Is a brokerage account for your stocks much like an account at a bank like a checking or savings?

Question

or how is it different, can you use it like a checking account?

Answer 1

I hope you are asking about a demat account which will have details about your buy and sell of shares. It is not like checking account. It will have your buy sell listings and transactions

Answer 2

My Scottstrade account comes with a checkbook and a debit card.  HOWEVER - it is not a bank.  They do not handle cash at their branches and the rules are different, for example if you deposit a check, the money is not in the account for 3 days - just like settled funds from a stock transaction. You can set up direct deposits.