Free checking in US anymore?

My bank in the US (US Bank, as it happens) has just started charging $6.95 a month on my basic checking account unless I keep a balance of $1500 on it. I only use that account to pay my student loans, and occasionally to pay off small balances on US credit cards that I use for the odd online purchase, so it tends to carry a small balance. The loan is about to be paid off within a few months anyway, but at least for the near future it would be handy to have a checking account that I could link to the credit cards. Is there such a thing as a free checking account in the US anymore, or are they all thieving barstewards nowadays? I'm so angry, my account was free until last week! 

In my experience, pretty much every commercial bank in the US has started charging fees.

My advice, typically, would be to find an account with a local credit union, where they often still offer free checking and other account benefits.  However, I'm not sure how easy that would be, though, given that you're living here.

Another option might be to check the various online banks (ING, etc.).  Since you're not in the US anyway, it's not like you're missing out on the convenience of a local branch, and I've heard that some of them offer better rates, free checking, etc.

Dr.Super, I feel your pain. I've been paying a stupid $10 fee every month for the past two years. I can't seem to find a bank that won't charge unless you put a certain amount in every month. Like you, I only have the account open to pay for student loans +credit card bills. It really makes me mad. I wish I could close the account down altogether! Sorry no advice here. I hope you find something that doesn't charge.

Seconding a credit union. I've been with PSECU for my entire life, and I absolutely heart them. They even reimburse ATM charges from other bank's machines. And yeah, no monthly fees of any kind, even on my account which barely has any activity on it.

I have a checking account with Wells Fargo (formerly Wachovia) and don't get charged a fee.  I have a little over $1000 in it, but am pretty sure there's no minimum.  If they started charging me I'd switch accounts as I almost never put any money into the account (just the odd birthday check from my parents).

I just sorted this out with BofA actually as I had a type of acct with a minimum balance that I wasn't interested in maintaining (but it's still useful to have it.) They do have a free echecking/saving account that is free as long as
1) You don't go up to a teller (no issue, not in the country!)
2) You don't receive paper statements
3) you don't overdraft (or similar)
Those three things will trigger (at least a) $8.95 fee for a month, but if you fulfil all three---free account with no minimum.  It's useful for my parent's to stick money in and etc. (And to transfer funds between the US and the UK as my ING acct doesn't accept foreign wire transfers).

I was just going to suggest ING since it doesn't matter to you that you don't have access to a physical bank but according to Jennie, it doesn't accept foreign wire transfers. So I don't know. I have a fee free account with ING and I'm happy with it (and if you wanted to go that route, I could refer you and you'd get $25 (and I'd get $10)). You even make a tiny bit of interest on the account.

Yeah, I love my ING acct and was just going to give up the BofA one because of the fees (there is some other way to transfer money? Xtrade? or something? That my husband used to use), but as I figured out a free BofA one, I decided to keep them both. I still have a BofA credit card for the US as well, just in case.

I tend to use XE Trade rather than wire transfers; aimless, do you know if ING allows that? I'll have a think and speak with my mum, I'll let you know if I need a referral. Thanks for the suggestions everyone!

One thing that might come up with ING is they might need a US address? I am basing this off of a vague memory of four years ago and why I never did switch mine over to my UK address. They do accept XE Trade, I'm pretty sure.

Sorry, I don't know if it accepts XE trade or not.

My bank in the US (US Bank, as it happens) has just started charging $6.95 a month on my basic checking account unless I keep a balance of $1500 on it. I only use that account to pay my student loans, and occasionally to pay off small balances on US credit cards that I use for the odd online purchase, so it tends to carry a small balance. The loan is about to be paid off within a few months anyway, but at least for the near future it would be handy to have a checking account that I could link to the credit cards. Is there such a thing as a free checking account in the US anymore, or are they all thieving barstewards nowadays? I'm so angry, my account was free until last week! 

You are fortunate if you can close US Bank but watch out for them. I closed my US Bank account by withdrawing my money then I get a notice that I'm overdrawn?? How can I be overdrawn when the account is closed? It turned out that an automatic insurance payment went through even though I had notified the insurance company the account was closed. US Bank wanted to ding me $35 or something. I had to go up the ladder to get that removed. It will be a long time before I think of using US Bank again.
I have two checking accounts now, one is a local CU and the other is a national on line bank that was recommended on here a few years ago. Neither charge any fees and they give me free checks. The national bank I can also use at any ATM in the UK with no fees. Yay for USAA bank.

We closed our accounts that charge (US bank and Wellsfargo) and are using our credit union account. 

They pay me £5 per month to bank here!

I've got one with Bank of America that's free.