How do I Sort Through Checking Account Offers?

Many banks have a wide variety of checking account offers that they use to draw in customers. To sort through them, a few things you need to know are what you are looking for in a bank, how much money you are willing to spend each month on fees and how much convenience you would like to have. Evaluating checking account offers using these criteria might help you make the best choice when it comes to where to put your money.

Knowing what you are looking for in a bank might be one of the most important factors in deciding which checking account to open. Some banks pride themselves on their great customer service within their branch locations. Others make great use of the internet and allow customers to bank completely online without ever having to set foot in a branch location. You also might decide to look for a bank that offers other services in addition to checking accounts. Evaluating what you want your bank to do for you is a great starting point when sorting through checking account offers.

Two of the big draws of checking account offers are completely free checking and free money for opening a checking account. These accounts usually are great when it comes to the basic function of a checking account: they provide a safe and easily accessible place to store your money. What these accounts usually do not offer are high dividends or other premium services. When using an assortment of additional services is not of utmost importance to you, consider looking for free checking account offers.

If you do not mind paying a monthly fee for premium checking account services such as cashed checks mailed to you or minimal stop payment fees, then checking account offers that highlight these premium services are the ones on which you might choose to focus. Many banks choose to offer an assortment of services to their customers, charging a fee for doing so. Their customers are happy with the services they receive, and the bank earns a portion of money from the fees.

Convenience is another factor to consider when sorting through checking account offers. If a bank offers a great checking account package but is not close to your work or home, then it might not be the best offer for you. Consider the bank's proximity to locations that you feel are convenient, and then choose which offers are best for you. Choosing to bank online might sound like a convenient option, but be sure to check on the bank's policy on the availability of funds, free automatic teller machine (ATM) locations and deposit methods.