Kathy Jo,
Quicken will NOT replace your checking account. You just use it to write
checks with and to help reconcile your balances so that you don't have to
have anybody write them in the ledger that came with your regular checks.
You'll still need to carry paper checks or an ATM card when you're in public
and need to pay for something.
Most of the bigger banks have on-line service where you log on while you are
on AOL< OR WHICHEVER ONE you use to access the Internet and you can set that
up, you'll need your SSN, your account number, and other pieces of i.d. Once
you set it up, for a small monthly fee, (mine is $5.00) YOU CAN SET UP payee
accounts like to the gas company< phone company< credit card< etc. <