Truist Bank charges a $12 monthly maintenance fee on its standard checking accounts, a $36 overdraft fee (up to 3 per day), and $3.00 per out-of-network ATM transaction. The monthly fee is waivable with a $1,500 minimum balance, $500 in monthly direct deposits, or a linked Truist loan or credit card. With approximately 2,000 branches concentrated in the Southeast, Truist is the dominant regional bank from Virginia to Florida.
Truist was formed in 2019 from the merger of BB&T and SunTrust Banks. Their fee structure is middle-of-the-pack for traditional banks: the same $12 monthly fee as Chase and Bank of America, but a higher $36 overdraft fee that’s a meaningful drawback if your balance runs close to zero.
See the full Truist banking guide for ATM limits, routing numbers, and account overview.
Truist Fees at a Glance
| Fee Type | Amount | How to Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Maintenance Fee | $12/month | $1,500 balance OR $500 direct deposit OR linked product |
| Overdraft Fee | $36/item | Link savings (free) OR opt out |
| Non-Truist ATM Fee | $3.00/transaction | Use Truist ATMs |
| Wire Transfer (Domestic) | $35 outgoing, $15 incoming | Use Zelle (free) |
| Wire Transfer (International) | $50 outgoing, $15 incoming | Use Wise or similar |
| Stop Payment | $36/request | — |
| Cashier’s Check | $10/check | — |
| Paper Statements | $3/month | Switch to e-statements |
The two fees that matter most for everyday banking are the monthly maintenance fee and the overdraft fee. The monthly fee is easy to waive with a modest direct deposit — most people with a steady paycheck will qualify automatically. The overdraft fee is where Truist stings: at $36 per incident with a maximum of 3 per day, a customer who overdrafts three times in one day owes $108.
Truist Monthly Maintenance Fees
Truist Checking Account Fees
| Account | Monthly Fee | How to Waive |
|---|---|---|
| Truist One Checking | $12 | $1,500 minimum balance OR $500+ monthly direct deposit OR linked Truist credit card, mortgage, or loan |
| Truist Basic Checking | $12 | Same as Truist One (but no paper checks) |
| Truist Confidence | $5 | Cannot be waived |
Truist One Checking is the flagship personal account. It includes paper checks, a debit card, online banking, and Zelle access. The three waiver paths give most employed customers a way to avoid the fee: a single $500 direct deposit — even a part-time paycheck — satisfies the requirement each month.
Truist Basic Checking carries the same $12 fee and the same waiver options, but it doesn’t issue paper checks. It’s designed for customers who bank digitally.
Truist Confidence Account is Truist’s second-chance banking product, intended for customers who have been declined at other banks due to ChexSystems history. The $5 monthly fee cannot be waived, but the account is structured to prevent overdrafts entirely. After 12 months of good standing, customers can typically upgrade to a standard checking account.
Truist Savings Account Fees
| Account | Monthly Fee | How to Waive |
|---|---|---|
| Truist Savings | $5 | $300 minimum balance OR linked to Truist checking |
Linking a Truist savings account to checking not only waives the $5 savings fee but also enables free overdraft protection transfers — bypassing the $36 overdraft fee when checking goes negative.
Worked Example: What Truist Fees Cost Per Year
A customer with a $900 average checking balance who receives a $400 paycheck via direct deposit each month — just below both waiver thresholds — pays $12/month = $144/year in maintenance fees. If they overdraft twice in the year, add another $72. Total avoidable cost: $216/year.
The fix: route $500 of the paycheck to Truist checking each month. The fee disappears, and linking a $300 savings account eliminates overdraft risk at no extra charge.
Truist Overdraft Fees
Truist’s $36 overdraft fee is among the highest at any major bank.
| Overdraft Detail | Policy |
|---|---|
| Fee per overdraft | $36 |
| Maximum daily fees | 3 ($108 total) |
| Grace period | Until 10 PM same day |
| Overdraft Protection transfer | Fee-free from linked savings |
| NSF fee (returned item) | $36 |
How Truist Overdraft Works
Overdraft Coverage (opt-in): Truist may approve transactions even when your balance is insufficient and charge $36 per item. The grace period is key: if you deposit or transfer enough to cover the negative balance by 10 PM the same day, Truist waives the fee.
