Technology has come a long way in helping us to keep pace with our hectic lives. Part of that is Mobile Checking. Many banks offer a free checking account online as a free feature to help us keep pace with our busy lives. In this day and age technology is king! The freedom to be able to check your bank account from any location at any time allows us all to know just how much we have available and if we can really afford to make that impulse purchase.

I was watching a Chase Banking commercial the other day about their immediate text service that keeps you informed about your checking balance and other features of your bank account. Talk about advancements to online checking! Today, I received an email from Wachovia offering a choice between 2 free balance alerts:

• Daily Balance Alerts-receive your account balance information at the beginning of each business day.
• Threshold Alerts-receive notice when your account balance falls below or exceeds a pre-set amount.

I'm not sure what other big banks such as Bank of America, Wells Fargo, HSBC, Citibank, etc. are offering, but I'm pretty sure that if they aren't yet, then they soon will be.

Online banking is a must for anyone with an internet connection on their phones. Smartphones have made tremendous contributions to our lives and helping us to manage our checking is just one of the many positive contributions. The days of having to run home to our desktop computers or needing our notebooks to be current with our bank accounts are no longer. It used to be that if you were out and about and needed your checking account balance or simply an update on your checking information, you were forced to call your bank and wait on hold to speak with a representative or go through the phone prompts. Now, managing your checking account is as easy as sending a text message.

The great leaps in technology are made more tangible by banks incorporating these new services to help make our chaotic lives just a bit more managable. In our fast paced world, online banking is helping to make our lives more organized. The wonders of technology! What will they come up with next?

Free checking accounts are not only common, but they are also convenient. The online checking feature allows everyone with an internet connection the convenience of managing their checking accounts with mobile checking.