A bank statement, also known as a statement of account, is a monthly or quarterly report detailing all of the financial transactions made in and out of a customer’s bank account. It is an essential tool for monitoring your bank account and helps individuals and businesses keep track of their spending and budgeting.

Bank statements consist of a list of all transactions made in the account over a pre-defined period of time. Deposits, withdrawals, and any additional charges or fees accrued during the period are clearly detailed, along with the starting balance and ending balance for the period.

Bank statements are a vital means of closely monitoring banking and financial activity. Reviewing one’s statement is essential for checking spending habits, tracking expenses, and staying on budget. Additionally, it’s important to thoroughly examine your statement and compare it to your own records to ensure accuracy of every transaction and detect any discrepancies or attempts at fraudulent activity. If you notice any inaccuracies, it’s important to contact your financial institution right away so they can help restore any lost funds.

Bank statements also offer a detailed view of deductions that may have been taken on behalf of government institutions, such as income taxes, court-ordered payments or student loan debts.

The convenience of receiving statements in one's email or through the bank's website has given rise to the phenomenon of 'paperless banking'. Customers can now access their statements from any device at any time, download copies to their computer or even have copies of their statements emailed to them automatically.

Bank statements are your first line of defense when it comes to managing your finances and staying on top of your money. By keeping track of each transaction, you can make sure you never miss a payment and have the necessary financial records if there’s ever any discrepancy.