Before you decide on a bank, you might want to ask the institutions you’re considering a few questions:

• What will it cost to have a checking account?
• Are there any special accounts that cost less?
• What will it cost to use that bank’s ATMs? What about other banks’ ATMs?
• Can I arrange for overdraft protection? Is there a cost for this?
• Is a minimum balance required to earn interest on a savings account?
• Do you offer online banking?
• Is there an additional charge for banking online?