{"id":14626,"date":"2026-01-05T07:55:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-05T13:55:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.discover.com\/online-banking\/banking-topics\/?p=14626"},"modified":"2026-02-05T11:59:10","modified_gmt":"2026-02-05T17:59:10","slug":"5-common-mistakes-youre-making-with-your-checking-account","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.discover.com\/online-banking\/banking-topics\/5-common-mistakes-youre-making-with-your-checking-account\/","title":{"rendered":"5 common mistakes you’re making with your checking account"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A checking account and debit card are two of the best tools you can have for managing your money. But how you use them matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cChecking accounts help you keep better track of what you spend,\u201d says Alexander Lowry, a former finance professor at a college in Wenham, Massachusetts. \u201cWhen you\u2019re recording debit and checking purchases, you\u2019re more conscious of where your money is going.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sounds easy enough, but depending on how you use your checking account, you could be shortchanging yourself without even realizing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are some checking account mistakes to avoid? To answer that, here\u2019s a rundown of the most common mistakes you\u2019re making with your checking account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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1. Treating your checking account like a savings account<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Checking accounts are typically used for everyday spending and paying bills. A savings account is your go-to for working toward short- and long-term financial goals<\/a>. Confusing the two is at the top of the list of checking account mistakes that should be avoided.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your checking account is your most-used bank account, it may be tempting to stash some savings there as well. But Andrew Rombach, a former contributing editor at a financial education website, says there are three reasons to keep your savings in a separate savings account:<\/p>\n\n\n\n