What Is a Check Register? How It Works, Benefits, and Example

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A check register is a handwritten record of your checking account transactions that allows you to keep track of your running balance.

What Is a Check Register?

A check register is a handwritten record of your checking account transactions that allows you to keep track of your running balance. With a check register, you’ll always know how much money you have in your account.

Before the rise of online banking, a check register was the primary way for individuals and business owners to balance their checkbooks. Now, it’s more common for people to review their transaction histories online or use budgeting software. However, in some cases, it can still be a good idea to use a check register—or an equivalent method—to keep track of your everyday expenses.

Key Takeaways

• A check register is a booklet used to keep track of your checking account transactions and balance.
• You can use a check register to record each deposit, withdrawal, check, and debit card purchase.
• Check registers can help you better manage your money and avoid overdrafts, but the manual process can be time-consuming.
• You can also use an online alternative or budgeting software to track all of your accounts.

How a Check Register Works

A check register features rows and columns you can use to track individual bank account transactions. Each row typically includes space to record the following information for a given transaction:

• Check number (if applicable)
• Transaction date
• Description of transaction
• Transaction type (payment/debit or deposit/credit)
• Balance

Entering each transaction you make, including ones that haven't yet hit your account, can help ensure that you always know how much money you have to spend. At the end of the month, you can check your work against your monthly statement and make adjustments as needed, a process known as balancing a checkbook.

You'll typically receive a check register along with your paper checks, but you may also be able to get one for free by visiting a local bank branch.

Check Register Example

Here's a quick example of what a check register might look like with a handful of transactions:

Benefits of a Check Register

Keeping track of your ongoing expenses, particularly checks and other payments that haven't yet cleared, can help you manage your money more effectively. Here are some of the main advantages:

• Avoid bounced checks: It can take days, weeks, or even longer for a check you've written to be cashed. A check register allows you to account for that payment when you write the check, so you don't accidentally spend that money and have insufficient funds when the recipient tries to cash it.
• Prevent overdrafts: Knowing how much money you have in your checking account at all times can make it easier to avoid spending more than you have and prevent costly overdraft charges.
• Maintain a tight budget: Setting monthly spending goals can help you avoid overspending and work toward your various financial goals. However, it's crucial that you track your expenses throughout the month to ensure that you stick to your budget.

"Monitoring banking transactions is essential to catch potential fraud early and safeguard your money and accounts," says Julie Beckham, a financial education officer with Rockland Trust Bank. "The sooner you can report suspected fraud to your bank, the better."

If you see any unauthorized transactions on your bank statement, report them to your bank right away. Your responsibility for the charges depends on how quickly you report them and whether or not you’ve lost your debit card.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Where Can You Get a Check Register?

If you order checks from your bank, you'll typically get a register with the order. You can also visit your local branch and ask for a fresh check register, or purchase one through a major retailer, such as Amazon, Walmart, or Staples.

What Is the Purpose of a Check Register?

A check register allows you to keep track of your personal checks and other checking account transactions, including pending checks, and to know what your running balance is at all times.

Is There an Electronic Check Register?

Yes, several companies offer electronic check registers, either through a web browser application or a mobile app. Some types of accounting software may include electronic check registers or their equivalent.

Is There an Electronic Check Register?

Yes, several companies offer electronic check registers, either through a web browser application or a mobile app. Some types of accounting software may include electronic check registers or their equivalent.

How Long Do You Have to Keep a Check Register?

You can hold onto check registers for as long as you'd like, but you likely only need to keep them for a few months to properly maintain a balanced checkbook.

Does a Check Register Include Deposits?

Yes, check registers include both deposits and withdrawals from your checking account.

The Bottom Line

Check registers aren't as necessary as they used to be, but the underlying concept is as critical as ever.

"It’s not about using a physical check register, but instead more about the practice of closely tracking your bank account transactions and keeping tabs on money coming in or going out that may not be reflected on a bank statement," says Beckham.

Whether you use a paper check register, an electronic one, or a budgeting app, it's important to stay on top of your everyday financial transactions to ensure that you're not spending more money than you have and to help you work toward your financial objectives.

1. University of Nebraska-Lincoln Center for Agricultural Profitability. “The Lost Art of the Check Register.”
2. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. “How Do I Get My Money Back After I Discover an Unauthorized Transaction or Money Missing From My Bank Account?”

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