Checking accounts allow you to access your money to shop, pay bills or withdraw cash from locations across the globe. They are well-suited to pay for your daily or recurring expenses. A regular savings account, on the other hand, offers the added benefit of earning higher dividends, or a compounded return on the funds you deposit over time. These dividends compound at intervals set by the financial institution, but usually occurs either annually, quarterly, monthly, or daily. (Quorum compounds dividends monthly.)
Savings accounts are, by design, not suited to pay for daily purchases. In fact, they are limited by federal Regulation D to no more than six withdrawals per month. If your monthly budgeting and bill payment plan requires multiple transfers each month from a savings account, or you believe you may routinely exceed six transfers per month, consider a checking account, or setting up multiple savings accounts.