Those of us past a certain age remember when nearly all checking accounts were free. Today, it’s tough to find a bank offering fee-free checking.

But such accounts do exist. You just have to know where to look. Following are seven banks that offer free checking with no minimum balance required.

EverBank Yield Pledge Checking

EverBank’s Yield Pledge Checking account comes with no monthly fees. In addition to having no fees, it pays a one-year introductory interest rate of 1.21 percent on balances up to $250,000.

It also pledges to always pay a rate “in the top 5 percent of competitive accounts based on the Bankrate.com National Average survey data from the last week of each month.”

Ally Bank Interest Checking

Not only does Ally’s Interest Checking account promise no maintenance, fees, but Ally also will pay you — in the form of interest — to keep the account open.

Keep a daily balance under $15,000, and you’ll earn an annual percentage yield of 0.1 percent. Balances of $15,000 or more earn an APY of 0.6 percent.

Discover Bank Cashback Checking

Discover’s Cashback Checking account does not charge any fees, and it allows you to earn 1 percent cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month.

Capital One 360 Checking

Capital One’s 360 Checking account is fee-free, and you’ll earn interest at various rates depending on how much you keep in the account. For example,

• Up to $49,999.99 earns 0.2 percent

• $50,000 to $99,999.99 earns 0.75 percent

• $100,000 or more earns 1 percent

TIAA Direct Interest Checking

TIAA Direct — the online banking division of TIAA, the financial services company formerly known as TIAA-CREF — offers an account called Interest Checking with no monthly fees.

Balances up to $9,999.99 earn 0.25 percent APY. Rates gradually increase above those levels, with a payout of 0.71 percent APY with balances of $100,000 and above.

State Farm Bank Personal Checking

State Farm Bank — yes, it’s affiliated with the insurance company — offers a personal checking account that comes with no monthly fees.

Bank5 Connect High-Interest Checking Account

Finally, Bank5 Connect’s High-Interest Checking Account is fee-free. Although this bank is less well-known than others on the list, it offers a major plus: high rates of return on even small balances.

For example, with a deposit of as little as $100, you will earn 0.76 APY in interest.

Do you know of more free checking accounts? Share them by commenting below or on our Facebook page .

This article was originally published on MoneyTalksNews.com as '7 Banks Offering Free Checking With No Minimums'.