Moneyville

Checking accounts are designed with different consumers in mind. What is right for one person may not fit another's needs. Before choosing an account, you should learn about the features of different accounts that financial institution offers. Some accounts require a larger deposit to open the account. Some have fees for each check written.

Comparing the accounts between one institution and another will help you become familiar with different types of accounts and decide which will work best for you.

Here are some questions to ask:

- How much money do you need to open an account?
- What is the minimum balance required and how is the balance calculated?
- Is there a fee to write checks or make a deposit?
- Is there a maximum number of checks you can write each month?
- Does the account provide an automatic teller machine card (ATM)?
- Does the account provide a debit card?
- Is the bank conveniently located for you?
- How much does an overdrawn check cost?
- How much does it cost to stop payment on a check?
- Does the bank return the checks at the end of the month?
- Do you receive interest on the balance of money in the account?
- How much do personalized checks cost?

See if you can think of some other questions you would want to ask if you were shopping for an account.

Make a chart listing all the questions you believe are most important along one side and the financial institutions you want to survey on the top. You and your friends could then survey the institutions.