First of all, banks are providing a service to you and are only obligated to you as long as you are keeping the terms you have committed to them. They cannot take your money just on a whim, but are legally allowed to charge fees related to services they offer. You probably didn't read the conditions of your bank account when you set it up, but there are many different options the bank has to protect itself. Sometimes people feel like they are at odds with their bank and that they are not on the same team. But understanding your bank and what services they offer can help you better understand how to make their services benefit you.

Choose the best accounts for your situation and understand the fees and other charges associated with your bank accounts. You can probably find a bank that has a free checking account that allows for a good deal of flexibility, but make sure you understand what else you are missing out on because you have free checking. It may be worth paying a monthly fee for your account if it gives you a significantly higher interest rate and could depend on how much money you normally keep in the bank. If you aren't sure, ask the staff at the bank. They will probably be more helpful than you may think.

You should always know what you have in your accounts. This will help you manage them more effectively in general and will also help you to be smarter about finances as well. Pay attention to what is coming in and leaving your account. Very few people still have a checkbook and use a check register to keep their account balanced, but you should still spot check and make sure that all the checks you have written are accounted for in the balance of your account. Online banking is very useful, but only shows drafts on the account when they have actually taken place. It's a terrible thing when someone assumes there is enough money in the account to make a payment only to find out that there was another check that hadn't been cashed yet that brought the balance too low resulting in overdraft or other account fees. Pay attention to what you have spent and when it is actually taken out of the account.

Another useful tip for managing your checking and savings accounts is to use them for what they were intended. If you have a savings account set up, use it as a savings account and not just a secondary checking account. Make all the efforts you can to regularly contribute to the savings and only to use it when there is a real emergency and you have absolutely no other choice. It's also important to remember that you shouldn't spend the money unless it is actually in the account. Many people live their lives on credit and are always paying for things using debt. It is always a good idea to only buy something on credit if you have the cash in an account to back up the purchase. The money you save on interest by not keeping a balance on a credit card can pay for more things than you may think (another great reason to keep track of your expenses and where all your money is going). Be smart about your money and how you manage your accounts. Pay attention to what is going on in your bank and be active when you can about managing your accounts.