Transaction account

UML class diagram depicting a customer with accounts

A transaction account, also called a checking account, chequing account, current account, demand deposit account, or share account at credit unions, is a deposit account or bank account held at a bank or other financial institution. It is available to the account owner "on demand" and is available for frequent and immediate access by the account owner or to others as the account owner may direct. Access may be in a variety of ways, such as cash withdrawals, use of debit cards, cheques and electronic transfer. In economic terms, the funds held in a transaction account are regarded as liquid funds. In accounting terms, they are considered as cash.

Transaction accounts are known by a variety of descriptions, including a current account (British English), chequing account or checking account when held by a bank, share draft account when held by a credit union in North America.[1] In the Commonwealth of Nations, United Kingdom, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, South Africa and a number of other countries they are commonly called current or, before the demise of cheques, cheque accounts. Because money is available on demand they are also sometimes known as demand accounts or demand deposit accounts. In the United States, NOW accounts operate as transaction accounts.

Transaction accounts are operated by both businesses and personal users. Depending on the country and local demand economics earning from interest rates varies.[2] Again depending on the country[3] the financial institution that maintains the account may charge the account holder maintenance or transaction fees or offer the service free to the holder and charge only if the holder uses an add-on service such as an overdraft.[4]

  1. ^ U.S. and Canadian spelling, respectively; see further at Etymology and spelling.
  2. ^ "High interest current accounts". moneysupermarket.com. Money Supermarket. Archived from the original on 12 November 2016. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  3. ^ "Do other countries offer better banking than the UK?". bbc.co.uk. BBC. 24 May 2012. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  4. ^ "Free banking a dangerous myth, says Bank official". bbc.co.uk. BBC. 24 May 2012. Retrieved 12 November 2016.