If you've recently graduated from high school and you're heading off to college, now's the time to apply for a free checking account. If you have a prepaid debit card, you might think that's all you need, but that's not the case. Prepaid debit cards allow you to reload them with cash, but that's about all the benefits you'll receive from them. That's where a free checking account comes into the picture. Read the list provided below. Here are just three of the reasons why you need to sign up for a free checking account before you go off to college. 

Avoid Check Cashing Fees

If you don't have a checking account yet, you need to pay close attention to the fees you pay. Now that you're going off to college, there may be times when you need to cash checks. For instance, employers often pay with paper checks until direct deposits are processed. Not only that, but you might receive checks for your financial aid disbursements. If you don't have a checking account, you can expect to pay fees to cash those checks. Luckily, when you have a checking account, you don't need to pay fees to cash your checks. Not only that but your debit card is linked directly to your account, which means you won't pay fees for reloads either. 

Make Paying Bills Easier

Now that you're going off to college, you need to think about all the bills you'll be paying each month. Some of those bills include rent and utilities. One of the great things about having a checking account is that it can make paying bills much easier. In fact, you can link most of your bills directly to your checking account, which means the money will come right out of your account each month. Or, you can toss a paper check into the mail each month, and forget about it. 

Protect Your Finances

If you usually keep your cash in your wallet, you need to rethink that method, especially now that you're going off to college. Your money might have been safe in your wallet while you were living at home. However, that might not be the case now that you'll be sharing an apartment with roommates, or when you head out to the clubs for some fun. You never know when someone is going to lift cash from your wallet. Luckily, when you have a checking account, you can keep your money tucked away in your account. If your wallet does get stolen, you can cancel your attached debit card right away.  

For more information, contact a local financial institution that offers free checking accounts.