Checking account balance question:

I never keep enough and end up having to transfer money from savings. I transfer money into my savings and try and keep a title in checking but I always have to transfer some back.

I may keep $1-2K in checking and more in savings. Then I just transfer as needed. I have had my checking account hacked too many times to keep much in there.

Get 3% on $10K so that's generally what I keep in there.

Wife manages checking account. She tries to keep 1500.00. We are pretty much cash only, now. Use of credit tends to be online only. Can always move $$$ from savings to checking.

Her pay, my retirement and 1/3rd of what I earn goes to checking, bills and the likes. 1/3rd goes to savings. 1/3rd I use for fuel, personal care items, date nights, spending money as I see fit to give (children, grandchildren, etc).

PrePaid is the savings account in my name.

Emergency is one of two savings accounts in our names...if all goes South.

Operating is our joint checking, which the bride manages.

Fun is our joint savings account that funds things we put off while tending to other matters...used to update home, weekend trips, etc.

I have several accounts. My main checking receives the direct deposits, where I transfer amounts into my emergency fund account, house fund account, and a "budget" account. The emergency account is building up to 6 months of living expenses. The "budget" account is for insurances, rent, and other items we are saving for (for example, new tires or car maintenance, Christmas presents and such).

Bills then get paid and whatever is left over goes towards investments. I generally like to keep at least $100 until the night before another direct deposit as a just-in-case-need-to-run-to-ATM sort of amount. Never have to make transfers out of savings accounts with this method.

My advice is to not hold that much in a checking account unless you have some amazing account. The interest rate you're sitting on probably isn't worth it compared to at the very least a savings account, which isn't really that great either at about 1%, but it's better than virtually nothing.

We keep at least $5K in checking at all times.

I think it is important to find out what your banking needs are (versus banking desires). If those needs come with a fee that is waived if you keep a certain amount in your account (with Chase you need a certain amount in savings and checking combined), then it could be worth it.