From side hustles to a weekend job, making extra money can help add to your financial resources and overall financial health. Every little bit helps. In addition to those efforts, there is another way to help earn a little cash that most people never think of: your checking account.

For many of us, the role of a checking account is to help us with deposits, paying bills, or using a debit card. As technology has evolved, so too has the checking account. Now, banks and credit unions offer several ways for you to earn small but steady amounts of money that can add up.

Earning this money can be done from your personal checking account, or if you own a small business, from your business checking account.

Here are the top three ways to earn money with a personal checking account:

1. Choose a cash back account.

From Netflix to music subscriptions, many of us have our recurring subscription-based bills synced with our checking accounts using our debit card. Take a minute to make sure your checking account has cash back benefit on all of your purchases. There are checking accounts that offer a cash-back percentage on all purchases that meet a required number of debit card swipes. This is money that can be earned by doing the things you are already doing: shopping for essentials or things you buy on a regular basis.

2. Avoid ATM fees.

In many cases, add-on fees at banks can be unnecessary and costly. This may be the case when you can't find an ATM from your bank or credit union and are required to pay a fee to use another ATM. Those fees can add up. Instead, consider partnering with a bank or credit union that allows fee-free access through a network of ATMs. Ask if your financial institution offers this perk.

3. Earn with fewer fees.

Each financial organization has its own fee structures, which may vary. These can include charges for falling below a minimum balance requirement and ongoing monthly maintenance fees. To maximize your money, look for a bank or credit union that requires a low deposit amount to open a checking account, and keeps its monthly maintenance fees to a minimum. Another tip: Do your research to find checking accounts that offer ways to earn bonus rates without minimum balances.

Checking accounts not only work for you, but they can also unlock additional features and benefits with some financial institutions. For example, some accounts can even offer early access to your direct deposits, with certain limitations.

Take time to find a checking account that can help you earn and save. When it comes to your money, every little bit helps.

You + Money blog posts are provided for informational purposes only and are not intended to replace the advice of a financial, legal or accounting advisor.