Checking
Free Checking with nothing held back
No monthly fee, no minimum balance, and your paycheck up to two days early. The account works the same on day one as it does in year ten.
What comes with it
Everything below is standard. There is no premium tier that unlocks it later.
No monthly fee
Not waived with a balance. Not waived with direct deposit. Simply not charged, because members own this place.
Free debit card
Contactless, chip-enabled, and replaced at no cost if it is lost. Freeze and unfreeze it yourself in the app.
No minimum balance
Keep five dollars or five thousand. The account behaves identically either way, with no low-balance penalty.
Paycheck up to two days early
We post direct deposits as soon as your employer sends the file, which is usually one to two days before payday.
85,000 surcharge-free ATMs
More fee-free machines than most national banks operate, through the CO-OP and Allpoint networks.
NCUA insured
Your deposits are federally insured to at least $250,000 by the National Credit Union Administration.
Rates and terms
The whole fee schedule for this account fits in one short table.
Rates current as of July 2026 and subject to change. Membership eligibility required. This is a demonstration website; rates, products, and figures shown are illustrative only.
Opening one takes about five minutes
Have your ID and Social Security number nearby and you can finish in a single sitting.
Join Summit
A $5 deposit into a share account makes you a member and a part-owner of the credit union.
Open your checking
Add Free Checking in the same application. Your debit card ships within five business days.
Move your direct deposit
Our switch kit fills out the payroll form for you and lists the recurring payments worth moving.
Common questions
Is there really no monthly fee?
There is not. Summit is member-owned and not-for-profit, so we do not need fee income to satisfy outside shareholders. The account costs nothing to keep open.
How does early payday actually work?
Employers send payroll files to the banking network ahead of the official pay date. We post the money when the file arrives rather than holding it, which is usually one to two days early.
What happens if I use an out-of-network ATM?
Summit does not charge you, but the machine's owner may. We refund up to $10 per month in those surcharges on Free Checking, and unlimited rebates on Premium Interest Checking.
Do I have to keep a direct deposit to stay free?
No. Direct deposit gets you your pay earlier, but the account has no activity requirement. It stays free whether or not anything is deposited in a given month.
Can I overdraw the account?
Only if you opt in. By default, a transaction that would overdraw is simply declined at no charge. You can link a savings account and have funds transfer over instead.
Who is eligible to join?
Anyone who lives, works, worships, or attends school in our field of membership, plus their immediate family. Most people qualify through a household member or a partner employer.
Ready to switch?
Open your account online in about five minutes, then move your direct deposit with our switch kit.