Students and senior citizens often get good deals on bank accounts. Perks such as free checking, low-cost replacement checks, free check cards, and the like can make a huge difference. If you qualify, make sure that you talk to a bank representative about the pros and cons of these perks before you sign up for the account.

Now that some banks are open seven days a week, this factor is particularly important. Some banks will follow this lead and extend their hours; others won't. If you need your bank on weekends, or other times when these institutions are typically closed, be sure to find a bank that will accommodate you.

If you have to drive halfway across your city just to make a deposit, you should probably try a different bank.

Some banks require you to keep a few hundred dollars in your checking account; others are content to see one dollar. If you go with a bank that requires a minimum to stay in your account, make sure that you know how much you'll pay should your balance fall below that amount.

If you only write a few checks a month, you probably won't have to worry about paying fees for writing too many. However, if you pay for just about everything by check, you should make sure that you'll still get free or low-cost checking.

If you want to direct-deposit your paycheck, make sure that you won't have to pay fees. If the bank advertises that they'll refund ATM charges from other banks, make sure that you understand and can follow the terms of that offer. If you know what to expect before you open the account, you won't be surprised by hidden fees or other problems that you didn't see coming.

Interest rates on checking accounts can vary greatly from bank to bank. Some banks won't even pay interest.

Some banks will cover a few hundred dollars' worth of overdrafts without charging you anything. Others won't give you help for anything. Whatever the case, your best course of action is to keep careful records and avoid bouncing checks: it's still the cheapest way to go, considering that the businesses who take your checks with insufficient funds in your account will still charge you their processing fees.

If you want to conduct banking-related business online, make sure that you won't be charged extra fees or other surprise charges for this convenience. You should also ask about the bank's privacy policies: some are more careful with your personal information than others.

Some banks are better than others about covering fraudulent purchases. If the bank that you're thinking of using doesn't offer much help, then find somebody else. There's plenty of competition in this industry, so you'll always have another place to serve your banking needs.

You can have documents notarized, wire money and obtain cashier's checks at most banks. Depending on the bank and branch, you might have access to other services.