Are you a newly wed or in a long term relationship and you are trying to decide how to handle your finances together in a way that’s transparent and offers credibility, opening a joint account together might just be the answer you have been looking for. For some couples, a joint bank account is the ultimate symbolic gesture that sets the pace for their relationship in a large way. Deciding how to manage your bank accounts together is critical and before going into that partnership, you should first weigh the pros and cons before making a decision.
Customarily, when a couple gets together or gets married, They merge their lives together along with their finances which means they take shared responsibility for paying bills or handling issues.
Opening an account together is not a system that works for all couples thus we will highlight what to consider when deciding whether to open a joint bank account with your significant other.
THE PROS
Having one bank account together with your spouse offers a large number of benefits such as easy access to funds as at when its needed. When opening Joint bank accounts, they provide each account holder with a debit card, cheque book and capacity to make deposits and withdrawals anytime, they also have access to an online platform if provided by the bank which simplifies paying bills and other shared financial tasks.
Another major advantage of a joint bank account is that clear communication and transparency when both spouse has access to the bank account. There are smaller chances of encountering surprises when money goes in and out of the account as they can both track activities on it. This allows couples to keep track of their finances and spending habits and they can account for withdrawals and payments made in place of the other. Its also easier to balance the checkbook at the end of the month.
Also, in the unfortunate event that one spouse passes on, the other spouse still has and will retain access to the funds in the joint bank account. For separate accounts, the legal process to claim money in a spouse’s account can be lengthy and cumbersome thus its an advantage to have a joint bank account in that case.
THE CONS
While sharing a joint account can significantly simplify your money management system, one drawback is that some couple may perceive it as a loss of financial independence especially at the onset of the relationship. When there’s no proper communication as to why a joint account is being proposed in the first place since previously with separate accounts, each spouse had a degree of freedom over their own finances.
Another major drawback of sharing a joint bank account is that when there’s unknown activity in the account which the other party does not know about, problems may arise which could cause resentment on the side of the disgruntled person.
Examining both the pros and cons of opening a joint account as a couple will help lay a stable financial foundation that ensures that each spouse is on the same page. Adequate communication between spouses will ensure that whatever decision they agree on is one that works for them in the long run.
In addition, couples can choose to maintain separate bank accounts and also open a joint bank account into which they deposit an agreed upon of portion of their income for plans like vacations, kids tuition, retirement, etc.. That will enable them enjoy the benefits of a joint account and still maintain their independence with their separate bank accounts.
