Yes. We’re all used to free checking now, but it wasn’t always that way. No fee credit cards with cash back are also a result of competition and lower costs.
I don't think free checking is a thing anymore, unless you are grandfathered in.
Shop around - it's a competitive market. Many checking accounts with an initial deposit of less than $1000 or confirmed direct deposit are free and have no minimum balance. Some (TD for example) will even pay $150 - $300 to open an account after a few direct deposits.