BMO Smart Advantage Checking is free with paperless e-statements — one of the cleanest no-fee checking offers at a major bank. Smart Money Checking costs $5/month but has no overdraft fees. OON ATM fee is $3.00. Outgoing domestic wire is $25. BMO’s exact per-item overdraft fee is unconfirmed as of this update — reported figures range from $15 to $37; confirm the current fee directly with BMO before opening an account.
BMO Bank Fee Schedule 2026
| Fee Type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Smart Advantage Checking | $0 | With e-statements; $5 with paper statements |
| Smart Money Checking | $5 | No overdraft fees; declines instead |
| BMO Relationship Checking | $25 | Waived: $25,000+ combined balance (confirm current terms) |
| Overdraft fee (Smart Advantage) | $15–$37 (unconfirmed) | Smart Money has no OD fees — confirm exact current fee with BMO |
| OON ATM fee | $3.00 | Plus operator surcharge |
| In-network ATM fee | $0 | BMO + Allpoint network |
| Foreign transaction fee | 3% | — |
| Outgoing domestic wire | $25 | — |
| Incoming domestic wire | $15 | — |
| Outgoing international wire | $40 | — |
| Stop payment | $32 | — |
Overdraft Fee: Confirm Before You Rely On a Number
Published sources disagree on BMO Smart Advantage Checking’s per-item overdraft fee — some describe it as a relatively low $15/item, others describe a cap of up to $37/item. This is too large a discrepancy to state as settled fact. Before assuming either figure, confirm BMO’s current overdraft fee directly at bmo.com or by calling 1-888-340-2265. BMO Smart Money Checking sidesteps the question entirely — it has no overdraft fees because transactions that would overdraw the account are simply declined.
Smart Advantage vs Smart Money: Which to Choose
| Feature | Smart Advantage | Smart Money |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | $0 (e-statements) | $5 |
| Overdraft | Confirm current fee with BMO | None — declines |
| Check writing | ✅ | ✅ |
| Zelle | ✅ | ✅ |
| Best for | Customers who manage balance well | Customers who want no OD risk |
If you occasionally overdraft, Smart Money’s predictable $5/month fee may be worth comparing against Smart Advantage’s overdraft fee once you’ve confirmed the current amount.
BMO Monthly Fee: Free With E-Statements
The Smart Advantage “free” account does require paperless statements. Customers who prefer paper statements pay $5/month — a practice increasingly common at larger banks. Setting up e-statements (in the BMO app) takes under 2 minutes and permanently eliminates the fee.
Wire Fee Comparison
| Bank | Outgoing Domestic | Incoming Domestic |
|---|---|---|
| BMO | $25 | $15 |
| Chase | $25–$35 | $15 |
| Citizens | $30 | $12 |
| Fifth Third | $30 | $15 |
| Huntington | $25 | $0 |
Confirm current figures for other banks directly, as fee schedules can change.
Related Guides
- BMO Bank routing number 2026 — 071000288
- BMO Bank minimum balance 2026 — $0 with e-statements
- BMO Bank ATM limit 2026 — $1,000/day, 40,000+ ATMs
- BMO Bank vs Chase 2026 — Midwest fee comparison
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