2.  A checking account allows you to… 1. Pay bills by check or online 2. Earn money for your money in the bank 3. Protect your money

3. When writing a check one must always remember to… 1. Date the check 2. Write out the amount in words 3. Sign the check 4. Make the check out to the appropriate person. You should NEVER leave pay to the order of blank. You should NEVER leave the amount blank.

5. These are useful… They help provide instant access to funds

6. Even though ATM/Debit Cards can be very useful you do need to be careful. Make sure your card is signed. PIN based cards offer the best protection. Keep card in a safe place at all times. Keep necessary information about lost/stolen cards at home. Online best to use credit not debit. Stolen needs to tell bank immediately.$50 liability call within 2 days $500 after two days

7. A check registry allows one to ENSURE the bank statement is accurate and all money is accounted for.

8. Check Register for Joanne Fennessy Save-A-Lot Bank Account #123456789 Date Check NumberDescription of ActivityDebit (-)Credit (+)Balance 1-Oct Direct Deposit check 90000 900.00 1-Oct1 Sunset Villas: rent 75000 150.00 4-Oct Gas 3500 115.00 7-Oct ATM transaction 10275 12.25 12-Oct Deposit: birthday money 20000212.25 14-Oct Debit: food shopping 5000 162.25 15-Oct Direct Deposit check 900 001062.25 15-Oct2 Utilities 12500 937.25 17-Oct Debit: gas 3500 902.25 19-Oct ATM transaction 12275 779.50 22-Oct Debit: food shopping 7000 709.50 24-Oct Debit: gas 3500 674.50 25-Oct3 Car Insurance 22000 454.50 28-Oct4 Verizon 9900 355.50

9. A bank statement is given out monthly to show all transactions. It is an official document of account activity. When you reconcile your account you use this as a guide.

11. When reconciling your bank account if you find errors you should contact your bank. It is for this possibility that one should keep all receipts as a record. This information would be necessary to show in order to dispute a transaction.

12.  Write down all information that describes the situation you are complaining about.  Complain as soon as possible. Once a bank statement is received there is a limited amount of time to report an error.  Speak to a supervisor so you know you are in the right hands.  Assemble all paper work and statements that states your case so you have sufficient evidence.  DEBIT/CREDIT purchases can be disputed.

13. Sometimes we miscalculate the amount of money in our accounts. An overdraft or line of credit enables the bank to still make the payment. Account holders are then made aware of the problem and charged the difference with appropriate interest rate. Fees and the amount of credit you are allowed vary based on the bank.

14. Some banks require an account holder to always have a minimum amount in their account. If this minimum is not met the account holder can be fined or possibly have their account closed.

15. Interest allows one to make money off of their money. Why do you think banks provide this? Checking Accounts v Other Accounts

16. When do you think one should write a check v using a debit or atm card? Do you think it is beneficial to use online banking? Would you use a checking account to save money?

17. When Washington Mutual Bank first opened they did not charge a fee for use of their ATM’s. Why do you think this is so? Commerce Bank is opened seven days a week. Do you think this is an effective marketing strategy?

18. Use the Bank Comparison Chart to analyze two banks and the services they provide. Once your research is done and the chart is completed, write several sentences explaining which bank you would use and why.