Managing Debt

Please print this page before you begin.

Opening a Checking Account

You will learn about opening a checking account as one step in managing debt and paying bills on time.

1.  Type the following URL into your address bar:  www.thebeehive.org/money/checking-account-basics.asp. Then, click on the link:  What are the benefits of having a checking account? 

·        Write two benefits of having a checking account.

1)      _______________________________________________________________

2)      _______________________________________________________________

2.  Click on the link:  Why should I open a checking account?

·        Read the information and use the tool to see how much you could be saving. Type in the answers to the questions on the screen. On the line below, write how much you can save.

I can save $_______________________.

3.  Click on the link:  How much does a checking account cost? Read the information and then complete the following activities.

·        Bank of the Cascades

1)      Type the following URL for Bank of the Cascades into the address bar:  www.botc.com.

2)      Click on “Personal Banking” and “Checking.”

3)      Read the chart with the different types of checking accounts available.

4)      Select the type of account that you would want to use. Write the name of the type of account.

_________________________________________________________

            5) Write the amount that the account costs per month.  $_____________________

·        Washington Mutual Bank

1)      Type the following URL into your address bar:  www.wamu.com/servlet/wamu/index.html.

2)      Click on “Personal Banking,” and then click on “Checking” under New Account Choices.

3)      Click on the different types of accounts to read about each:  “Free Checking,” “Interest Checking,” and “Gold Checking.”

4)      Select the type of account that you would want to use. Write the name of that type of account.

_____________________________________________________________

5)      Write the amount the account costs per month.  $_____________________

·        Another Bank of Your Choice

1)      Call of visit another bank in your town or city. Write the name of the bank.

_______________________________________________________________

2)      Ask about the types of checking accounts the bank offers. Select the type of account you would like to use, and write the name of the type of account.

_______________________________________________________________

3)      Write the amount the account costs per month.  $_______________________

·        Making a Decision

Write one paragraph explaining the bank and account you have selected from the three choices. Write your reasons for choosing that bank and that account.

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

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4.  Go back to The Beehive to learn how to manage a checking account. Type the following URL into your address bar:   www.thebeehive.org/money/checking-account-basics.asp. Click on the link:  How do I manage my checking account?

·        Write two tools for managing a checking account.

1)      _______________________________________________________________

2)      _______________________________________________________________