Benefits of Having a Checking Account (2024)

1. A Banking Relationship

Banks often offer more than just checking and savings accounts. Banks, like Huntington, provide a full range of services to help you with life’s milestones and setbacks. In addition to checking and savings accounts, they may also offer investment services, retirement planning, mortgages, auto loans, wealth management, and other forms of financial support.

At Huntington, our bankers are here to help you navigate how to buy a home as well as handling the financing of the loan. Establishing a checking account with us is often the first step to opening the door to additional resources and assistance we have to offer.

2. Digital Budgeting Tools

Creating a household budget can be tricky. Checking account holders at Huntington have access to a whole suite of digital tools we call The Hub. Spend Analysis in The Hub, analyzes up to two years of spending habits. This helps you set a realistic budget based upon a real-time analysis of your spending. Then Spend Setter, a personal budgeting tool also inside The Hub, helps you monitor your spending levels and easily set a budget; no spreadsheet skills required.

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Our Look Ahead Calendar can help you stay ahead of your spending by keeping track of expected payments and paychecks. It’s fully customizable to help you track exactly what you want to track. These budgeting tools, when coupled with our mobile alerts¥ and mobile banking can help you take the guesswork out of your finances.

3. Direct Deposit

Setting up direct deposit for your paycheck means you no longer need to rush to get to the bank before it closes or waste time and money waiting in line at a check cashing store. Your money is automatically deposited right into your bank account when you’re paid.

Depending on how your employer has it set, you may find your money available to you earlier if your payday falls on a weekend or a bank holiday. No rushing. No waiting. And, most importantly, no more wasting money on check cashing fees.

4. Keep More of Your Money

A big money saving tip is to eliminate unnecessary fees and expenses.

Check Cashing Fees

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau identified a check cashing store that charged consumers a 5% fee to cash a check. That comes to $50 for a $1,000 check.

Why give up $50 a paycheck just to have access to the money you’ve earned? At Huntington, we believe it’s important for you to keep more of your hard-earned money in your wallet, so you can spend it or save it for financial goals.

Convenience/Processing Fees

If you don’t have a checking account, you may need to log into the company’s website portal, who you’re paying the bill to, and pay directly, which could result in “convenience fees” or “processing fees.”

Convenience fees typically run 2%-3% of the bill§. A checking account with Huntington gives you access to Bill Pay, which can easily allow you to schedule your bill payments through the Huntington online portal with no additional fees.

Money Order Fees

If you’re not able to pay your bills online or by check, you may have to get a money order to mail in a payment. Money order fees can vary, and these fees may need to be paid per payment¥. These seem like small amounts of money, but they add up over the year.

Applying for a no minimum to open, no minimum balance checking account, like Asterisk- Free Checking® with Huntington helps eliminate these unnecessary fees.

5. Funds Accessibility

Checking accounts provide the luxury of your money being readily available to you. Debit cards let you pay for items at checkout with a swipe of your card. You don’t have to worry about carrying cash, but you can still get cash at an ATM if you want it. With our mobile banking tools, account alerts, and online banking portal, you have access to what you need to know: your account balance, what’s cleared the bank, what’s still pending, and the availability of your funds.

6. Financial Security

Keeping your money with you in cash may seem like a secure way to handle it, but cash can easily get lost or, worse, stolen. At Huntington, we take your account security very seriously. We are an FDIC-insured bank, which means your money is protected up to the FDIC insurance limits. The standard insurance amount provided by the FDIC is $250,000 per dispositor, per insured bank, for each account ownership category.

For more information regarding deposit insurance provided by the FDIC, visit their website.

Also, some people worry about the security of banking online. At Huntington, we take precautions to help make online banking more secure. For example, Huntington’s online banking is a secure, SSL-encrypted system. Also, if you lose your debit card, you can lock your card online or from your smartphone.

Checking accounts can help save you time and money. You can open a checking account online and put your money to work for your financial goals.

¥ Message and data rates may apply.

Consumer Finance Protection Bureau, “CFPB Takes Action Against Check Cashing and Payday Lending Company for Tricking and Trapping Consumers,” Accessed July 2020.

§ Kagan, Julia, “Convenience Fee,” Investopedia, February 21, 2020.

¥ Burnette, Margarette, “Cashier’s Check vs. Money Order: How to Decide,” Nerd Wallet, January 29, 2019.

FDIC, “Deposit Insurance at a Glance,” Accessed September 21, 2020.

Asterisk- Free Checking® is a federally registered service mark of Huntington Bancshares Incorporated.

