In recent years it’s become difficult to earn very much money on your savings and checking accounts. In fact, even in the highly competitive marketplace to provide banking services, it can seem like banks are willing to compete with one another on virtually every aspect besides interest rates.
But not making very much interest is only part of the story. What can make things worse is to have to pay fees on your account. Sometimes these fees may be due to a mistake you’ve made (such as allowing your account to become overdrawn). Sometimes these fees are imposed by the... Articles Tagged ‘checking fees’
How To Get Your Bank To Waive Account Fees
In recent years it’s become difficult to earn very much money on your savings and checking accounts. In fact, even in the highly competitive marketplace to provide banking services, it can seem like banks are willing to compete with one another on virtually every aspect besides interest rates.
But not making very much interest is only part of the story. What can make things worse is to have to pay fees on your account. Sometimes these fees may be due to a mistake you’ve made (such as allowing your account to become overdrawn). Sometimes these fees are imposed by the...
Friday, August 21st, 2015
In recent years it’s become difficult to earn very much money on your savings and checking accounts. In fact, even in the highly competitive marketplace to provide banking services, it can seem like banks are willing to compete with one another on virtually every aspect besides interest rates.
But not making very much interest is only part of the story. What can make things worse is to have to pay fees on your account. Sometimes these fees may be due to a mistake you’ve made (such as allowing your account to become overdrawn). Sometimes these fees are imposed by the... How to Create Banking Habits That Support Financial Security
Friday, January 4th, 2013
We can count on a certain degree of assistance from our banks and brokerages to help us keep our finances secure. Long gone are the days when we could simply access our accounts online by logging in with our account numbers and a simple five or six digit password, as more of these institutions are now demanding multi-factor logins, and that we change our passwords at least every 90 days.
We can also protect our finances by creating a few positive banking habits. It might seem like a lot of work to implement some of them, but doing so will...
5 Fees Your Bank May Impose and How to Avoid Them
Banking fees may be looked at as a necessary evil. It’s no fun having to pay for access to your own money, but the bank is providing a service and deserves to make a profit. But lately, fees have been getting higher and higher, and they can take a big bite out of your savings and checking accounts.
Nobody wants to pay out more than they have to in fees. If you’re not careful, you could lose hundreds of dollars to your financial institution in a year’s time.
Here is some banking advice on five common fees that banks impose and...
Friday, July 20th, 2012
Banking fees may be looked at as a necessary evil. It’s no fun having to pay for access to your own money, but the bank is providing a service and deserves to make a profit. But lately, fees have been getting higher and higher, and they can take a big bite out of your savings and checking accounts.
Nobody wants to pay out more than they have to in fees. If you’re not careful, you could lose hundreds of dollars to your financial institution in a year’s time.
Here is some banking advice on five common fees that banks impose and... Checking Account Mistakes That Should Be Avoided
Checking accounts are essential to managing our day-to-day personal finances. We deposit most or all of our paychecks into our checking accounts, and we use that account to pay our bills, manage our households and conduct practically every other financial transactions we make.
Given how important checking accounts are, it’s a bit surprising that we don’t always do the right things when it comes to how we manage them. People make far too many mistakes when it comes to their checking accounts, and while the consequences of a single mistake might not be too serious, the total effect of multiple...
Tuesday, June 5th, 2012
Checking accounts are essential to managing our day-to-day personal finances. We deposit most or all of our paychecks into our checking accounts, and we use that account to pay our bills, manage our households and conduct practically every other financial transactions we make.
Given how important checking accounts are, it’s a bit surprising that we don’t always do the right things when it comes to how we manage them. People make far too many mistakes when it comes to their checking accounts, and while the consequences of a single mistake might not be too serious, the total effect of multiple... Watch Out for Your Bank’s New Checking Account Fees
When new laws were passed in 2011 to reduce the fees that banks could charge for certain debit card transactions, the hope was that the changes would be passed along and result in lower fees to consumers. Instead, many large banks have instituted new account fees in order to recoup their lost income.
Keep in mind that your bank can change the terms of your checking account upon 30 days advance notice. So when you receive a letter from your bank, review it carefully to make sure that you won’t be subject to any unexpected new fees going forward.
Here are...
Monday, March 12th, 2012
When new laws were passed in 2011 to reduce the fees that banks could charge for certain debit card transactions, the hope was that the changes would be passed along and result in lower fees to consumers. Instead, many large banks have instituted new account fees in order to recoup their lost income.
Keep in mind that your bank can change the terms of your checking account upon 30 days advance notice. So when you receive a letter from your bank, review it carefully to make sure that you won’t be subject to any unexpected new fees going forward.
Here are... Big Banks and Bigger Fees
The federal government stepped in to protect consumers from the fees being charged by big banks. The changes implemented appear to have made life easier and more affordable, but that is only a superficial view. Big banks are finding ways to fight back against the many government regulations.
Consumers should understand the regulations and what the banks are doing in response to better manage their own accounts. Big banks are in business to make money and they are learning that fighting government regulations may be one of the only ways to keep their own balances in the black.
Here is some...
Monday, January 3rd, 2011
The federal government stepped in to protect consumers from the fees being charged by big banks. The changes implemented appear to have made life easier and more affordable, but that is only a superficial view. Big banks are finding ways to fight back against the many government regulations.
Consumers should understand the regulations and what the banks are doing in response to better manage their own accounts. Big banks are in business to make money and they are learning that fighting government regulations may be one of the only ways to keep their own balances in the black.
Here is some... Finding the Hidden Fees in Checking Accounts
Many of us have our checking account in order to make our lives more convenient. For some transactions, writing a check is still preferable to pulling out our credit or debit card. Because our checking accounts are so utilitarian in nature, we probably don’t expect to earn much (or perhaps earn any) interest on our account balances. But we also don’t expect to pay much in fees, either.
As part of your diligence in maintaining control over your financial situation, you should always be fully aware of all the fees and charges you’re paying (not just on...
Friday, November 12th, 2010
Many of us have our checking account in order to make our lives more convenient. For some transactions, writing a check is still preferable to pulling out our credit or debit card. Because our checking accounts are so utilitarian in nature, we probably don’t expect to earn much (or perhaps earn any) interest on our account balances. But we also don’t expect to pay much in fees, either.
As part of your diligence in maintaining control over your financial situation, you should always be fully aware of all the fees and charges you’re paying (not just on... Banking Fees
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....
Saturday, February 6th, 2010
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.... Watch Out for Banking Fees
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...
Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009
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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