Benefits of having a checking account

We’ve highlighted six benefits that a checking account can provide to help you better manage your money today, tomorrow, and into the future.

1. A banking relationship

Banks often offer more than just checking and savings accounts. Banks, like Huntington, provide a full range of services to help you with life’s milestones and setbacks. In addition to checking and savings accounts, they may also offer investment services, retirement planning, mortgages, auto loans, wealth management, and other forms of financial support.

At Huntington, our bankers are here to help you navigate how to buy a home as well as handling the financing of the loan. Establishing a checking account with us is often the first step to opening the door to additional resources and assistance we have to offer.

2. Digital budgeting tools

Creating a household budget can be tricky. Checking account holders at Huntington have access to a whole suite of digital tools we call The Hub. Spend Analysis in The Hub, analyzes up to two years of spending habits. This helps you set a realistic budget based upon a real-time analysis of your spending. Then Spend Setter℠, a personal budgeting tool also inside The Hub, helps you monitor your spending levels and easily set a budget; no spreadsheet skills required.

Open a Huntington checking account

If you want a basic checking account with no monthly maintenance fee, or an interest-earning checking account, we've got the options that are right for you.

Learn More

Our Look Ahead Calendar℠ can help you stay ahead of your spending by keeping track of expected payments and paychecks. It’s fully customizable to help you track exactly what you want to track. These budgeting tools, when coupled with our mobile alerts¥ and mobile banking can help you take the guesswork out of your finances.

3. Direct deposit

Setting up direct deposit for your paycheck means you no longer need to rush to get to the bank before it closes or waste time and money waiting in line at a check cashing store. Your money is automatically deposited right into your bank account when you’re paid.

Depending on how your employer has it set, you may find your money available to you earlier if your payday falls on a weekend or a bank holiday. No rushing. No waiting. And, most importantly, no more wasting money on check cashing fees.

4. Keep more of your money

A big money saving tip is to eliminate unnecessary fees and expenses.

    5. Funds accessibility

    Checking accounts provide the luxury of your money being readily available to you. Debit cards let you pay for items at checkout with a swipe of your card. You don’t have to worry about carrying cash, but you can still get cash at an ATM if you want it. With our mobile banking tools, account alerts, and online banking portal, you have access to what you need to know: your account balance, what’s cleared the bank, what’s still pending, and the availability of your funds.

    6. Financial security

    Keeping your money with you in cash may seem like a secure way to handle it, but cash can easily get lost or, worse, stolen. At Huntington, we take your account security very seriously. We are an FDIC-insured bank, which means your money is protected up to the FDIC insurance limits. The standard insurance amount provided by the FDIC is $250,000 per dispositor, per insured bank, for each account ownership category‡.

    For more information regarding deposit insurance provided by the FDIC, visit their website.

    Also, some people worry about the security of banking online. At Huntington, we take precautions to help make online banking more secure. For example, Huntington’s online banking is a secure, SSL-encrypted system. Also, if you lose your debit card, you can lock your card online or from your smartphone.

    Checking accounts can help save you time and money. You can open a checking account online and put your money to work for your financial goals.

    Build your financial know-how

    Checking Basics

    How to order checks and checkbooks online

    Not sure where or how to order checks? We have three easy ways to order checks: online, by phone, or at a branch.

    Read More

    Checking Basics

    Joint bank accounts

    You may want more than one individual on your checking account. Huntington explains how you can add a person to your account at any time or open a joint bank account together.

    Read More

    Checking Basics

    How long is a check good for: do checks expire?

    Most checks are good for six months. However, the details can get tricky. Exactly how long a check is good for varies depending upon the check, and we can help you understand why.

    Read More

    ¥ Message and data rates may apply.

    † Consumer Finance Protection Bureau, “CFPB Takes Action Against Check Cashing and Payday Lending Company for Tricking and Trapping Consumers,” Accessed July 2020.

    § Kagan, Julia, “Convenience Fee,” Investopedia, February 21, 2020.

    ¥ Burnette, Margarette, “Cashier’s Check vs. Money Order: How to Decide,” Nerd Wallet, January 29, 2019.

    ‡ FDIC, “Deposit Insurance at a Glance,” Accessed September 21, 2020. Asterisk- Free Checking® is a federally registered service mark of Huntington Bancshares Incorporated.

    Disclosure

    The information provided in this document is intended solely for general informational purposes and is provided with the understanding that neither Huntington, its affiliates nor any other party is engaging in rendering financial, legal, technical or other professional advice or services, or endorsing any third-party product or service. Any use of this information should be done only in consultation with a qualified and licensed professional who can take into account all relevant factors and desired outcomes in the context of the facts surrounding your particular circumstances. The information in this document was developed with reasonable care and attention. However, it is possible that some of the information is incomplete, incorrect, or inapplicable to particular circumstances or conditions. NEITHER HUNTINGTON NOR ITS AFFILIATES SHALL HAVE LIABILITY FOR ANY DAMAGES, LOSSES, COSTS OR EXPENSES (DIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL, INDIRECT OR OTHERWISE) RESULTING FROM USING, RELYING ON OR ACTING UPON INFORMATION IN THIS DOCUMENT EVEN IF HUNTINGTON AND/OR ITS AFFILIATES HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF OR FORESEEN THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES, LOSSES, COSTS OR EXPENSES.

    Third-party product, service and business names are trademarks/service marks of their respective owners.