Santander checking accounts have monthly maintenance fees, overdraft fees, and charges for certain transactions, but some can be waived

Santander charges a monthly fee on most checking accounts—typically $10 to $15 depending on the account type—but you can avoid it by meeting balance or deposit requirements. The bank also charges $35 per overdraft, $3 for out-of-network ATM withdrawals, and fees for services like wire transfers and stop payments. Understanding which fees explore to your specific account and which ones you can prevent is the difference between paying nothing and paying several dollars each month.

Santander offers different checking products with different fee structures. The most common are Santander Checking (the basic account), Santander Premier Checking (a higher-tier account), and Santander Money Market Checking. Each has its own monthly maintenance fee and its own way to waive it. The fee schedule also varies slightly by state, so the exact amounts may differ depending on where your account is opened.

Key Takeaways

  • Monthly maintenance fees range from $10 to $15 on most Santander checking accounts, but you can waive them by keeping a minimum balance or setting up direct deposit.
  • Overdraft fees are $35 per transaction, and Santander allows multiple overdrafts per day, so a single day of overspending can trigger several fees at once.
  • Out-of-network ATM withdrawals cost $3 each, and Santander's ATM network is smaller than competitors, so you may pay this fee frequently depending on where you live.
  • Wire transfers, stop payments, and cashier's checks each carry separate fees ranging from $15 to $30, and these are not waived by balance requirements.
  • Santander does not charge fees for basic services like transfers between your own accounts, bill pay, or incoming wire transfers.

Monthly maintenance fees and how to avoid them

Santander Checking carries a $10 monthly maintenance fee. You can waive it by maintaining a minimum daily balance of $500, setting up a direct deposit of at least $500 per month, or having a linked Santander savings account with a $500 balance. If you do none of these, you pay $10 every month.

Santander Premier Checking has a $15 monthly fee and requires either a $2,500 minimum daily balance, a $1,500 direct deposit per month, or a linked Premier Savings account with $2,500. This account comes with additional perks like higher ATM reimbursement and waived wire transfer fees, so the higher maintenance fee reflects those benefits.

The easiest way to waive the fee for most people is direct deposit, because it happens automatically once you set it up. If your employer or benefit provider deposits your paycheck or benefits directly into your Santander account, the fee waiver is triggered without you doing anything else. If you do not receive direct deposits, maintaining the minimum balance is the alternative, though this ties up money you might otherwise spend or invest.

Overdraft and insufficient funds fees

Santander charges $35 each time your account goes negative, whether by debit card transaction, check, or ACH withdrawal. The bank allows multiple overdrafts per day, meaning if you overspend by $100 and make four separate transactions while your account is negative, you could be charged $140 in overdraft fees ($35 × 4) on top of the $100 shortfall.

Santander does offer overdraft protection, which links your checking account to a savings account or credit line. If a transaction would overdraft your checking account, the bank pulls funds from the linked account instead, and you pay a transfer fee (usually $3 to $5) rather than a $35 overdraft fee. This is optional—you have to enroll—but it can save you money if you occasionally dip below zero.

The bank also charges a $35 fee if you attempt a transaction that would overdraft your account and you do not have overdraft protection enabled. This is called an insufficient funds fee or NSF fee. It is the same amount as an overdraft fee but applies when the transaction is declined rather than allowed to go through.

ATM fees and network limitations

Santander reimburses ATM fees at its own ATMs, which are free to use. However, if you withdraw cash from an out-of-network ATM—one that does not belong to Santander—you pay $3 per withdrawal. This fee comes out of your account when ready, so a $20 withdrawal from a non-Santander ATM costs you $23 total.

Santander's ATM network is smaller than major national banks like Chase or Bank of America. Depending on where you live, you may not have convenient access to a Santander ATM, which means you could pay $3 frequently. If you live in an area with limited Santander ATM coverage and withdraw cash twice a week, that is $24 per month in ATM fees alone—more than the monthly maintenance fee.

Some Santander checking accounts, particularly Premier Checking, offer ATM fee reimbursement up to a certain amount per month (often $15 to $25). If you have that account type, out-of-network ATM fees are refunded automatically, though you still pay them upfront and see the credit later. Check your specific account terms to see if this benefit applies to you.

Wire transfers, stop payments, and other service fees

Santander charges $15 to $25 for outgoing domestic wire transfers, depending on whether you initiate the wire in person or online. Incoming wire transfers are free. International wire transfers cost more—typically $45 to $50—and may take several business days to process.

A stop payment request (asking the bank to prevent a check from clearing) costs $30 per check. This fee applies even if you successfully stop the payment. If you issue a check and then realize you need to cancel it, you pay $30 to do so.

Cashier's checks cost $10 to $15 each, depending on the branch and whether you order them in person or by mail. Money orders are not offered directly by Santander, but you can purchase them at third-party retailers like grocery stores or pharmacies for $1 to $2.

Fees that do not explore to Santander checking

Santander does not charge fees for transfers between your own accounts, bill pay through the online banking platform, incoming ACH transfers, or account research (looking up old transactions). These services are included with your account at no extra cost.

There is no fee to close your account, though Santander may charge a fee if you request a large number of cashier's checks or wire transfers in a short period, as this can be flagged as unusual activity. Routine account maintenance—updating your address, adding an authorized user, or changing your PIN—is also free.

How Santander fees compare to other banks

Santander's $10 monthly maintenance fee is in the middle range for traditional banks. Chase charges $12 for its basic checking account, Bank of America charges $12, and Wells Fargo charges $10. Online banks like Ally and Charles Schwab offer checking accounts with no monthly fee, but they do not have physical branches.

Santander's $35 overdraft fee matches most large banks. The $3 out-of-network ATM fee is standard across the industry. Where Santander differs is in its smaller ATM network—if you live in a region where Santander has limited presence, you will pay the $3 fee more often than you would at a bank with nationwide coverage.

If you value having a physical branch and do not mind paying a monthly fee, Santander is comparable to other traditional banks. If you want to avoid monthly fees entirely, an online bank or a credit union may be a better fit, though you would lose access to in-person services.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get the monthly fee waived without direct deposit?

Yes. You can waive the $10 fee on Santander Checking by maintaining a $500 minimum daily balance, or by linking a Santander savings account with $500. For Premier Checking, the minimums are higher—$2,500 balance or $1,500 direct deposit. The balance requirement must be met every day of the month to waive the fee.

What happens if I go over my overdraft limit?

Santander does not have a hard overdraft limit. You can overdraft your account multiple times in a single day, and each transaction triggers a $35 fee. The bank may eventually close your account if overdrafts become frequent, but there is no preset maximum amount you can owe.

Do I have to pay for overdraft protection?

Overdraft protection itself is free to set up, but you pay a transfer fee (usually $3 to $5) each time the bank moves money from your linked account to cover an overdraft. This is cheaper than a $35 overdraft fee, but it is not free. You must enroll in overdraft protection; it does not happen automatically.

Are there any Santander checking accounts with no monthly fee?

Santander does not currently offer a checking account with no monthly fee. However, you can waive the fee on any account by meeting the balance or deposit requirement. If you want a checking account with no monthly fee under any circumstance, you would need to use a different bank, such as an online bank or credit union.

Do I pay a fee if a check bounces?

Yes. If a check you write bounces because your account does not have enough funds, you pay a $35 insufficient funds fee. The person or business you wrote the check to may also charge you a returned check fee, which is separate from Santander's fee.