Free Checking Accounts
Free checking, that’s really free.
Your checking account doesn’t cost you a penny when you’re banking with the credit union that helps our Colorado community grow. With no minimum deposit and no monthly fees, Elevations Free Checking Account makes everyday banking simple. Plus, you get nationwide access to your account through the CO-OP network of 30,000 ATMs, and your funds are federally insured.
Free Checking Account features:
$0 minimum deposit
$0 monthly fee
Elevations Visa® Debit Card with no annual fee
Eight surcharge-free transactions per month at 30,000 CO-OP ATMs nationwide*
Add your debit card to your device's mobile wallet so you can pay in person, online or in app


GET STARTED WITH ELEVATIONS
You become a member. We give back.
There are two steps to become a member of Elevations Credit Union:
You become a member.
Join Elevations by opening a Membership Savings Account and paying a one-time $5 membership fee. A membership fee is required for each account holder.We pay it forward. Local Change Foundation(opens in a new window)* to support life-changing scholarships for local students and community grants for affordable housing and mental health nonprofits.
We donate your one-time $5 membership fee to the
Once you’re a member, you can apply for checking accounts, credit cards, loans and more.
A little rounding up helps boost Local Change
Want your extra change to really add up? Opt in to our Local Change program to automatically round up your debit card purchases to the nearest dollar to benefit the Local Change Foundation. Your donations will help the Foundation provide scholarships to college-bound Colorado high school seniors and community grants to local nonprofits.
Stop by a branch, call us or chat with us to enroll.

CU BOULDER BUFFS DEBIT CARDS
Free checking with a CU Buffs twist.
Get all the perks of an Elevations Free Checking Account with a Buffs-branded debit card. Buffs fans and alumni can show their spirit with Forever Buffs Banking and choose to support CU Boulder student scholarships when they pay. Current CU Boulder students can get ATM access on campus with Buff One Banking. Go Buffs!
Dividend Checking
Your checking can earn dividends.
Earn 0.05% APY†
Keep flexible cash flow while earning dividends with an Elevations Dividend Checking Account.
$100 minimum deposit
$10 monthly fee
Balance to avoid monthly fee: $10,000 combined balance of savings, checking and money market accounts (excluding IRAs), all under one single account number
Earn dividends on balances over $1,000

Commonly asked questions
Yes, there is no minimum balance requirement for Elevations Free Checking, Buff One Banking and Forever Buffs Banking. All members are required to pay a one-time $5 membership fee and have a Membership Savings Account (also with no minimum balance requirement).
Here’s how ATM fees work for our checking accounts:
Free, unlimited withdrawals at Elevations ATMs
8 surcharge-free transactions per month at over 30,000 CO-OP ATMs nationwide*
2 surcharge-free transactions per month at other ATMs (charges from the owner of the ATM will apply)
Please see our fee schedule for more details.
Yes, Elevations Dividend Checking pay dividends on balances over $1,000.
Buff One Banking is a free checking account designed for CU Boulder students in partnership with Buff OneCard at CU Boulder. Students can link their Buff OneCard Student ID to their Buff One Banking Account for convenient ATM access on campus. Elevations has 10 fee-free ATMs at CU Boulder and is the only financial institution with a full-service branch on campus. Plus, we offer easy ways for parents who aren’t Elevations members to transfer funds into their student’s account.
Donations made to Elevations Foundation through Elevations Local Change may be tax deductible. Please check with your qualified tax advisor. Donations will appear on your monthly account statement, and you will receive a year-end tax donation statement.
More ways we can help you
*The first eight (8) CO-OP ATM transactions per month are free of charge. After that, you will be charged $1.50 per CO-OP ATM transaction.
†APY = Annual Percentage Yield
Elevations Foundation, DBA Local Change Foundation, is a 501(c)3 nonprofit.