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What are Checkable Deposits?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Checkable deposits are funds deposited in accounts that people can quickly access without any restrictions or limitations. The funds can be rapidly and easily transferred to other people by a variety of means, and such accounts are highly liquid in nature, acting very much like cash for the account holder. When banks calculate their reserve requirements, they are required to count their checkable deposits. Reserve requirements are intended to ensure that banks have enough cash on hand to meet the need from their customers.

One example of this type of deposit is a checking or savings account. People can access the funds in the account on demand by walking into a bank and making a withdrawal or using an automatic teller machine with a bank card. Checks and drafts can be written against such accounts, and people can also transfer funds electronically. Negotiable order withdrawal (NOW) accounts that bear interest are another example, as are money market accounts.

Money can be withdrawn from a checking or savings account by using a bank card at an automatic teller machine (ATM).
Money can be withdrawn from a checking or savings account by using a bank card at an automatic teller machine (ATM).

In all cases, people have a variety of means for accessing the funds in the account and can access the account at any time. Drafts and checks written against it are honored as long as there are sufficient funds to cover them or the customer has an overdraft agreement. People can deposit funds as often as they want and can also receive deposits electronically from other sources. Online banking can allow people to schedule movements of funds to and from these accounts during the day or night.

Cash is not always immediately available from a check deposit.
Cash is not always immediately available from a check deposit.

This contrasts with time deposits that place limits on how and when people can withdraw money. Certificates of deposit are an example of this type, as people are only allowed to withdraw funds from such accounts if they pay a penalty. In addition, there are usually limits on the total number of transactions per month. These are not checkable deposits because there are limitations on the account and the contents cannot be easily transferred to another party with an instrument like a check or draft.

Regular checking and savings accounts receive checkable deposits.
Regular checking and savings accounts receive checkable deposits.

Banks keep meticulous records documenting the funds in their care, the types of accounts those funds are currently stored in, and how those funds are being used. This documentation is used while calculating reserve requirements to see if a bank needs more cash on hand or can send cash to another location. Banks tend to limit cash-on-hand because it provides no benefits like earning interest or being usable for investments while it sits in a bank vault.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a SmartCapitalMind researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a SmartCapitalMind researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...

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Discussion Comments

Monika

Checking accounts are quite convenient. However I prefer to use cash. I'm so bad at keeping track of my purchases I always end up over drafting my account and those fees are killer!

ceilingcat

@JessicaLynn - That is why you should keep your money in both checkable deposits and time deposits. Ideally you should have money for bills and spending in the checking account and savings in some kind of time deposit account to earn interest.

JessicaLynn

Checking accounts are great because of the liquidity of the funds. However you definitely make a trade off on the interest rate. Most checking accounts have so low of an interest rate it barely makes any difference!

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    • Money can be withdrawn from a checking or savings account by using a bank card at an automatic teller machine (ATM).
      By: WavebreakmediaMicro
      Money can be withdrawn from a checking or savings account by using a bank card at an automatic teller machine (ATM).
    • Cash is not always immediately available from a check deposit.
      By: tashka2000
      Cash is not always immediately available from a check deposit.
    • Regular checking and savings accounts receive checkable deposits.
      By: Pefkos
      Regular checking and savings accounts receive checkable deposits.