How to Manage Your First Bank Account

You don’t have to earn an MBA to make good financial decisions. These simple suggestions will help to get your first bank account up and running smoothly.

Step 1: Choose checking or savings
Choose whether to open a checking account, savings account, or both. If you’ll be paying bills and making purchases, then you’ll need a checking account.

Step 2: Study the options
Research multiple banks and the accounts they offer until you find one that’s right for you.

Tip
Many checking and savings accounts pay interest on a monthly basis. Choose one of these if it is available.

Step 3: Make a deposit
Make your first deposit. Your bank may require a minimum amount to open the account or a minimum balance that must be maintained to avoid fees.

Step 4: Know your fees
Know the fees banks often charge for such items as dipping below a minimum balance, writing too many checks, or using another bank’s ATM machine. Don’t be caught off guard by extra charges; avoid them when you can.

Tip
Overdraft protection, while sometimes costly, can protect you from even more costly fees for bouncing a check.

Step 5: Maintain privacy
Do not share your banking PIN with anyone, or let others use your checkbook.

Step 6: Balance your checkbook
Balance your checkbook on a regular basis. Save receipts, keep track of transactions, and record them into your checking ledger at the end of each day or week.

Tip
Spend based on your ledger balance and not on your online account balance. If you’ve written a check that hasn’t cleared yet, it won’t be reflected and you might end up spending more than you have.

Step 7: Always check your statement
Make sure you reconcile your checking ledger and your bank statement each month. Sort out any discrepancies by reviewing your purchases or contacting the bank.

Did You Know?
Did you know? The largest U.S. dollar amount ever issued as paper currency was the $10,000 bill.

[stonerman]

This background music makes me want to pull my hair out. Classical conditioning...

[pdog]

Where Is the Home button???? to go back to the home page

[mindyours]

Lmao why is it December 21st 2018 and I'm just finding out there was a $10, 000 dollar bill .. I always asked what was the largest currency ever issued and no one knew .. thanks howcast 😭😂💕

[mjsbiggestfan]

Shit...I'm 18 and I'm about to get my first bank account...man, here comes the adult life already.

[AFXGaming]

I'm 13 and thinking of opening a bank account... Any auggestions

[mienchen]

@CollegeLoheart Yeah, just let your anger out and continue throwing around with cuss words. I'm sure it makes you feel much better.

[kabukiforever]

@pdog3334 I think you just have to click the youtube Icon

[steve]

firstbank is a rippoff, they just charged me 31.00 to no make a transaction

[andravga]

@mexicoolguy haha true! just realized that..

[mienchen]

@icecool1065 i agree :P he now calls me a Nazi for telling him he's the stupid one. Kinda sad...

[kabukiforever]

oh yeah and DONT bank at Bank of America