Whether you’re a LLM student here for a year, or someone who’s just moved across the country to begin your law school journey, we all need the peace of mind that comes with convenient and reliable financial services. The institutions listed below aren’t exhaustive, but hopefully give you an easy place to compare and explore your options.
Bank of America
Bank of America offers three different tiers of checking and saving accounts, with different maintenance fees and perks for each one. For students under 25, the monthly maintenance fee for the SafeBalance tier is waived. The monthly maintenance fee can be waived in other circumstances, with details available on the website.
An on-campus ATM is available in the Bryan Center.
Off-campus locations include:
- 3200 Shannon Road, Durham, NC 27707
- 1515 N. Gregson Street, Durham, NC 27701
Charles Schwab
Charles Schwab offers flexible, interest-earning, fee-free checking and savings accounts that can be tied directly into an investment portfolio. Unfortunately, they have no physical locations that accept cash, so all income must be added through check or direct deposit.
Off-campus locations include:
- 1108 Environ Way, Chapel Hill, NC 27517
Chase
The very definition of “too big to fail,” Chase offers a variety of accounts with different benefits and fees. A Secure Banking account requires a $4.95 fixed fee, while a Total Checking account requires a $12.00 fee that can be waived if you have more than $500 in your account.
Off-campus locations include:
- 725 9th Street, Durham, NC 27705
- 216 W. NC-54 Durham, NC 27713
- 133 W. Franklin Street Ste. 160, Chapel Hill, NC 27516
Duke Federal Credit Union
- 2200 W. Main Street L100, Durham, NC 27705
Fifth Third Bank
Fifth Third Bank offers three tiers of checking accounts, though the fee-free Momentum level is likely to be the most useful to law students.
Off-campus locations include:
- 1133 W. NC-54 Durham, NC 27707
- 4200 University Drive, Durham, NC 27707
First Citizens Bank
First Citizens Bank is a regional bank headquartered in Raleigh with most of its locations in North and South Carolina. They offer a free personal checking account when you enroll in paperless monthly statements.
Off-campus locations include:
- 7101 Fayetteville Road, Durham, NC 27713
- 3200 Hillsborough Road, Durham, NC 27705
- 4004 N. Roxboro Street, Durham, NC 27704
First National Bank
First National Bank offers five different tiers of checking accounts, all with different perks and fees ranging from $0 to $25 a month.
Off-campus locations include:
- 3400 Westgate Drive, Durham, NC 27707
- 115 E. Carver Street, Durham, NC 27704
PNC Bank
PNC Bank, perhaps most recognizable as the sponsor of the PNC Arena in Raleigh, also offers financial services! Of particular note is the Student Virtual Wallet, which integrates a checking account, a backup interest-earning checking account, and a savings account into one cohesive plan. The Virtual Wallet has no monthly fees for six years.
Off-campus locations include:
- 3412 Westgate Drive, Durham, NC 27707
- 3732 N. Roxboro Street, Durham, NC 27704
Truist
Formed in 2019 from the merger of two regional banks, Truist offers checking accounts with a monthly fee of $12.00. That fee is waived if you have more than $500 in your account, or if you’re a student under the age of 25.
Off-campus locations include:
- 1530 N. Gregson Street, Durham, NC 27701
- 505 S. Duke Street, Durham, NC 27701
- 1855 Hillandale Road, Durham, NC 27705
- 3405 Hillsborough Road Suite A-1, Durham, NC 27705
- 4011 University Drive, Durham, NC 27707
Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo offers four different tiers of accounts, with monthly fees ranging from $5 to $35. The fee can be waived if you are a student under the age of 25, or if certain other conditions are met.
An on-campus ATM is available in the Bryan Center.
Off-campus locations include:
- 3415 Westgate Drive Ste. 109, Durham, NC 27707
- 2821 Durham-Chapel Hill Boulevard, Durham, NC 27707
- 2000 W. Main Street, Durham, NC 27705
- 900 W. Club Boulevard, Durham, NC 27701
- 300 Foushee Street, Durham, NC 27704