Main Checking Account

1.	First, we want to talk about the main checking account you have right now - the one you or your family uses the most. If you have more than one, the main account is not necessarily the one with the most money in it, but the one that you use most often to pay bills. Could you first tell me whether the account is just in your name, a joint account, or someone else's account that you manage for them, or is it something else?
	(Select one)
	1.		Individual
	2.		Joint
	3.		Someone else's account
	4.		Other

2.	Which of the following types of checking accounts best describes the one you have currently? Show card #1. Casually inquire: Just so I know how to refer to this account as we continue our interview, can you tell me the name of the bank where you hold this account?
	(Select one)
	1.		Interest Checking
	2.		Non-Interest Checking
	3.		Senior Checking
	4.		Other (please explain)

3.	Thinking back, have you had some kind of checking account continuously since at least the year 2000, or have there been any periods during which you or your family did NOT have a main checking account?
	(Select one)
	1.		Continuously
	2.		Periods of interruption - probe briefly to find out circumstances. Adapt timeline in questions below if acceptable level of experience.

4.	Have you had the same checking account at the same institution you're at now since 2000, or have you changed banks or accounts over time?
	(Select one)
	1.		Same
	2.		Changed - probe for details:

5.	Thinking in general about all the purchases and payments you make, such as regular monthly payments and everyday purchases, which of these payment methods {show card #2} do you most often use? Prompt if necessary: if you had to choose one method that is used most, considering each kind of purchase or payment you make?
	(Select one)
	1.		Cash
	2.		Check
	3.		Debit card
	4.		Credit card
	5.		Other (please explain)

6.	And which of these methods would you say is your second most often used?
	(Select one)
	1.		Cash
	2.		Check
	3.		Debit card
	4.		Credit card
	5.		Other (please explain)

7.	Thinking about a typical month, about how many paper checks do you write? Probe for a fairly specific number, such as 5, 8, 10, etc.

8.	Do you conduct any of your banking on-line?
	(Select one)
	1.		Yes
	2.		No

9.	IF YES: What types of banking activities do you conduct on-line?

10.	How do you receive your checking account statement currently - electronically, a paper statement in the mail, or some other way?
	(Select one)
	1.		Electronic (either on-line, via e-mail, or both)
	2.		By Mail
	3.		Both

11.	Regardless of what you get now, would you prefer to receive only an electronic statement, only a mailed statement, or both?
	(Select one)
	1.		Electronic (either on-line, via e-mail, or both)
	2.		By Mail
	3.		Both

12.	Using this scale {show card #3}, how important is your choice between these ways? Probe for details - why is your choice so important, or not?
	(Select one)
	1.		Extremely important
	2.		Very important
	3.		Moderately important
	4.		Slightly important
	5.		Not at all important

---

Full Report: GAO-09-8

Table of Contents | Next