An
account at a
bank in which a
customer deposits money for immediate use. For example, one may utilize a checking account for one's monthly
expenses, such as a
mortgage payment or groceries. Because most customers keep money in a checking account for a shorter period than in a
savings account, a current account pays a slightly lower
interest rate. Typically, one can write a
check or use a
debt card on a checking account, and banks expect customers to do so. The term "checking account" is more common in the United States. In the United Kingdom, the common term is "current account."