iQCU Blog

No matter how skilled you are at budgeting, everyone runs short of money from time to time. Part of budgeting is ensuring you have enough cash in your checking account to pay bills when they are due. If you run short of money, or a deposit is late and your checks are returned, you could be saddled with fees for insufficient funds, returned checks, and late payments. When money is tight, you must consider how to avoid overdraft fees.

There are so many new ways to pay for goods and services, but your checking account remains the foundation of personal finances. Consumers are getting more from their checking accounts than ever before. Online bill pay and electronic transactions make it easier to do remote banking online. Rather than writing a check, people are using their debit cards or smartphones for transactions. However, everything links back to your checking account.

You found the love of your life and you can’t wait to get married. However, you don’t want to get so caught up in your wedding plans that you fail to lay a solid foundation for your future together. Talking about money before you tie the knot is one way to avoid future conflict. Conversations about money are always awkward, but laying your financial cards down on the table before you get married is always a good idea.

You work hard for your money, so being able to use it should be simple and painless. That’s why you want a checking account that is easy to use and suits your lifestyle. 

You probably already have a checking account, and granted, changing banks is time consuming, but the right checking account will make your financial life easier and, more importantly, save you money. It pays to shop around with banks and credit unions to find the right checking account to meet your needs.

Prepping for gift-giving season should be something you look forward to. When you prepare ahead of time, you can make sure you’re spending an appropriate amount. You probably have a household budget where expenses are carefully calculated, but when it comes time for holiday gifts and entertaining, the budget goes out the window. How many times have you dreaded opening your January credit card and bank statements because of the damage you’ve done to your checking account over the holidays?

When it comes to opening a checking account, what is your best option? The answer depends on how you manage your money. If you’re like most people, your checking account is hub of your spending and money management. It’s the account that money flows into from various sources, such as your paycheck, and flows out of to pay bills, write the occasional check, and shop with your debit card.

Even in the age of digital transactions, everyone still needs a checking account. Your checking account is still the focal point for family finances and is the bank account that gives you easiest access to your cash. It’s where your paychecks are deposited, it’s used to pay household bills, and it’s even used to fund online wallet services like PayPal and Apple Pay. But how much do you really know about your checking account?