Looking for a better way to access your checking account for college? Moving away from home is a big step for many college students, but having access to bank accounts is often an afterthought. If you bank with a community bank instead of a national bank, you may not realize how inconvenient it is to have to pay ATM fees to two banks in order to use the ATMs on campus. Therefore, students who are off to college should consider several factors when deciding on an online checking account to suit their needs.

1. No Monthly Fees – The average monthly fee for a checking account is around $11 a month. Since college students are frequently low on cash, paying out more to have access to your cash just doesn’t make since. Many online banks like Ally and Chase don’t charge any monthly fees and even offer interest checking accounts so you accrue money on what you keep in the account.

2. ATM Network – One of the biggest ways college students rack up fees is by using ATMs that aren’t associated with their bank. Since most banks charge around $3 per withdrawal, even a modest withdrawal of four times a month will cost you $12. Some online banks like Ally refund ATM fees that other banks charge and don’t charge any fees themselves, making them a great option for saving cash on a tight budget.

3. Parental Access – Having a parent as a joint account holder is often a good idea. Most online banks will allow this type of joint account holding for students, since parents can deposit money in the bank for their students while they’re away.

4. Direct Deposit Requirements – One of the ways online checking accounts operate is they require you to set up a direct deposit so that your pay check is instantly deposited by your employer. If you work for an employer that does not support this method of deposit, then finding an online checking account that doesn’t require direct deposit becomes necessary. Before signing up with a bank, ask if direct deposit is required.

5. Mobile App – Not all banks offer a mobile app, but many of the larger banks like Bank of America and Chase allow you to use this app to take pictures of your check and have them deposited that way. This keeps you from having to make expensive trips to bank branches and provides an overall convenience you won’t find with a brick and mortar checking account.