Here's What Happens When Your Checking Account Balance Falls Below $100
Image source: The Motley Fool/Upsplash Figuring out what an ideal checking account balance is can be tough. You don't want to keep too much money in your checking account, because often, these accounts pay no interest. And even if your checking account does give you some interest on your balance, chances are, it pays a much lower rate than what you can get in a savings account.Alert: highest cash back card we've seen now has 0% intro APR into 2026 This credit card is not just good – it's so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee! Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes. At the same time, you don't want your checking account balance to get too low. And if yours ends up dropping below $100, you might face a few unwanted consequences, like these.1. You might struggle to pay your billsEven if you live frugally, chances are, your monthly bills come to way more than $100. But if your checking account balance drops below that point, you might have a hard time paying your bills. And if you're late, there can be consequences like added fees and damage to your credit score.Now it may be that you're looking at a checking account balance of under $100 because you just finished paying your monthly bills and your next paycheck hasn't arrived. In that case, though, you risk running into a bad situation if a surprise bill arises.So generally speaking, it's good to keep a little extra cash in your checking account at all times, just in case. And while an extra $100 is better than nothing, it's best to aim a little bit higher. If you end up needing a surprise car repair, for example, there's a good chance $100 won't cover it.2. You might get hit with a maintenance feeSome banks charge a monthly maintenance fee for balances that fall below a certain threshold -- even if you're only carrying that lower balance for a day or two. Now that exact amount will depend on your bank. But it may be that if your balance dips below $100, it leaves you open to a pesky fee you can't easily afford. So that's another reason to not let your checking account balance get too low.That said, if your bank charges too many annoying fees, it may be time to find yourself a new one. Click here for a list of the best checking accounts so you can explore your options.3. You might have to pay an overdraft feeIf your checking account balance dips below $100, you may not have enough money in there to cover an unexpected expense. And if you overdraw your account, your bank might hit you with an overdraft fee that only adds insult to injury.The good news is that some banks have done away with overdraft fees altogether. But plenty of banks still charge them. Once again, this is a situation where it could pay to look for a new checking account to minimize the fees you're on the hook for.Having your checking account balance fall below $100 could have more consequences than you'd expect. For these reasons, do your best to keep your checking account balance above $100. A good practice is to try to have enough money to cover one to two months' worth of bills in your checking account so you don't have to stress about being late with payments or being unable to cover surprise costs that pop up.Alert: highest cash back card we've seen now has 0% intro APR into 2026 This credit card is not just good – it's so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee! Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes. We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. Motley Fool Money does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from Motley Fool Money is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Image source: The Motley Fool/Upsplash
Figuring out what an ideal checking account balance is can be tough. You don't want to keep too much money in your checking account, because often, these accounts pay no interest. And even if your checking account does give you some interest on your balance, chances are, it pays a much lower rate than what you can get in a savings account.
Alert: highest cash back card we've seen now has 0% intro APR into 2026
This credit card is not just good – it's so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee!
Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.
At the same time, you don't want your checking account balance to get too low. And if yours ends up dropping below $100, you might face a few unwanted consequences, like these.
1. You might struggle to pay your bills
Even if you live frugally, chances are, your monthly bills come to way more than $100. But if your checking account balance drops below that point, you might have a hard time paying your bills. And if you're late, there can be consequences like added fees and damage to your credit score.
Now it may be that you're looking at a checking account balance of under $100 because you just finished paying your monthly bills and your next paycheck hasn't arrived. In that case, though, you risk running into a bad situation if a surprise bill arises.
So generally speaking, it's good to keep a little extra cash in your checking account at all times, just in case. And while an extra $100 is better than nothing, it's best to aim a little bit higher. If you end up needing a surprise car repair, for example, there's a good chance $100 won't cover it.
2. You might get hit with a maintenance fee
Some banks charge a monthly maintenance fee for balances that fall below a certain threshold -- even if you're only carrying that lower balance for a day or two. Now that exact amount will depend on your bank. But it may be that if your balance dips below $100, it leaves you open to a pesky fee you can't easily afford. So that's another reason to not let your checking account balance get too low.
That said, if your bank charges too many annoying fees, it may be time to find yourself a new one. Click here for a list of the best checking accounts so you can explore your options.
3. You might have to pay an overdraft fee
If your checking account balance dips below $100, you may not have enough money in there to cover an unexpected expense. And if you overdraw your account, your bank might hit you with an overdraft fee that only adds insult to injury.
The good news is that some banks have done away with overdraft fees altogether. But plenty of banks still charge them. Once again, this is a situation where it could pay to look for a new checking account to minimize the fees you're on the hook for.
Having your checking account balance fall below $100 could have more consequences than you'd expect. For these reasons, do your best to keep your checking account balance above $100. A good practice is to try to have enough money to cover one to two months' worth of bills in your checking account so you don't have to stress about being late with payments or being unable to cover surprise costs that pop up.
Alert: highest cash back card we've seen now has 0% intro APR into 2026
This credit card is not just good – it's so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee!
Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.
We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. Motley Fool Money does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from Motley Fool Money is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
