A bank is a business that offers you a place to keep your money and uses it to make
more money. This business is also called a financial institution. Banks offer different
services for keeping your money at their business.
Safety - Money is safe from theft, loss and fires.
Convenience - You can get money quickly and easily.
Cost - Using a bank is probably cheaper than using other businesses to cash
your check.
Security - The basic insured amount of a depositor is $100,000. This means
that if for some reason the bank closes and cannot give its customers the money
they had in the bank, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) will return
the money to the customer.
You can tell if the FDIC insures a bank by the FDIC logo. Similarly, the National
Credit Union Administration (NCUA) insures most credit unions.
Financial Future - Building a relationship with a bank will establish a record
of paying bills, can help you save money, and is necessary for getting a loan.