How to Track Checking Transactions
In 2009, United States banks collected over $38 billion in overdraft fees; this was almost twice the amount of overdraft fees collected in 2000. To avoid paying these fees, you have to know exactly how much money you have in your bank accounts and then refrain from overspending. Luckily, there are a few key tools you can use to track your checking account transactions.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Log in to your account on your bank's website and navigate to your checking account. Every checking account transaction that you've had will be listed. To log in you will need your checking account number and a password of your choosing, which you can create on the bank's website.
-
2
List all of your checking account transactions in an Excel spreadsheet. You may prefer this method to tracking your transactions because you can perform additions and subtractions from your running balance. Whenever you make a checking account transaction, record it in this spreadsheet.
-
-
3
Record all of your checking account transactions in a checkbook. You will receive a checkbook when you open any checking account at a bank. Checkbooks allow you to record the date, details of the transaction, payment amount, deposit amount and your account's balance. Checkbooks are convenient because they are portable; unlike an Excel spreadsheet, they are small enough so that you can take them with you and record all of your transactions.
-
4
Set up email notifications for your checking account. When you set up this service in person or on your bank's website, you can choose to be notified via email of such things as your recent transactions or your recent overdrafts.
-
1
References
- Power Payday Loan: Overdraft Fees from Banks Produce Billions in Profit
- Bank of America: Online Bank Account Management
- Geoffrey Wyght: Excel - Track and Balance Your Checking Account
- The Mint: Track Your Checking Account
- US Bank: Text and Email Alerts from U.S. Bank Help You Stay on Top of Your Finances
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images
