For about the last 10 years I have enjoyed free banking with my cheque account with Standard Bank - its called a "Consolidator" account. The deal is that as long as you maintain a prescribed minimum balance you get free banking (it really is free - no strings attached). The amount of cheques you may write depends on the size of the minimum balance you had during the month. You may pick up a brochure at any Standard Bank branch.

I am not necessarily a buddy of Standard Bank but I have to admire them for this service. One thing though - I did not ask them for this, they invited me to have it, so I dont know if just anyone may cruise in and demand one. When they offered it to me I had already had a current account with them for many years.