1 Checking vs. Savings Accounts

What is a checking account?
A checking account is meant for everyday use. You can use this account to pay bills, buy groceries, or withdraw cash from an ATM. It comes with a debit card that allows you to easily access your money at stores, online, or through ATMs. Think of it as your main account for spending.

Example

If you get paid $500, you would likely deposit it into your checking account so that you can pay for your rent, buy food, or spend it on entertainment.

 

What is a savings account?
A savings account is meant for saving money. This is where you keep funds that you don’t need to use immediately. The key difference is that savings accounts earn interest, meaning, the bank gives you a small amount of extra money over time just for keeping your savings there. It’s a good place for your emergency fund or money you’re saving for future goals, like buying a laptop or going on a trip.

Example

If you’re saving up $300 for a spring break trip, you might put it into your savings account to keep it safe and earn a little extra interest.

 

Why do savings accounts earn interest?
Banks use the money in savings accounts to lend to other people (like for home loans). In return, they give you a bit of money as a “thank you” for letting them hold your savings.

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Basic Financial Education Curriculum for Students Copyright © by Associated Students of the University of Idaho (ASUI) is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.