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How to read a bank checking account statement and how to balance a checkbook. Download our free checkbook register software.
How to read a bank checking account statement
Statement Summary: This section summarizes the totals of your deposits and withdrawals/debits/checks since the last statement. It starts with the balance at the beginning of the statement period, adds the total deposits, subtracts the total withdrawals, and gives a summary balance as of the statement date.
Transaction Detail: There will be a line item for every check, debit, withdrawal and deposit made throughout the statement period. The transactions are listed in chronological order as to when the money was actually transferred, which may explain why check numbers aren't in numerical order.
Check Transactions: Your bank may use listings of check transactions in numerical order to make it easier and faster to confirm payments.
Daily Balance Summary: This area shows what happened within your account, total deposits and withdrawals, during the statement period.
Bank Checking Account Tip: Compare benefits. Review all the terms and conditions and special offers before you apply for a checking account. Some banks offer a bonus for opening a checking account, such as a no fee period or a special rate.
Savings Account and Savings Calculator
Joint Savings and Checking Accounts
Having a joint savings or checking account can be convenient for married couples and family members. With one account, there is only one set of fees to pay and joint holders can put their money together, plan for a budget, and plan to pay bills. Joint account holders can designate one person to manage transactions or both could.
Joint accounts could be a risk factor if a relationship develops problems. In this case, one holder may decide to withdraw all the funds or overdraw the account. Nothing could be done when this happens because it would not be considered fraud. It is best to make sure all persons placed on joint accounts can be trusted to avoid any account problems.
Many times shared accounts can make bill paying and easier task. For example, elderly parents may choose to put their adult kids on their checking and savings accounts so they can help them with their finances. Banks usually give joint account holders the options of “both to sign” or “either to sign”. If a partner can't be trusted, then choosing the “both to sign” option may be the best choice so any transactions require the consent of both parties. If trust is not a problem, then the “either to sign” option can make it easier to allow either account holder to do any needed transactions. Checking and Savings Accounts
Usually checking accounts do not pay interest and if they do, it will probably be smaller than what can be earned on a savings account. Checking accounts can offer unlimited withdrawals, the use of a debit card, and check writing features. When checks are written and there is no money in the account there are fees charged. The good thing about having a savings and a checking account is that you can usually transfer funds between accounts by the next business day. Online banking can make managing these accounts easier and usually offer bill pay features.
Savings accounts offer the ability to earn interest on the funds in the account. The bank does this because it uses the funds in savings accounts to make loans and conduct other business. Savings accounts may limit the number of withdrawals per statement cycle and require a minimum balance. This helps the bank ensure they have enough funds at their disposal. Some savings accounts charge a fee if the account falls below the minimum balance required.
There are several types of checking and savings accounts available, and you would need to choose the type depending on your financial needs. Two common types of checking accounts are joint checking (owned by two people) and express checking (those who don't need to do a lot of banking). An express checking account is good for those who are comfortable using an ATM, telephone, or computer to make bank transactions. These accounts usually have low minimum balance requirements and no monthly fees. Two common types of savings accounts are passbook accounts and high-yield savings accounts. Passbook savings accounts where deposits, withdrawals, and interest is recorded in a passbook the account holder keeps and a high-yield savings account (earns a higher interest rate) but requires a large initial deposit and must maintains a high minimum balance. Banking, Checking, Savings
Banks earn most of their money from fees they charge you, and you can save more of your money by avoiding those fees while taking advantage of their services. If may take some time to determine which bank has the most perks to offer. Consider choosing one that is a Federal Deposit Insurance Corp (FDIC). It insures deposits and savings and the coverage was raised to $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank. You will know if the bank is insured as they will display the FDIC sign. If you are considering a credit union, they have the National Credit Union Administration, which is a government agency.
Bank failures can happen even though it is rare, so it is good to know what they cover. Most consumers choose the basic bank service of a checking account, and there are many choices like free accounts with no minimum balance or accounts that pay interest if a certain minimum balance is maintained. For those who have more money, money-market accounts can offer higher interest rates but they usually require a high balance and limit the number of checks you can write.
