Compare Checking Accounts

APY stands for Annual Percentage Yield. It's a figure that reflects the actual amount of interest you earn on your deposit accounts over a one-year period. It takes into account compounding, which means you earn interest on the interest that's already been accrued. The more often interest is compounded, the faster your money grows and the higher the APY will be.

APY is important because it allows you to compare interest rates on different checking or savings accounts easily. A higher APY generally means you'll earn more money.

It's essential to differentiate APY from APR (Annual Percentage Rate), which applies to loans and mortgages. APR represents the annual cost of borrowing money, including the interest rate and additional fees.

The date you receive your Social Security check each month depends on your birthday and the type of benefits you receive. Recipients of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments will receive their check on the first day of each month. For recipients of Social Security retirement, survivors, or disability benefits, checks are distributed on the second, third, or fourth Wednesday of each month, depending on your birthday:

• If your birthday falls on the 1st...

A checking account is a basic deposit account held with a bank or credit union. Features like direct deposit allow employers to directly transfer paychecks into a checking account, and debit cards allow easy access to funds wherever Visa, Mastercard or American Express is accepted.

Key Things to Know About Checking Accounts

• Low interest rates. If you're looking to earn interest on your money, don't leave it in a checking account. Their...

Personal checks are typically good for 6 months. Business, government, US Treasury, cashier's and traveler's checks are different. U.S. Treasury checks are good for up to one year. Traveler's checks and domestic United States Postal Service (USPS) money orders do not expire. 

In other words, checks do generally expire after a certain amount of time, which varies depending on the type of check. 

By law, banks are under no obligation to accept personal...

You can cash a money order at several locations including your bank or credit union, a post office, retail stores and check cashing services:

• Bank or Credit Union: Most banks and credit unions will cash money orders for their customers, often without a fee. If you're not a customer, some may charge a small fee.
• Post Office: The U.S. Postal Service cashes money orders purchased at any post office. There's usually...