Checking

In this activity, students will be able to: 

• Examine a number of cartoons about checking account fees and choose one to analyze in more depth
• Explain the cartoon's key message about checking account fees and how it depicts that message

Students will be able to:

• Go through five simulations that have them use an ATM, write a check, deposit a check, use a debit card, and pay bills
• Understand and explain how to conduct various banking activities

In this activity, students will be able to: 

• Use an online simulation to practice checking balances, monitoring their account, conducting transfers, and paying bills using online banking. 

This activity can be completed in roughly 30 minutes. 

Available in English and Spanish

In this activity, students will be able to:

• Use an online simulation to practice checking balances, reading statements, doing online transfers, and paying bills using online banking.
• Available in English

In this activity, students will be able to: 

• Understand what it means to be unbanked and underbanked
• Identify the percentage of households that are unbanked and underbanked in their state
• Examine why so many households are unbanked and the consequences of not having a bank account

In this activity, students will be able to: 

• Reorder checking account transactions in ways that minimize and maximize their total overdraft fees so they gain a better understanding of how fees are assessed
• Compare the overdraft policies at 5 major banks and credit unions and how those policies impact accountholders 
• Be up, out of their seats, moving "transactions" around in a tactile manner

In this activity, students will be able to:

• Analyze data, both as text and as graphs, to understand how Americans interact with financial institutions, with a focus on online and mobile banking practices.
• Available in English & Spanish 

In this activity, students will be able to:

• Practice reconciling their checkbook using a check register and a bank statement.

In this activity, students will be able to:

• Determine what features they value in a checking account and then conduct online research to determine which accounts best meet their needs.
• Compare and then select which bank would be best for them.
• Available in English & Spanish

In this activity, students will be able to:

• Explore the costs (monetary and non-monetary) associated with checking account alternatives, such as prepaid cards, check cashing stores, etc.

With this Fine Print students will be able to:

• Read a bank statement
• Understand what the various components of a bank statement mean to interpret where their money goes

With this Fine Print students will be able to:

• Understand the criteria or rules that come with a checking account
• Avoid additional fees when using a checking account

In this Common Core Standards-aligned project, students will complete a checking register using a list of payments and deposits, learning to manually calculate their account balance.

In this activity, students will be able to: 

• Learn how P2P payments work, who uses them and for what purposes, which companies offer the service, and how to use the apps responsibly
• Access content in a variety of ways such as news articles, videos, and survey reports

In this activity, students will be able to:

• Research which financial institutions offer the best services, what needs to be done before opening a checking account. This will include having the right materials, and knowing the right questions to ask.

In this Common Core Standards-aligned project, students use reviews on Yelp to learn about positive and negative qualities that matter to consumers when choosing a bank. They also engage in the media literacy skill of evaluating online reviews.

In this Common Core Standards-aligned project, students will do research on check cashing businesses and then select a project that synthesizes information they’ve learned about both checking accounts and check cashing services.

In this Common Core Standards-aligned project, students work in groups to create a marketing campaign for Chase Bank’s College Checking Account. They artistically design checks, a debit card, and a flyer for college campuses. They also write and/or produce a commercial using high- or low-tech options.

• Available in English & Spanish

In this Common Core Standards-aligned project, students will mathematically assess the overdraft fees associated with major banks’ checking accounts and write a brief argument based on their analysis.

• Available in English & Spanish

In this Common Core aligned project, students will make and explain their payment decisions in young adult scenarios and write persuasively about payment options.

• Available in English & Spanish

In this Case Study, students will learn how to compare various checking account options. They will learn about parental influences on financial decision-making. Finally, they will decide whether to opt in to overdraft protection for their checking account.

In this Case Study, students play the role of a community college student mentoring high schoolers on why they should open and maintain a checking account. Students must provide counterpoints to the “mentees’” valid concerns against the traditional banking system.