Free Student Checking

Free Student Checking

Bank everywhere, all the time—for free.

Free Student Checking with free Wachovia Mobile® note 1

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Overview

Too little time and money? Access your money whenever and wherever—with Wachovia Free Student Checking. Affordable and convenient, it's just right for your active lifestyle.

You've got enough to think about—without thinking about checking:

  • No minimum balance, no monthly service fee
  • No Direct Deposit required
  • One free overdraft refund with the "You're Covered Card"
  • One free Premium Savings account
  • We'll pay you a bonus to save—add Way2Save® to Free Student Checking
  • Free Wachovia® Security PlusSM—our commitment to protect your privacy and security

You're already online. Why not bank there?

  • Free Online Banking with BillPay
  • Free identity theft and fraud protection with iWatchSM
  • Free Incoming Domestic Wires
  • Free Balance Alerts and Online Statements

Wherever you are, your account's there too.

Wachovia Mobile® note 1 lets you securely access your account through your mobile device. See supported devices

No limits. Lots of rewards.

Free's just the start.

Link your account with your parent's Wachovia checking account through College Connection and get 12 non-Wachovia ATM transactions per month note 2: four withdrawals, four account inquiries and four transfers—without paying a Wachovia fee.

What You Get

Bank freely. Really—there's no catch.

Other banks offer free checking with a catch, but Wachovia Free Student Checking offers no minimum balance, no monthly service fee, and no Direct Deposit requirement.

Keep your personal and financial information safe, with Wachovia® Security PlusSM. It's sophisticated analysis tools and processes pinpoint and analyze unusual activity.

Plus, get advanced identity theft and fraud protection with iWatchSM. This program combines proactive monitoring and early warning monitoring tools to help safeguard your personal information—including your social security number. Best of all, your enrollment in iWatch is free with a Wachovia checking account.

No limits. No kidding.

Unlimited check writing and unlimited use of Wachovia ATMs, so write as many checks as you need and access Wachovia's 5,300 plus ATMs—all for free.

You can't always be close to one of Wachovia's ATMs, so we give you other options.

You can get up to 12 non-Wachovia ATM Transactions per month with College Connection. Simply link your Free Student Checking account to your parent's Wachovia checking account and you'll get four withdrawals, four account inquiries, and four transfers each month at other banks' ATMs without paying a Wachovia fee. note 2

Note: Your account doesn't need to be joined with your parent to take advantage of this benefit.

Save time. Save stamps. Save the environment.

Free Online Banking with BillPay lets you quickly and securely view your account balances, set up Balance Alerts, pay bills and view bank statements online. It's all free and available 24/7.

Bank everywhere for free with Wachovia Mobile® note 1

Wachovia Mobile® lets you securely view and monitor your account balances and transactions, make one-time transfers between eligible accounts, make one-time bill payments and more—all from your mobile device. Convenient and free. Learn more about our mobile banking options.

Need money from your parents—fast?

All incoming transfers made through Online Banking to your Free Student Checking account are free. Transfers can come from another Wachovia account or from a non-Wachovia account. Incoming domestic wires are also free.

Wallet-sized convenience.

The free Wachovia Visa® Check Card is a safe alternative to cash, works like a check and ATM card, and has no monthly service fee.

Register your check card in Wachovia Possibilities Rewards, our no-fee awards program. You can also earn an average of 10 bonus points per $1 when you shop online through the Earn More MallSM on wachoviapossiblities.com. Then, redeem points for great rewards like travel, restaurant and retail gift cards, merchandise, and more.

Get paid—just for saving.

Link your Free Student Checking account to the Way2Save® savings program and we'll pay you a 5% bonus note 4 to save.

We'll also automatically transfer $1 from your checking account to your Way2Save® account when you make a Check Card purchase, pay bills online, including through Online Banking with BillPay note 5 or set up automatic debits.

Sometimes mistakes happen—we've got you covered.

The "You're Covered Card" allows students one free overdraft refund in a year. You can easily redeem your card in online banking. See how.

More benefits with Wachovia checking accounts:

  • Free Direct Deposits
  • Free automated telephone service
  • Free notary services

Fees

Open your account today with only $50

The minimum opening deposit for Free Student Checking is $50, then you'll enjoy:

  • No minimum balance
  • No monthly service fee
  • No Direct Deposit requirement
  • Free Premium Savings account

Avoid Fees with Overdraft Protection

We know that things happen, so we've made it easy for you to avoid overdrawing your Wachovia Free Student Checking account. Simply link it to another Wachovia deposit or credit account to avoid overdraft charges.

