Flushing Bank Complete Checking Review: A No-Nonsense, No-Fee Account From an NYC Bank

Your everyday checking account doesn't need a lot of bells and whistles as long as it's affordable. The Flushing Bank Complete Checking account has no monthly fee, no minimum balance requirement, and even reimburses ATM fees. The tiny footprint and residency requirements really limit access, however. See all the pros and cons in our full Flushing Bank Complete Checking account review.

Take a look at all the pros and cons to see if this account is a good fit for you.

Top perks

No monthly account fee: Don't worry about paying a monthly account fee, because this checking account doesn't charge one.

No minimum balance required (after opening): You need to make a deposit of at least $100 to open this account. However, once opened, you don't need to maintain a certain balance to keep your account open or to avoid a fee.

ATM, debit, and checks available: You have a lot of ways to access your money. Account holders get a Mastercard debit card that can make purchases anywhere Mastercard is accepted. You can also use your debit card at over 55,000 ATMs without surcharges. Using an out-of-network ATM? Get up to $15 a month in ATM reimbursements. You also get your first 40 checks for free.

FDIC insured: Flushing Bank is a member of the FDIC, so all of your deposits are covered under FDIC insurance up to $250,000.

What could be improved

No new account bonus: Some banks will have new account bonus offers that let you earn cash by opening a new account. These bonuses can be very valuable. Unfortunately, Flushing Bank doesn't offer a new account bonus on its Flushing Bank Complete Checking account at this time.

Limited footprint and accessibility: Flushing Bank isn't the smallest bank I've seen, but it's certainly not a large bank. Its 26 bank branches are located in the New York City area, and the bank only allows local residents to open accounts. As such, even if the account appeals to you, it's only an option if you live in the Flushing Bank service area.

Account earns no interest: You won't earn any kind of interest on your Flushing Bank Complete Checking balance. While this isn't unusual for a checking account, some of the best accounts actually earn competitive APYs.

Mobile apps are outdated: It's nice that Flushing Bank offers online banking and a mobile bank app, but the digital experience isn't the best if reviews are to be believed. The Android and iOS apps have 3.3 and 3.2 stars (out of 5) respectively, with reviewers complaining of bugs and an outdated interface.

Fees

You have several ways to access your money, especially if you're local to the area and can visit in person.

Deposit options

You can use any of these methods to deposit money into your Flushing Bank Complete Checking account:

• Online transfer from another Flushing Bank account
• ACH transfer from an external bank account
• Wire transfer from an external account (fees apply)
• Mobile check deposits through the Flushing Bank mobile app
• Deposit cash or a check at a bank branch
• Receive money via Zelle

The bank allows both domestic and international wire transfers; check the Fee Schedule for applicable fees.

Withdrawal options

Here are your options for withdrawing money from your Flushing Bank Complete Checking account:

• Online transfer to another Flushing Bank account
• ACH transfer to an external bank account
• Wire transfer to an external account (fees apply)
• Withdraw in person at a bank branch
• Make a purchase with your debit card
• Withdraw from an ATM
• Send money via Zelle

A Complete Checking account will come with a Mastercard debit card that can be used to make purchases anywhere Mastercard is accepted.

Consider this account if you live in the service area, like in-person banking, and want a no-nonsense checking account. It doesn't have a monthly fee and there are many ways to access your money. If you live outside the service area, prefer online banking, or want to earn interest on your money, however, you'll need to look elsewhere.

Keep reading about Flushing Bank

• Flushing Bank Review
• Flushing Bank CD Rates
• Flushing Bank Complete Savings Review

Our checking account methodology

At The Motley Fool Ascent, we rate checking accounts on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). We evaluate all checking accounts across four main criteria: brand and reputation, APY and rewards, fees and minimum requirements, and perks.

Our scores are weighted as:

• Brand and reputation: 40%
• APY and rewards: 30%
• Fees and minimums: 15%
• Other perks: 15%

Learn more about how The Motley Fool Ascent rates bank accounts.