It is best to ask the bank for a description of each type of account you are interested in and inquire about monthly fees and penalties. Fees for insufficient-fund checks can be as high as $30. Some banks enroll customers for bounced-check protection and they will cover the NSF check up to a certain amount. There can still be more charges until you pay what you owe. Some offer overdraft protection for a fee, the bank will draw on your savings account, credit card or line of credit to cover bad checks. Banks may be fast to process checks you've written, but they can be slow when making deposits available in your account. It could take as long as 10 business days or more for large checks or checks that are not local to clear. It is easy to compare banks online to learn about the benefits each one has to offer and you never have to leave your home. Look for a bank that is close by and has the perks you need. Checking Savings Accounts
It can be a good idea to start an emergency savings account and get in the habit of saving money. It takes doing a task several times for it to become a habit. One way to start is to have money from your paycheck directly deposited as a way to pay yourself first. Start with a certain percent, about 10% can be a good starting number. You may find you don't even miss having such a small amount going into your savings account.
If debts or other expenses are a problem, for example you have a huge insurance note or you just want to set aside money toward retirement, consider a dedicated savings account. Look for a high yield savings account, or one that is easy to get the money if it was needed, and an account free of any investment risks. An FDIC insured, high-yield savings account could be a one choice and they are available nationwide.
Consider getting a free checking account to further save money on banking fees. Some banks charge a monthly service fee if a certain balance is not kept, be sure to review all details for having the account. Look for a checking account that does not charge a monthly service or per-transaction fees, and that does not require a minimum balance.
Small community banks, credit unions, and online banks may be a starting place to look. Once you get your accounts set up, track your monthly spending, to see just where your money goes. By reviewing statements, you can determine where to make cuts to save more money. Typically setting a goal to track expenses for two to three months can be very revealing. Use that information to build a monthly spending plan. Be sure to re-evaluate your plan often in case some changes need to be implemented. Checking Savings
A checking account is a service provided by a financial institution that lets account holders deposit and withdraw money from a federally protected account. The account allows the use of a debit card and/or checks usually without restrictions on the number of deposits and withdrawals that can be made. Rules and regulations can vary from institution to institution. Some accounts have balance requirements and others do not. Generally, every bank has three or more different types of checking accounts. Free checking accounts are one of the most popular accounts, it does not charge fees for the account unless there are overdrafts. Review the conditions as some banks may require direct deposit or other restrictions to get the account free.
When consumers open an account, the bank will run a check on the applicant using either Chexsystems or TeleCheck. This is to let the bank know if the person has any history of writing bad checks or account abuse. They do not hit your credit when you are checked. If there is some negative information, the applicant could be rejected. Even though anything has been paid off, negative history can stay within the system for five years. There is a second-chance bank account as an option. This may be a chance to get approved for a bank account regardless of negative history. Even these accounts have certain restrictions, so it is important to review any terms and conditions for the bank account.
Many consumers have regular checking accounts that are no longer offered, yet some banks don't require the account holder to change to another account. This may be called a grandfathered account. The trouble could be that new types of accounts may offer free accounts if a minimum balance is kept, if the terms are not met, a fee is charged.
High yield checking accounts usually come with a higher interest rate than a regular checking or savings account. Interest could be tiered, based on the balances that are kept. These accounts are good for those who like to have large balances in their checking accounts. Because interest rates are higher, so are the balance requirements. There could be a monthly fee for falling below the requirements. Sometimes a financial institution will offer this account with a standard monthly fee, and there may be higher interest rates and benefits like accidental death and dismemberment insurance, travel and entertainment discounts, and other perks. It is best to find out what balance you should keep to offset any monthly fees.
The average over drafting fee can be as much as $30 per item that overdraws an account. It does not matter what the amount is, be sure to monitor account balances to avoid these fees. Tracking accounts online can be the quickest and easiest ways to keep finances in check. There are usually choices for overdraft protection, which may be in the way of savings, line of credit, or a credit card. Making sure you have some overdraft protection linked to an account can help you avoid paying high overdraft fees. There may be a small fee for the transfer from your protection account but the fees are usually much smaller. The important thing is be financially responsible with accounts to avoid extra fees.
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checking account balance?