Like any other business, banks are out to make money. Traditionally, they have accomplished this by lending money that's on deposit and collecting interest on it. But as you probably know if you have any type of bank account, banks also make a significant amount of money by charging their customers fees. Many customers sign up for free checking accounts in an effort to avoid fees. These accounts do not pay any interest, but there are no monthly maintenance fees and usually no minimum balances. But few “free checking” customers actually get by without ever paying any type of fee....

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Debit cards are considered by many to be one of the greatest innovations of the past few decades. First issued in the late 1980s, they offer the convenience of a credit card without the expense of using borrowed money. Since they're linked to our bank accounts, they simply give us quick access to our own money. The debit card has long since surpassed the check in terms of popularity. Consumers today are happy to swipe their cards when they make a purchase instead of having to write out the payee and amount. But unfortunately, those who use debit cards have a...

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As we all know banks have been hit very hard with the economic downturn and they are searching for more and more “nickel and dime” charges to pass along to consumers to increase their earnings. Here are some suggestions for avoiding two of the more common fees that banks assess: Don't use another bank's ATM. Over 99% of ATM's now impose a surcharge that now averages almost $2.00 on cash withdrawals if you are not a customer of theirs. To avoid these ever-growing fees, use your debit card to make a purchase, and just ask for cash back. Keep your check book...

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When couples get married it is hard to get used to a merged life. They have to get used to sharing furniture, the bathroom, and the finances. If you and your spouse have different spending habits, this begs the question: should we keep separate or joint checking accounts?

There used to be no question of what to do. If you were a couple, you had a joint checking account with pretty checks that included both of your names. Those choices are quickly being replaced in favor of an account that reflects a sound financial position. ...

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It is one of our least favorite things to do. No one wants to think about tracking their finances, but it is the only way to make sure that we are keeping up with and not exceeding our available funds. Here are five tips for balancing that dreaded checkbook that, once started, will become second nature every month. Your main tool in the war on checkbooks is the ledger. You get one with each box of checks that you order. It is where we write our beginning balance for that book of checks and the number and...

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If you have a checking account wherein you can write as many checks per month as you like, there are no fees associated with writing the checks, you receive interest, and there is no minimum required to open an account – this is the best free checking account you can have, right? The only downside to a free checking account is that if a check bounces, you have to pay the fee. You may be able to avail yourself of such an account at your local Savings and Loan or at a commercial bank. These days, most commercial banks offer incentives...

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