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Regardless of bad credit or no credit, give our consumer credit network a chance to serve you with a free bank checking account (offer currently offline).

Avoid overdraft and bounced check fees by managing your bank checking account so you don’t overdraw it.

Always know how much money you have in your checking account by keeping your account register updated. Record all checks, other withdrawals and deposits the instant they occur, and also remember to deduct monthly fees and/or check fees if your bank charges them.

Pay special attention to your online transactions and ATM usage. Don’t forget about any automatic debits you may have set up for loan or other payments. Also remember that you may have checks that have not yet cleared the bank.

Review your account statements monthly, the instant you receive them. Between statements, you can find out which payments have cleared and check your balance by calling your bank or by checking online.

If you overdraw your account, deposit money into the account as soon as possible to cover the overdraft amount plus any fees your bank may charge.

Joint Checking Accounts - Many married couples and family members find opening and using joint savings or checking accounts convenient and useful. With only one account, there is only one set of fees to pay and many married couples find pooling the money together makes budgeting easier.

However, joint bank accounts are riskier than separate accounts. If the relationship between the account holders turns sour, there is chance that one holder may drain the account without the knowledge of the other. Therefore, those considering opening a joint savings or checking account should discuss its benefits and downsides before making a decision.

Here are a few things to consider before opening a joint bank account.

Have Joint Account with Someone You Trust. The most important thing is trust. Only have a joint account with someone you can trust completely. This usually isn’t a big problem where family finances are concerned and where putting the money into a shared account makes bill paying and debt repayments easier. Elderly parents can also trust their adult children with their finances if they have a shared account.

Choose the Appropriate Signatory Option. Banks usually give joint account holders the options of “both to sign” or “either to sign”. Those who can’t trust their partner completely can choose the “both to sign” option so that transactions can only be carried out with the consent of both parties. If trust is not an issue at all, the “either to sign” option is very useful as it allows either account holder to transact independently of the other. What suits one household may not suit another. So choose the appropriate signatory option carefully.

Advice: Compare for benefits. Review all the terms and conditions and special offers before you apply for a bank checking account. Some banks offer a bonus for opening a checking account, such as a no fee period or a special rate.

Visit our articles to learn more information about bank checking accounts, federal regulations and news.

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.

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