Checking and Savings

Checking

• Choosing the Right Type of Accounts for Your Cash - Too often the convenience of a checking account causes individuals to earn less than they should on their cash balances. A little time spent looking at the alternatives can make your money work harder for you. .
• Choosing the Right Checking Account - Checking accounts are the foundation of most individual's daily financial life. This article provides some guidelines on how one should choose the accounts that make most sense for their particular situation.
• Direct Deposit of Payroll and Government Checks - Learn why having your checks sent directly into your account is a smart and safe thing to do
• Ten Reasons to Consider Online Banking - The Internet continues to change the way we live. Online banking provides many cost and time saving opportunities. Check them out.

Savings

• Automatic Savings Programs to Reach Your Financial Goals - One of the simplest and most effective tools to use to reach any savings goal is an automatic savings program. Making the savings decision once and then letting it work every month can help you save for retirement, for college expenses, a major purchase or any other goal.
• Interest Rate Risk - With interest rates at the current low levels, there are benefits of locking in lower rates on your borrowing. However, locking in low rates on your savings may present problems if interest rates rise.
• Certificates of Deposit for Your Cash Reserves - CDs can be the investment vehicle of choice for relatively short term cash reserves. Learn how these promissory notes can be part of your total investment portfolio.
• The "Wonder" of Compound Interest - Learn how the "Rule of 72" can help you make quick estimates of what your money will grow to at different earnings rates.
• The Importance of Saving - There are many things to consider when saving for the future. No one can control interest rates or accurately predict what will happen in the stock market. The two things you can control are when you start and how much you save.
• Building a Ladder of Savings Certificates - Choosing the length of savings certificates is important. Longer maturities usually provide higher rates, but with less liquidity. Building a "ladder" of maturities can result in higher rates without the loss of the liquidity you want.
• Mistake to Avoid - Not Saving Early - Accumulating funds for future retirement needs, college expenses, home purchases or some other large item can be easy to put off. Unfortunately, the longer you delay starting to save, the more difficult it becomes. Starting early puts time on your side and helps develop some financial discipline.
• Building a Savings Nest-Egg - Saving money for unexpected expenses is never easy. Here are five ideas that can help make saving easier.
• Mistake to Avoid - Holding US Non-Interest Paying Saving Bonds - Many older US Savings Bonds have stopped paying and earning interest. Learn which ones have stopped and what to do if yours are included among them. Potential web page links include: Investments and financial planning.

Debit Cards

• Debit Cards - Learn how these convenient "pieces of plastic" can make your shopping easier. Also, learn how to protect them against unauthorized use.