Say goodbye to no strings free checking at most of the large banks. You now have to have a minimum balance or a monthly direct deposit of a certain amount or a mortgage or a savings account or something to get free checking. Here is an article in the LA Times a few days ago discussing it:
http://articles.latimes.com/2011/feb/04/business/la-fi-free-checking-20110204
I talked to a banker at Union Bank and he told me as far as he knows they had no plans to discontinue free checking but I don’t know what requirements they have to get a free checking account and they aren’t in the article, so I guess go online or call them and see if their free checking has strings or not. The other possibilities are to go to a Credit Union or a regional or local bank. A little work might save you a $5 to $15 dollar a month checking account charge.