Overdraft Protection (requires linked savings): Truist automatically transfers the exact amount needed from savings to checking — for free. No $36 fee, no grace period calculation required.
If you opt out of both programs, transactions simply decline when your balance is insufficient. No fee, but no coverage at the register.
Avoiding Truist Overdraft Fees
- Link a savings account — Free automatic transfers whenever checking goes negative
- Set up low balance alerts — Text or email notification before you overdraft
- Use the 10 PM grace window — Deposit or transfer funds the same day to avoid the fee
- Opt out of Overdraft Coverage — Transactions decline rather than trigger a $36 charge
Truist ATM Fees
| ATM Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Truist ATM | $0 |
| Non-Truist ATM (US) | $3.00 |
| International ATM | $5.00 |
| Foreign currency ATM | $5.00 + 3% foreign transaction fee |
Truist operates approximately 3,500 ATMs concentrated in the Southeast (North Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, South Carolina). Outside that region, expect the $3.00 fee regularly. For daily withdrawal limits at Truist ATMs, see the Truist ATM limit guide.
Truist Wire Transfer Fees
| Wire Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Domestic outgoing | $35 |
| Domestic incoming | $15 |
| International outgoing | $50 |
| International incoming | $15 |
Truist’s domestic outgoing wire fee ($35) is higher than most large bank competitors who charge $25–$30. Free alternatives almost always make more sense for domestic transfers.
Free Alternatives to Wire Transfers
| Method | Cost | Speed |
|---|---|---|
| Zelle | Free | Instant |
| External ACH transfer | Free | 1–3 business days |
Other Truist Fees
Account Service Fees
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Stop payment | $36 |
| Cashier’s check | $10 |
| Money order | $5 |
| Paper statements | $3/month |
| Account research | $25/hour |
| Safe deposit box | Varies by location |
The $36 stop payment fee is notably high. Paper statements cost $3/month ($36/year) — switching to electronic statements in your online banking settings eliminates this immediately.
Debit Card Fees
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Debit card replacement | Free |
| Rush replacement | $25 |
| International debit purchases | 3% foreign transaction fee |
Miscellaneous Fees
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Returned deposited item | $12 |
| Inactive account fee | $10/month after 18 months |
BB&T and SunTrust Legacy Notes
Truist completed its merger of BB&T and SunTrust in 2019, with full system integration finishing in 2022. For customers who converted from legacy accounts:
- Account numbers remained the same after conversion
- Routing numbers changed — see Truist routing numbers by state
- All former branch locations are now Truist-branded
- Legacy BB&T and SunTrust rewards programs were merged into Truist’s program
The most common post-merger issue is direct deposit or automatic payment failures caused by old routing numbers still on file. If you’ve had unexplained payment rejections since 2022, check that your routing number is updated everywhere it appears.
Truist Fees vs. Competitors
| Fee Type | Truist | Chase | BofA | Capital One | Ally |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | $12 | $12 | $12 | $0 | $0 |
| Overdraft | $36 | $35 | $10 | $0 | $0 |
| Out-of-network ATM | $3.00 | $3.50 | $2.50 | $0 | $0 |
| Wire (domestic out) | $35 | $30 | $30 | $30 | $20 |
| Free ATM network | ~3,500 | 16,000+ | 16,000+ | 70,000+ | 43,000+ |
Truist’s overdraft fee ($36) is the highest in this comparison. Monthly fee and ATM fees are comparable to peers, but Truist’s smaller ATM network and higher wire fees are notable drawbacks outside the Southeast.
Is Truist Worth It?
Truist makes sense if you:
- Live in the Southeast (Virginia to Florida to Texas)
- Have existing BB&T or SunTrust relationships you’re continuing
- Can meet the $500 direct deposit waiver threshold
- Already have a Truist mortgage, auto loan, or credit card
- Rarely carry a near-zero balance
Consider alternatives if you:
- Overdraft occasionally — Bank of America ($10) or Ally ($0) are far cheaper
- Want no monthly fees without conditions — Capital One 360 or Ally Checking
- Travel frequently outside the Southeast — no ATM fee reimbursement
- Want a higher savings rate — online banks consistently outpay Truist
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