Service overview
The City of Philadelphia has partnered with Bank On to help residents get safe and affordable banking services. By using a Bank On-approved account, residents can avoid costly check-cashing services and unexpected fees. They can also get access to online banking and bill payments.
All Bank On-approved accounts have:
- A minimum opening deposit of $25
- Low or no monthly fees
- No overdraft fees
- Online and mobile banking
- Online bill payments.
Who
Anyone who meets the requirements can open a Bank On-approved account, even if they have debt or a low credit score.
If you’ve had a bank account before, but the bank closed it, you can still open a new account.
Requirements
To open an account, you must provide:
- A valid form of identification, such as a driver’s license, state ID, or Social Security card.
- If you need help getting an ID, contact Community Legal Services.
- If you are a Pennsylvanian experiencing homelessness, you may qualify for a free identification card.
- Several banks accept the PHL City ID as a secondary form of identification.
- Proof of your address.
- If you are experiencing homelessness, you can ask a local shelter to use their address. You can also use the address of a friend or family member.
- A phone number.
- Lifeline, a federal program, may be able to help you get low-cost phone service.
You must also:
- Make a deposit of $25 at minimum.
- While many Bank On certified accounts have no monthly fee, there are some that require you to pay a small monthly account fee. All Bank On-approved accounts cost $5 or less per month.
Where and when
In Philadelphia, you can get a Bank On-approved account at:
| Bank or Credit Union | Account Type |
|---|---|
| Bank of America | Advantage Safe Balance Banking Account |
| Citizens | Student Checking |
| Citizens | EverValue Checking Account |
| Finanta | Core Checking |
| Finanta | Smart Choices Independent Teen Checking |
| First Citizens Community Bank | Budget Checking |
| Firstrust Bank | First Checking |
| Fulton Bank | Xpress Account |
| JPMorgan Chase | Secure Banking Account |
| KeyBank | Hassle-Free Account |
| M&T Bank | MyWay Checking Account |
| Penn Community Bank | Access Checking |
| PNC Bank | Foundations Checking |
| S&T Bank | Easy Banking Account |
| Santander | Essential Banking |
| TD Bank | TD Essential Banking |
| The Bank of Princeton | Simple Checking |
| Tompkins Community Bank | Smart Spend Checking |
| Truist | Confidence Account |
| Trumark Financial | Foundational Checking |
| Univest Bank and Trust Co. | Value Checking |
| Wells Fargo | Clear Access Banking |
| Ally Bank | Spending Account |
| Capital One | 360 Checking Account |
You can find out more about these accounts online or by visiting the banks in person. You may need to request the Bank On-certified account by name. You can also get free help by contacting a Financial Empowerment Center at (800) 346-7445.
How
As you make your decision, you might consider:
- How close is the bank to where I live or work?
- When is the bank open?
- What fees are there on the account, if any?
- Does the bank offer services in my language?