{"id":6717,"date":"2026-01-06T04:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-06T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.discover.com\/online-banking\/banking-topics\/?p=6717"},"modified":"2026-02-05T12:25:25","modified_gmt":"2026-02-05T18:25:25","slug":"6-tips-for-managing-a-checking-account-in-college","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.discover.com\/online-banking\/banking-topics\/6-tips-for-managing-a-checking-account-in-college\/","title":{"rendered":"6 tips for managing a checking account in college"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Heading off to college is exciting. Really exciting. You finally have freedom! You’re out on your own for the very first time, managing your studies, managing your social life<\/a> and… managing your finances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite being a big part of your newfound independence, personal finance is a subject you probably won’t find on your course schedule. If you didn’t take a personal finance class in high school and never had money lessons from your parents, you may not know how to manage a checking account as a college student.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCollege students have very different needs for their checking account than their parents or other adults,\u201d says Tommy Martin, a private wealth advisor. If you live in a different city during the school year than you do during winter and summer breaks, for example, you may be looking for a bank that\u2019s online and has a large ATM network<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Okay, so how do I manage my checking account in college, you ask? First, don\u2019t get overwhelmed. Learning how to manage money while in college and getting a handle on checking account basics is simpler than you might think (oh, and the skills will serve you for years to come). Second, you can kick off your checking account education with these tips for managing a checking account in college:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Compare checking accounts before signing up<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While your college life may center around your school campus, you should consider venturing off-campus to pick the right checking account for your lifestyle<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Students typically sign up with a bank that’s on campus or close to campus,” says Sahil Vakil, a financial planner and president of a New Jersey-based wealth planning firm. The nearest bank might not be the one that best fits your needs, he adds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"College<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Instead of picking a bank based solely on proximity, consider all of your options, including banks with off-campus locations and online-only banks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Martin agrees, saying that learning how to manage money while in college means considering all of your banking options rather than “automatically enrolling or choosing the official school bank just because it has the school logo on it.” There are other ways to show your school pride, after all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Learn about checking account fees and rewards<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Vakil and Martin both say a tip for managing a checking account in college is to consider an account’s fees<\/a> before signing up. Costly fees can eat into your savings and spending money, which can be a blow for students who are not working full-time. When you are picking a checking account<\/a> in college, consider fees for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n