According to a recent study, 1.7 million people worldwide do not have a bank account. If you do not have a bank account, you may be part of this statistic. Having a bank account is essential today, though, and you can get one from any bank you choose. If you need a bank account and are not sure what to look for when choosing one, here are some tips to help you select the right one.

Determine Your Purpose for the Account

The first step is determining your purpose for the account. Do you want a bank account to use for depositing checks you get from work? Are you looking for an account to use for paying your bills or saving money? Do you want an account to have a safe place to store your money instead of carrying it with you all the time? These are all excellent purposes of a bank account, and knowing your primary purpose can help you pick the right bank.

Local vs. Online

One difference you will notice with banks is the location. You can find local banks in your city or surrounding area. These are banks that you can go inside to handle banking business, or you can use a drive-through lane. Some people prefer having a physical location nearby that they can go to when they need to complete a banking transaction.

Other banks do not have physical locations you can use from where you live. In fact, some banks do not have any physical locations at all. These banks fall into the category of online banks. You can find hundreds of online banks to use, and they provide ways to handle your banking transactions online.

Fees and Perks

As you search for the right bank, you should examine two different features of each one you evaluate. The first feature to consider is the bank's fee structure. Do you want to pay a monthly fee for your account? If not, look for a free account. Banks that offer no-fee accounts generally have perks that offset the fees, so you should also examine the perks a bank offers. You should look closely at other fees the bank may charge, such as ATM fees or overdraft fees. Exploring all the perks is a wise move to make.

After analyzing these features and traits of banks, you might know what to look for when you choose a bank.