the bank, the individual account balance is what matters. If you have multiple accounts, you can choose whichever path is easier for you — some people find it simpler to keep a high checking balance, while others prefer to spread money across savings and checking and use relationship balance to avoid fees.
Always read the account terms to see which thresholds apply to your specific account type. Premium checking accounts, student accounts, and senior accounts sometimes have different rules than standard checking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my relationship balance affect my credit score?
No. Your relationship balance is internal to the bank and does not appear on your credit report. Credit scores are based on your payment history, credit utilization, and other borrowing behavior — not on how much money you have at one bank.
Can I increase my relationship balance by opening new accounts?
Yes. Opening a savings account, money market account, or certificate of deposit at the same bank will add to your relationship balance. However, you should only do this if the account itself makes sense for your money — do not open accounts just to hit a threshold if you would not use them otherwise.
What if I move my money to a different bank?
Your relationship balance at your current bank will drop, and you may lose fee waivers or other perks tied to that balance. You will start building a new relationship balance at the new bank. Some banks offer a grace period before fees take effect, so check your account terms.
Do all banks use relationship balance?
Most large banks do, but not all. Credit unions, online banks, and smaller regional banks may not use relationship balance at all. Ask your bank directly whether they calculate it and how it affects your account.
Can I keep my fee waiver if I pay off my mortgage?
It depends on how the bank counts the mortgage in your relationship balance. If they count the outstanding loan balance, paying it off will lower your relationship balance. If they count it differently or do not count it at all, your balance may not change. Contact the bank to find out before you pay off a loan.