
Checkbook balancing tool
Learning how to balance, or reconcile, your checkbook – and balancing it every month when your bank statement arrives – is among the best money management habits you can keep.
Below are some of the benefits of keeping your checkbook balanced:
- Helps you keep track of your money
- Verifies the information you have tracked is accurate
- Catches any mistakes your bank might make.
To balance your checkbook, follow the simple steps listed below:
- Ensure you've entered all automatic transactions (e.g., ATM withdrawals, electronic transfer of funds, online bill payments, debt card transactions) into your check register.
- Review your statement.
- Compare your statement with your check register and mark off all items that match.
- Add to your register any deposits or additions from your statement, including interest payments and ATM or electronic deposits.
- Subtract from your register any account deductions, including fees and ATM or electronic deductions, that are not already entered.
- Update your statement information.
Balances don't match? Try these tricks:
- Check to ensure you didn't transpose any numbers.
- Make sure you didn't enter an amount more than once.
- Take a break. When you come back, you'll be refreshed and might see your error more quickly.
Remember, you must reconcile your account each month (at a minimum).