
Benefits of our checking accounts
The National Institutes of Health Federal Credit Union’s two checking accounts help you care for your financial wellness. Both accounts are digitally enabled and accessible 24/7, so you can bank around your schedule. Plus, both accounts feature these, and other, standard features:
No minimum balance requirements
Visa® Platinum Debit Rewards card with three ways to earn rewards
No-fee withdrawals at over 30,000 network ATMs nationwide
Check deposit by mobile phone
No-fee monthly cashier’s check
Rate reductions on select loans2
Send money in the moment with Zelle®

CareFree Checking
Are you a first time checking account holder? Or are you looking for a better account that never has a monthly fee? If so, CareFree checking is just what the doctor ordered. It comes with all the standard features above. Plus, you can get a 0.25% rate reduction on select NIHFCU loans with automatic debit of your loan payment.2

TotalCare Checking
Enjoy all the standard features above plus a lot more for your financial wellness, including:
Earn dividends on your account – currently 0.030% APY*
3 non-network ATM transactions/month with no NIHFCU fee3
Incoming wires with no NIHFCU fee
Up to a 0.50% rate reduction on any signature or auto loan with automatic debit2
Up to $300 of cellular telephone coverage for three phones to help cover the cost of repair or replacement4
Identity theft monitoring and resolution, with up to $10,000 identity theft reimbursement and more5,6 for you and eligible family
Experience TotalCare Checking with our two month “First Look” period – switch at any time**!

Visa® Platinum Debit Rewards
Shop with your NIHFCU Visa Platinum Debit Rewards card for two easy ways to great rewards!
Earn points on all your everyday purchases7,8
Earn more points when you select CURewards® offers from popular retailers and online merchants
Get more rewards! Visit CURewards to register your card, view special offers, and redeem points for merchandise, travel, gift cards, cash, or to donate to NIH charities.

Overdraft Coverage
NIHFCU offers a variety of options that can provide assistance when a transaction exceeds your available balance.
Overdraft Protection– a fee-free option that automatically transfers funds from your NIHFCU savings account (up to 6 per month).
Checkmate line-of-credit– this Personal line-of-credit9 is a great way to cover overdrafts and provide access to cash for other urgent needs.
Courtesy Pay– if your account is eligible10, we’ll extend up to $700 in additional coverage (including fees) when your other sources are insufficient to cover an overdraft. To extend coverage to also include ATM or everyday debit transactions, you can opt-in to Courtesy Pay Plus. (There is a $30 fee for each overdraft covered by Courtesy Pay or Courtesy Pay Plus.)

Switch your account to us with ease
Moving your checking account to NIHFCU from a bank does not need to be hard. In fact, our switch kit helps make this task easy and organized. Start by following the simple steps in our Switch Kit Check List. Then use forms below to get started.
Direct Deposit Authorization Form – government employees, click here for Standard Form 1199A
If you have questions about the process, call us 1-800-877-6440 or stop by any branch.

Important Forms and Documents
ATM Fee Rebate – for Money Manager or Money Manager Plus accounts13
Direct Deposit Authorization
How to Balance Your Checkbook Worksheet
To order checks, log in to online banking or call 1-800-877-6440.

Already have an NIHFCU Checking Account?
If you have an NIHFCU checking account no longer offered, you can stay with it. Or, you can switch to CareFree or TotalCare checking. Just submit an account change eform, stop by any branch or call.
Unsure about switching accounts? Our representatives can help you compare account features to select the account that’s right for you.