Checking accounts are the most used account type. You can deposit checks, cash, and direct deposits from a job.

This account type can be insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).

Your money can be withdrawn at ATMs with a debit card. The debit card can be used to make payments in stores or online. 

Some checking accounts can earn a small amount of interest usually about 0.01% APY. 

Some people believe that a regular checking account can help a person build credit history. That is not correct. Credit lines, loans, and sometimes utilities can build credit history. See the credit bureaus for more information: Experian, Equifax, and Transunion.