First time NSF/Overdraft fees without overdraft protection can cost you $22. With overdraft protection, the fees are reduced to the following:

Source of Overdraft Protection Funds Transfer Fee
Another Wachovia checking, savings or money market account $10 per transaction
Wachovia Line of Credit $10 per transaction
Wachovia Credit Card—transfer amount will be treated as cash advance $5 per transaction

Additional Tips to avoid overdraft fees:

  • Sign up for free Balance Alerts through Online Banking with BillPay, and receive your account balance daily or be notified when your account balance falls above or below the amount you set.
  • Use the Free Student Checking "You're Covered Card"—good for one free overdraft refund. See how it works.

Checking Account Transaction Fees

  • Stop Check Payment, $25-$31 depending on state
  • 2 free Person-to-Person Customer Service Inquiries per statement period, then $2 per inquiry
  • Standard Checks, $18-$20
  • Non-Wachovia ATM Withdrawals or Inquiries, $2 note 6
  • Incoming Domestic Wires, Free
  • Outgoing Domestic Wires, $25

For a complete list of fees, please request the Schedule of Fees and Funds Availability from 800-WACHOVIA (800-922-4684).

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FAQs

Free Student Checking. Is it right for me?

If you're a student, you probably don't have a lot of money for paying fees. Wachovia Free Student Checking is for students who want a checking account that really is free. No monthly service fees. No minimum balances. No Direct Deposit requirements. Plus, enjoy free Online Banking with BillPay, free Wachovia Mobile® note 1, and free Balance Alerts.

How do I get mobile banking?

Easy. Just add free Online Banking with BillPay to your account. Then use your mobile device to visit wachovia.com/mobile.

What is the minimum amount required to open a Free Student Checking account?

$50. No kidding. That's the minimum opening balance. And there's no minimum balance requirement once the account is opened.

Will I be able to make a deposit into my new account in the online application?

Yes. You will just need the account information (routing number and account number) for the bank account you will transfer funds from to make the deposit. All the information you need can be found on a blank check for your other account.

Will I be charged a monthly service fee with a Wachovia Free Student Checking account?

No. There are no monthly service fees with a Wachovia Free Student Checking account. That's why we call it Free Student Checking.

Does Free Student Checking include free Online Banking with BillPay?

Absolutely. That's part of what makes it such a great account. Your Free Student Checking account comes with free, 24/7 access to your account online. You can check account balances and securely pay bills anytime, anywhere. Set up Balance Alerts, receive incoming transfers from your parents, view bank statements online, and bank on the go with Wachovia Mobile® note 1.

Does Free Student Checking include a Check Card?

Yes. A Wachovia Visa® Check Card comes with this checking account, you can register it in "no-fee" before Wachovia Possibilities Rewards. The card does not have a monthly service fee and Wachovia Possibilities Rewards® which allows you to earn points for everyday purchases. Redeem points for great rewards like travel, restaurant and retail gift cards, merchandise, and more. Also, earn an average of 10 bonus points per $1 when you shop online through our Earn More MallSM on wachoviapossibilities.com.

Can I use non-Wachovia ATMs for free?

Yes. When you use College Connection to link your Free Student Checking Account to your parents Wachovia account, you get 12 free ATM transactions at non-Wachovia ATMs. This includes four withdrawals, four account inquiries, and four transfers each month without paying a Wachovia fee. note 2

What do I need to open a Free Student Checking account?

Open the account online, if you wish.

If you're a new customer, we'll need to see your Social Security Number, one form of identification (Driver's License, State ID or Military ID), and the account information from your other bank to make your opening deposit (Hint: You can find this info on a blank check).

If you're an existing customer, we'll need your existing online services User Name and Password, checking account number, Check Card or credit card number, and PIN.

Will Wachovia do a credit check when I apply for a checking account?

Yes. We will verify your personal information and credit history with consumer reporting agencies.

How does the iWatchSM program protect me from identity theft?

iWatch focuses on the prevention, detection, and resolution of identity theft and fraud. With advanced monitoring, you're notified if your personal information appears online, and emailed alerts with actions you can take to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands. If you become a victim, our dedicated specialists are standing by 24/7 to help. Free for Wachovia checking customers, iWatch helps safeguard your personal information, and your identity.

Where can I find more frequently asked questions about Wachovia Checking Accounts?

More questions and answers are available in our Checking FAQs.

Get Started Now—Open a Wachovia Free Student Checking Account Online

Open your account online and you can begin using it in less than 8 minutes. For existing customers, it's even faster.

New Customers Need:

  • Social Security Number
  • ID (Driver's License, State ID, or Military ID)
  • Account information from your other bank to make your opening deposit (Hint: You can find this info on a blank check).

Existing customers need an Online Banking User ID and Password.

Valedictorian of Banks

Bank with us and enjoy the benefits of being with the bank that's #1 in customer satisfaction note 3.

Make the Most of Your Account

Learn how to manage your account in our Learning Center, and how Wachovia® Security PlusSM protects you.

FDIC deposit insurance temporarily increased from $100,000 to $250,000
per depositor through December 31, 2009. Learn More