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Last Updated: 01/21/2026

Free Checking

from PenFed Credit Union

Last Updated: 01/21/2026

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Highlights

Welcome Offer

N/A

Cashback Rewards

N/A

APY (Annual Percentage Yield)

0%(Verified 06/21/2024)

Monthly Service Fee

$0(Verified 01/21/2026)

Free Checking Review

The Free Checking is offered by PenFed Credit Union, a credit union founded in 1935 and based in Tysons, VA. PenFed Free Checking is available in 50 states and Washington, DC.

Key Takeaways

Zero ATMS fees: 85,000 fee free ATMs – located at convenient locations near you
0% APY. As with most checking accounts, Free Checking does not pay interest.
No monthly maintenance fees. This account does not charge any monthly account fees.
Bill pay. Pay your bills to practically anyone in the United States when you enroll in PenFed Credit Union mobile or online banking.
Soft credit pull. PenFed Credit Union will not perform a hard credit pull when you open an account.

PenFed Free Checking Pros & Cons

Pros

Cons

Digital wallet and contactless payments.
Zero ATMS fees: 85,000 fee-free ATMs – located at convenient locations near you.
Available in 50 states and Washington, DC.
Insured by NCUA.
Debit card and the option to lock/unlock the card if lost or stolen
Access to a nationwide network of ATMs.

No signup bonus.
Does not earn interest

PenFed Free Checking FAQ

Are checking accounts from PenFed Credit Union federally insured?

Yes, your checking accounts are insured up to $250,000 per share owner for each account ownership category. The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), a federal agency, administers the insurance fund and regulates federally insured credit unions. The fund is backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government.

What APY does PenFed Free Checking offer?

PenFed Free Checking is not an interest-bearing account.

What are the account minimums for PenFed Free Checking?

PenFed Free Checking requires a minimum initial deposit of $25.

Free Checking Minimums

Description

Minimum Opening Deposit

Starting at $25

What fees does PenFed Free Checking charge?

The good news is that this account does not have a monthly Service Charge.

Free Checking Fees

Description

Monthly Service Fee

Paper Statement Fee

Starting at $2

ATM Fee: In-Network

Starting at $0

NSF Fee

$30

Overdraft Item Fee

Starting at $30

Returned Deposit Fee (Domestic)

Starting at $30

Card Replacement Fee (Standard Delivery)

Starting at $0

Online Bill Pay Fee

Starting at $0

Stop Payment Fee

Starting at $20

Check Copy

Foreign Transaction Fee (Debit Card)

Starting at 2%

Wire Transfer Fee - US Domestic (Outgoing)

Starting at $25

Wire Transfer Fee - International (Outgoing)

Starting at $30

Returned Deposit Fee (International)

Starting at $30

Check Stop Payment (Individual)

$20

Check Ordering (per order)

Check Stop Payment (Sequential Series)

$30

Returned Deposited Check

Uncollected Funds Fee (Deposits on hold)

$10

Does PenFed Free Checking charge overdraft fees?

Yes, PenFed Free Checking charges a $30 fee for every overdraft.

What features and perks does PenFed Free Checking offer?

This account includes the following features:

Fraud monitoring - PenFed Free Checking monitors transactions for potentially unauthorized activity, such as when a debit card is unexpectedly used in a different location or you make a sudden string of costly purchases.
Online Bill Pay - Online Bill Pay allows you to pay bills easily from your account.
Mobile Banking Services - PenFed Free Checking allows you to manage your money online or with a mobile app. This includes depositing checks¹ in your account with a mobile app on your smartphone.
Nationwide ATM network - Conveniently transact at a nearby ATM.
Soft credit pull - PenFed Free Checking performs a soft credit pull so you can check whether you qualify without hurting your credit.

What is the customer support email for PenFed Free Checking?

The customer support email for PenFed Free Checking is info@hq.penfed.org.

SuperMoney Disclosure: SuperMoney.com is an independent, advertising-supported service. The owner of this website may be compensated in exchange for featured placement of certain sponsored products and services, or your clicking on links posted on this website. Read more...

Editorial Disclaimer: Editorial and user-generated content on this page is not provided or commissioned by the issuer. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone and have not been approved or otherwise endorsed by any financial institution, including those that are advertising partners.

Contact

Headquarters

7940 Jones Branch Dr

Tysons, VA 22102

(800) 247-5626

Visit Site

Email Support

Hours of Operation

Sunday

Closed

Monday

8:00AM - 4:00PM

Tuesday

8:00AM - 4:00PM

Wednesday

8:00AM - 4:00PM

Thursday

8:00AM - 4:00PM

Friday

8:00AM - 4:00PM

Saturday

Closed

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Bonus Offer

N/A

Cashback Rewards

N/A

APY (Annual Percentage Yield)

0.15% - 0.35%

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Monthly Service Fee

$10

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SuperMoney Net Recommendation Score

This product has no reviews yet. Help others by sharing your thoughts.

-1000+100

No one recommends

Everyone recommends

The recommendation score reflects customer satisfaction with a provider. A score of +100 means every customer recommends the provider, while -100 means none of them do. These scores are based entirely on community member votes and are not influenced by partner compensation. SuperMoney removes fake reviews when detected.