The information provided in this document is intended solely for general informational purposes and is provided with the understanding that neither Huntington, its affiliates nor any other party is engaging in rendering financial, legal, technical or other professional advice or services, or endorsing any third-party product or service. Any use of this information should be done only in consultation with a qualified and licensed professional who can take into account all relevant factors and desired outcomes in the context of the facts surrounding your particular circ*mstances. The information in this document was developed with reasonable care and attention. However, it is possible that some of the information is incomplete, incorrect, or inapplicable to particular circ*mstances or conditions. NEITHER HUNTINGTON NOR ITS AFFILIATES SHALL HAVE LIABILITY FOR ANY DAMAGES, LOSSES, COSTS OR EXPENSES (DIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL, INDIRECT OR OTHERWISE) RESULTING FROM USING, RELYING ON OR ACTING UPON INFORMATION IN THIS DOCUMENT EVEN IF HUNTINGTON AND/OR ITS AFFILIATES HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF OR FORESEEN THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES, LOSSES, COSTS OR EXPENSES.

Third-party product, service and business names are trademarks/service marks of their respective owners.

Benefits of Having a Checking Account (2024)

FAQs

What is an advantage of using a checking account? ›

The pros of checking accounts include: the ability to easily manage your money and pay bills through automatic payment, set up automatic transfers to other financial accounts, and getting paid faster through direct deposit of paychecks and IRS tax refunds.

What is the benefit of a Chequing account? ›

It usually has lower transaction fees than a savings account. Chequing accounts usually: include the use of a debit card to access your money at automated teller machines (ATMs) include the use of a debit card to make purchases in-store.

Is checking account worth it? ›

It's advisable to have both types of bank accounts. You can: Use a checking account for spending and paying off expenses, and. Use a savings account to build and hold your emergency fund while earning interest.

What are 3 advantages of having a bank account? ›

  • Your money is safe. ...
  • Your money is protected against error and fraud. ...
  • You get your money faster with no check-cashing.
  • You can make online purchases with ease and peace.
  • You have access to other products from the bank. ...
  • You can transfer money to family and friends with.
  • You have proof of payment.

What is a checking account a good option for? ›

A checking account helps you organize your finances and pay bills on time. Checking accounts help you keep a budget on track and, since you can connect online or via your mobile device 24-7, access to your account information is very convenient.

What is the main reason for a checking account? ›

A checking account lets you store cash safely and securely while enjoying easy access to your money with debit cards, electronic transfers, or checks. People typically use checking accounts for things like on-time, automatic bill payments and making purchases.

What is a disadvantage of having a checking account? ›

Fees – many checking accounts come with additional costs such as maintenance fees, ATM withdrawal fees and transaction fees. Overdraft fees – overdraft fees, when the balance goes below zero, are determined by each individual bank, making them difficult to understand and often very expensive.

Why is it convenient to have a checking account? ›

Easy access to your funds

Checking accounts offer easily accessible funds. You can withdraw your funds at your bank or credit union, get cash from an ATM or transfer funds to another account.

What is not a benefit of a checking account? ›

Disadvantages of a Checking Account

Little to no interest: These accounts are for everyday spending, not for generating interest. Fees: People without direct deposit who cannot meet the minimum required balance will have to pay monthly service fees.

Is it OK to just have a checking account? ›

If you're just looking to pay for everyday expenses, a checking account is the way to go. If you're focusing on growing your money, a savings account is a better fit. Regardless of the account type you choose, make sure you pick one suited to your financial needs and goals.

How much money should you have in your checking account? ›

The general rule of thumb is to try to have one or two months' of living expenses in it at all times.

How much money should I have saved by 25? ›

20k is the ideal savings amount for a 25 year old

“Ideally, your savings should reach $20,000 by the time you turn 25,” says Bill Ryze, a certified Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) and board advisor at Fiona. The national average for Americans between 25 and 30 years of age is $20,540.

What are the pros and cons of a chequing account? ›

Pros and cons of chequing accounts:

Pros: You can write cheques, pay bills, make debit purchases using your debit card, withdraw cash, send e-transfers and more. Cons: You usually don't earn any interest on the money you have in the account.

Is it safe to keep money in a checking account? ›

The FDIC insures your bank account to protect your money in the unlikely event of a bank failure. Bank accounts are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), which is part of the federal government. The insurance covers accounts containing $250,000 or less under the same owner or owners.

What is the benefit of having an account? ›

Bank accounts offer convenience

If you get an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) or debit card for the account, you can withdraw money easily or make payments at stores. A debit card is usually accepted for purchases anywhere credit cards are accepted.

Which is an advantage of using a checking account quizlet? ›

A checking account is a good way to pay your bills, it is safer than carrying cash, it is a built-in record-keeping system, it provides proof of purchases, and it gives you access to many other banking services.

What is an advantage of using a checking account brainly? ›

The benefits of using a checking account include multiple options for using funds to make payments, access to cash via ATMs, and the protection of your money by FDIC insurance.

What is the benefit of using a checking account that is not a benefit of using a savings account? ›

Checking accounts are better for regular transactions such as purchases, bill payments and ATM withdrawals. They typically earn less interest — or none. Savings accounts are better for storing money.

What are the advantages of using a check? ›

It is safer to use checks. If your check is lost or stolen, you can ask your bank to stop payment on the check. By doing so, your money is safe.

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