Banking basics & avoiding fees
How banking actually works — and where the fees hide
The most fundamental money topic, full of quiet drains nobody explains. What a bank does with your deposits, FDIC/NCUA insurance, banks vs. credit unions, the fees that hide in the fine print, high-yield savings vs. near-zero accounts, and how to wire your accounts so the right money lands in the right place. Warm, judgment-free, never pushy.
4 lessons · about 24 minutes total · 100% free
Saved on this device only — no account needed.
1. Checking, savings & how banks actually work
Learn what your checking and savings accounts are each for, what the bank does with your deposit, and how FDIC and NCUA insurance guarantee up to $250,000.
6 min read
2. The fees banks don't advertise
Overdraft, maintenance, ATM and minimum-balance fees are quiet by design. See how each is triggered, how each is waived, and why fee-free banking is the normal choice now.
6 min read
3. High-yield savings & where to keep cash
APY is the number to compare. See how high-yield savings, money market accounts and CDs differ in yield and access, and match each pile of cash to its job.
6 min read
4. Setting up your accounts the right way
Wire direct deposit, automatic transfers and a checking buffer so the right money lands in the right account on payday, with alerts and overdraft opt-out as backstops.
6 min read