To determine the best checking account for Kiera, let's analyze and compare each account in terms of their balance after one month, taking into account the monthly fees and interest rates.
Kiera starts with [tex]$500. We'll evaluate each account one by one:
1. Account A:
- Initial balance: $[/tex]500
- Monthly fee: [tex]$12
- Interest: 0.1% per annum, which translates to \( 0.1\% / 12 \) per month
- Monthly interest applied:
\[
\text{Monthly interest} = \frac{0.1\%}{12} \times 500 = \frac{0.001}{12} \times 500 \approx 0.04167 \, (\text{dollar/month})
\]
- End balance after one month:
\[
\text{End balance (A)} = 500 + 0.04167 - 12 = 488.0417 \, (\text{approximately})
\]
2. Account B:
- Initial balance: $[/tex]500
- Monthly fee: [tex]$5
- Interest: 0%
- End balance after one month:
\[
\text{End balance (B)} = 500 - 5 = 495
\]
3. Account C:
- Initial balance: $[/tex]500
- Monthly fee: $15 (assuming no direct deposit for simplicity)
- Interest: 0%
- End balance after one month:
[tex]\[
\text{End balance (C)} = 500 - 15 = 485
\][/tex]
After calculating the end balances for each account at the end of one month:
- Account A: [tex]\( \approx 488.0417 \)[/tex]
- Account B: [tex]\( 495 \)[/tex]
- Account C: [tex]\( 485 \)[/tex]
The best account for Kiera, from the above-calculated balances, would be the one with the highest end balance after one month. Account B has the highest end balance of [tex]\( 495 \)[/tex] dollars.
Thus, the best checking account for Kiera is Account [tex]\( \boxed{B} \)[/tex].
