One year after the National Banking Act of 1864 established the dollar as the national currency, those little paper notes called checks began circulating. Now, more than 65 billion are written in the U.S. each year, and the number grows annually.

Writing checks is the easy part. Choosing a checking account and maintaining it, however, can get a little complicated, especially with all the choices available and the ever-changing policies of banks.

Finding what's best for you
The right checking account can help you keep current on your bills; the wrong one can be a money spigot that always flows toward the bank. Do some research before you open an account.

Keeping records -- painlessly
Bounced-check fees can wreck your credit, and sometimes even one bounced check can make it difficult to get another checking account. We show you how to avoid risking your financial future when using your checking account.

Modern innovations
Forget getting paid by check; your employer may be more than happy to deposit your salary directly into your checking account. And someday, maybe paper checks you write to pay bills will be obsolete.