The fastest way to check your account type
Log into your bank's website or mobile app and look at your account dashboard. Your account type appears in one of three places: next to your account number, in a dropdown menu labeled "Accounts," or in a section called "Account Details" or "Account Information." If you see "Checking" or "Savings" written there, you have your answer in under a minute.
If you cannot find it online, call your bank's customer service number on the back of your debit card or on your bank statement. Tell them your account number and ask what type of account it is. They will tell you when ready. This takes about two minutes on hold.
If you have neither online access nor a debit card, visit a branch in person with your ID. A teller can pull up your account and tell you the type in seconds.
Key Takeaways
- Your account type is visible in your online banking dashboard under "Account Details" or next to your account number.
- Calling your bank's customer service line is the fastest way if you do not have online access.
- Checking accounts allow unlimited deposits and withdrawals; savings accounts limit how many times per month you can withdraw.
- Some banks label accounts differently—"Money Market" or "Premium Savings"—but the core rules about withdrawal limits still explore.
- If you opened the account years ago and forgot what type it is, the bank's records are definitive; your memory of the conversation is not.
Why the account type matters for your money
The difference between checking and savings is not just a label. It affects how often you can move money out without penalty. A checking account lets you withdraw as many times as you want per month—no limit. A savings account typically limits you to six withdrawals per month (some banks allow more, some fewer). If you exceed the limit, the bank charges a fee, usually $10 to $35 per excess withdrawal.
Checking accounts come with a debit card and checks. Savings accounts usually do not. If you have a debit card tied to the account, it is almost certainly checking. If you have never received checks and the account exists mainly to hold money, it is probably savings.
Interest rates also differ. Savings accounts earn interest on your balance; checking accounts rarely do. If your account has been earning a small amount each month, it is a savings account. If your balance has stayed exactly the same, it is checking.
What to do if your bank uses non-standard account names
Some banks call their accounts by different names. Chase calls a basic savings account "Chase Savings." Bank of America calls theirs "BankAmericard Savings." Others use names like "Money Market Account," "High-Yield Savings," or "Premium Savings." These are all savings accounts, even though the name does not say "Savings."
The rule that matters is the withdrawal limit. If the account description says you can withdraw a limited number of times per month (usually six), it is a savings account. If it says unlimited withdrawals, it is checking. Your bank's website or the account agreement will state this clearly.
If you are unsure whether a named account like "Money Market" counts as savings or checking, ask the bank directly. They can tell you the withdrawal rules in one sentence, and that is what actually matters for how you use the account.
Checking your statement to confirm the account type
Your monthly bank statement also lists your account type, usually at the top or in a section labeled "Account Summary." Look for language like "Checking Account Statement" or "Savings Account Statement." If you have a paper statement, it is printed on the first page. If you view statements online, it appears in the same place on every statement.
Statements from the past year will all show the same account type. If you switched from savings to checking (or vice versa), the statement from the month you switched will show the new type. This is useful if you are trying to remember when you made a change.
What happens if you have both checking and savings
Many people have one of each at the same bank. Your online dashboard will list both accounts separately, usually with different account numbers. The account type label appears next to each one. You can move money between them when ready through your bank's website, but the withdrawal limits still explore to the savings account—moving money out of savings counts as a withdrawal.
If you have accounts at multiple banks, you will need to log into each bank separately to see what types they are. There is no single place to see all your accounts across different banks.
If your bank closed or merged with another bank
If your bank no longer exists because it was bought by another bank, your account type did not change. The acquiring bank inherited your account as-is. Log into the new bank's system (usually the old bank's website redirects you) and look for your account type in the same places: the dashboard, account details, or your statement.
If you cannot find your account online after a merger, call the new bank's customer service. They have records of every account that transferred over, and they can tell you the type when ready. Bring your old account number if you have it, though the new bank can usually find you by name and Social Security number.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my account from savings to checking or vice versa?
Yes. Contact your bank and ask to convert the account. Some banks do this when ready over the phone; others require you to visit a branch or submit a form online. There is usually no fee. The conversion takes effect when ready or within one business day.
What if my bank statement says one type but my online dashboard says another?
Contact your bank when ready. This is a data error on their end. Ask them to confirm which type your account actually is and to correct whichever system is wrong. Do not assume the online version is correct just because it is newer.
Does a savings account with a debit card count as checking?
No. Some banks issue debit cards for savings accounts. The withdrawal limit still applies—you can only withdraw six times per month without a fee, even though you have a card. The card does not change the account type.
If I have not used my account in years, is the type still the same?
Yes. Account type does not change unless you or the bank change it. An inactive savings account is still a savings account. An inactive checking account is still checking. Log in or call to confirm, but the type will be what it always was.