Security and Independence

• Separate accounts are good for partners who both work and want to maintain control over the money they earn. While the couple set financial goals together, they also do not have to justify how much money they spend on themselves as long as they meet their agreed obligations. Many married couples choose to have a joint account and their own separate accounts to maintain a sense of financial independence, according to the Motley Fool.
  
  

Responsibility

• In many marriages there is one spouse who may be more responsible than the other. By having separate bank accounts, the marriage divides the financial responsibility so one person does not have to worry about managing all of the finances. This teaches both partners to control their spending habits. This is particularly important if a partner has a tendency to overdraft a bank account or is irresponsible with money. For couples, money can also be associated with power. For couples who make different salaries it also levels out the relationship to maintain separate accounts because one partner will not have fiscal control over the relationship, according to Slate.
  
  

Financial History

• Many spouses elect to keep separate accounts due to complicated financial histories. Factors such as bankruptcy, credit card debt, foreclosure, student loans, alimony or child care payments can complicate marriages. By joining accounts, one may also damage her spouse's financial history if she has a significant amount of debt, according to Mintlife.com. Separate accounts for historical and financial baggage let it be the spouse's problem and not her partner's if issues arise.
  
  

Inheritance

• If one partner receives an inheritance, it is also a good reason to have a separate checking account, according to Mintlife. The money that is acquired through inheritance has sentimental value and should be managed by the person to whom it was given. The spouse who receives the inheritance may choose to do something with the money to honor the loved one that passed away, such as make a donation, invest some in a trust fund, set aside the funds for children or purchase a memorial.