First Community CU
First Community Credit Union Checking Accounts
No monthly fees. No minimum balance games. Straightforward checking built for real life — with up to $25/month in ATM rebates nationwide, real-time debit card controls, and multiple overdraft protection options.
Open an AccountThree Checking Options for Real People
Most credit unions hand you one checking account and call it a day. We built three — because a college student, a family managing household expenses, and a member who wants to earn dividends on their daily balance all have genuinely different needs. Pick the one that fits, switch anytime for free.
Free Checking
The name is literal. Zero monthly fee. Zero minimum balance. No conditions to satisfy. Use your debit card anywhere Visa is accepted, get reimbursed up to $25 per month for ATM surcharges charged by other networks, and toggle your card on or off in seconds through the mobile app. If you want a checking account that stays out of your way and never costs you anything, this is it.
Reward Checking
For members who want their everyday spending account to actually earn something. Reward Checking pays up to 3.00% APY — a rate that routinely beats high-yield savings accounts at big banks — on balances up to $15,000. To qualify each statement cycle, three things need to happen: at least 12 debit card purchases post, you're enrolled in e-statements, and a qualifying direct deposit hits the account. Miss a month? Your balance earns a base rate instead. No penalty, no fee, no account closure. Just try again next cycle.
The numbers are real. A $12,000 balance at 3.00% APY earns $360 in dividends over twelve months. That's not a sign-up bonus — it recurs every year you keep qualifying.
Student Checking
Open to members aged 16–25 with no monthly fee, no minimum balance, and full debit card controls. Parents can be joint account holders for students under 18. At age 26, Student Checking converts automatically to Free Checking — no forms, no branch visit required.
ATM Rebates: Use Any Machine You Want
We're not going to pretend we have a branded ATM on every corner. What we do instead is reimburse you. When another ATM operator charges a surcharge — $3, $4, whatever the airport machine decides to hit you with — we track it and credit the fee back to your account at the end of the statement cycle. Up to $25 per month for Free and Reward Checking members. The rebate posts automatically; you don't have to submit anything or call.
Real-Time Debit Card Controls
Through the First Community mobile app, you can lock and unlock your debit card instantly, set transaction limits by merchant category, block international purchases, and receive push alerts on every charge. Misplace your card on a Friday night? Lock it in the app immediately — no hold music, no waiting until Monday. When it turns up in the couch cushions, unlock it just as fast.
Direct Deposit and Early Pay
Setting up direct deposit requires two numbers: our routing number and your account number. Both are in online banking under Account Details. Provide them to your employer's payroll team or enter them on the government benefits portal at ssa.gov. Most changes process in one to two pay cycles. Members whose employers submit payroll files early may receive funds up to two business days before the official pay date.
Overdraft Protection Options
Nobody budgets for overdrafts. When the math doesn't work out, here are your choices:
- Savings Account Link: We automatically transfer funds from your linked share savings to cover a shortfall. No transfer fee. This is the lowest-cost option by far.
- Courtesy Pay: We'll cover overdrafts up to $800 on checks, ACH, and — if you opt in — debit card transactions. A $28 fee applies per item we pay. Opt in is required for debit card coverage; checks and ACH are covered by default once Courtesy Pay is active.
- Standard Decline: Prefer that transactions simply decline when funds aren't available? Set that preference in online banking or call us. No fees, ever, for items we return unpaid.
Checking Rates and Fees at a Glance
Free Checking: $0 monthly fee, no minimum balance, ATM rebates up to $25/month, 0.00% APY. Reward Checking: $0 monthly fee when qualifications met (12+ debit transactions, e-statements, direct deposit), ATM rebates up to $25/month, up to 3.00% APY on balances up to $15,000. Student Checking: $0 monthly fee always, ATM rebates up to $10/month, 0.00% APY, available ages 16–25. All accounts include NCUA share insurance, online and mobile banking, and real-time debit card controls at no added cost. Phone: (800) 342-8575.
Checking Account Comparison
| Account | Monthly Fee | Min Balance | ATM Rebates | APY | Overdraft Options |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free Checking | $0 | None | Up to $25/mo | 0.00% | Savings Link, Courtesy Pay, Decline |
| Reward Checking | $0 (when qualified) | None | Up to $25/mo | Up to 3.00%* | Savings Link, Courtesy Pay, Decline |
| Student Checking | $0 | None | Up to $10/mo | 0.00% | Savings Link, Decline |
*Reward Checking 3.00% APY applies to balances up to $15,000 when monthly qualifications are met: 12+ debit card purchases, e-statements active, and qualifying direct deposit received. Balances above $15,000 and months when qualifications are not met earn 0.05% APY. APY = Annual Percentage Yield. Rates effective as of 2026 and subject to change. Dividends compounded and credited monthly.
For guidance on your rights as a deposit account holder, visit the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's checking and bank account tools.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a monthly fee for First Community checking accounts?
No monthly fee on any of our three checking accounts. Free Checking and Student Checking are always free. Reward Checking is also free — but if you don't complete the monthly qualifications (12 debit purchases, e-statements, direct deposit), your balance earns the base rate of 0.05% APY for that cycle rather than 3.00%. There is no fee for missing qualifications, ever.
How do ATM rebates work?
When a third-party ATM operator charges you a surcharge, that fee appears on your account. At the end of your monthly statement cycle, we add up all surcharges you were charged and credit the total back — up to $25 for Free and Reward Checking, up to $10 for Student Checking. No request needed. Rebates cover domestic surcharges only; international ATM fees are not reimbursed.
What exactly qualifies me for Reward Checking's 3.00% APY?
Each statement cycle you need: (1) at least 12 debit card purchases to post and settle — PIN or signature, any amount, (2) be enrolled in e-statements rather than paper statements, and (3) receive at least one qualifying direct deposit from an employer, government agency, or pension. The 3.00% APY applies to balances up to $15,000. Amounts above $15,000 earn 0.05% APY in all cases.
How do I set up direct deposit?
Log into online banking and go to Account Details — you'll find our routing number and your account number there. Give both to your employer's payroll department or enter them at ssa.gov for government benefits. Most switches activate within one or two pay cycles. If you need a pre-filled direct deposit authorization form, call us at (800) 342-8575 or stop into any branch.
What overdraft protection options do I have?
Three paths. First: link your share savings account — automatic transfers cover shortfalls at no fee. Second: opt into Courtesy Pay, which covers overdrafts up to $800 ($28 fee per item paid); you must specifically opt in for debit card coverage. Third: decline everything — transactions simply fail when funds aren't there, with no fees charged. You can switch between options anytime in online banking or by calling us.