While it is technically possible to make it in our modern world without a checking account, it would be extremely inconvenient. So to save your time and to make your life a lot easier, yes, have a checking account necessary.
If you are only thinking of the traditional checking accounts that you need to go into a physical bank branch to open, there are so many options beyond that now. To find a balance between a traditional checking account and no checking account, you may want to open a digital checking account.
With all that in mind, there are the reasons a checking account makes your life so much more convenient and therefore necessary:
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Getting Paid
Many employers use direct deposit to pay employees. The easiest and most convenient way to set up direct deposit and get paid quickly and conveniently is to have a checking account.
Without an account to set up direct deposit, you will have to wait to receive a physical check, cash it, and wait for the check to clear. Having a checking account makes it easier for your employer to pay you, and easier for you to get paid in a timely manner.
Paying Bills
On the flip side, a checking account also makes it easier to pay your bills, especially recurring bills. You can set up automatic bill pay from your checking account to things like your utility companies and more.
You can also utilize the convenience of linking your checking account to other online payment accounts to make online shopping and online bill pay even easier. You can also choose to set up a debit card to link to your checking account. Paying bills easily and even automatically is another great reason to have a checking account in order to make your life that much more convenient.
Hub for Your Finances
One final reason that having a checking account is necessary is so that you have a central hub for your finances. You can manage your deposits as well as your payments and withdrawals all in one place.
With online checking you can also transfer between accounts, making it even more convenient for you. You can view all of your transactions in one place in order to keep on top of your finances and also manage any discrepancies that you notice as soon as you see them in the account.
Overall, while a checking account is not absolutely required in order to function in modern society, it does make things exponentially more convenient, making checking accounts seem more necessary than not.
Conclusion
Having a checking account makes it easier to get paid, pay bills, and manage your finances all in one place. You can use your checking account to set up direct deposit, set up automatic bill pay, transfer between accounts, and more, without waiting on paper checks or logging into individual accounts to pay all of your separate bills every month. All things considered, it does seem like a checking account is pretty necessary.