BMO · U.S. checking accounts

BMO Smart Advantage Checking

Checking with no monthly maintenance fee and a $25 opening deposit. Eligible online applicants can use an SSN or ITIN; applicants outside online residency criteria should contact a BMO financial center.

Pros

No monthly maintenance fee.
SSN or ITIN accepted for eligible online applicants.
Free transactions at BMO and participating Allpoint ATMs in the U.S.
No incoming wire-transfer fee.

Cons

$25 minimum opening deposit.
Paper statements cost $3 per cycle unless waived; paperless statements are free.
Paid overdrafts can cost $20 per item, up to three per business day; exceptions apply.
Closing within 90 days can cost $50.
2.8% foreign transaction fee applies; additional ATM or conversion charges may apply.

Generated from the provider's published terms and reviewed against official sources.

Costs and key facts

Recurring fee	0 (currency not confirmed)
Minimum opening deposit	25 (currency not confirmed)
SSN requirement	Conditional
ITIN accepted	Accepted
Credit check	NotStated

Fee waiver: BMO Smart Advantage Checking has a $0 monthly maintenance fee and requires $25 to open. Other fees include applicable out-of-network ATM, paper statement and overdraft charges. Online and branch account opening requirements differ; U.S. account terms apply.

Eligibility and application requirements

U.S. address: Required

Residency and other conditions: Online Smart Advantage applicants need a U.S. residential address, date of birth, contact details, an SSN or ITIN, and U.S. citizenship or U.S. resident-alien status. BMO directs applicants who do not meet the online citizenship or residency criteria to a financial center or 1-888-340-2265; confirm the documents needed for your status before applying.

Geographic restrictions: Not confirmed. Confirm availability in your state.

Product review: 17 Oct 2026. Source retrieval dates below are separate from editorial verification. An accepted ITIN does not establish residency eligibility.

Compare u.s. checking accounts requirements and costs · How we assess published requirements

Service fees

Overdraft / returned item	20 (currency not confirmed)
Outgoing domestic wire	30 (currency not confirmed)
Incoming wire	0 (currency not confirmed)
Outgoing instant transfer	Not confirmed
Incoming instant transfer	Not confirmed
Global remittance	Not confirmed · Outgoing international wires cost $50; foreign exchange and other-bank charges may apply.
Allpoint ATM	0 (currency not confirmed)
Other ATMs	BMO and participating Allpoint ATMs in the U.S. are free. Other withdrawals cost $3 plus applicable operator charges; foreign transaction fees apply outside the U.S.
Cash deposit	Deposits at BMO ATMs and eligible participating ATMs are free where supported; not all ATMs accept deposits. See the linked fee schedule.