Banks are in business to make money. They accomplish this in a couple of different ways. First off, they earn interest on the money that they loan out. They pay part of this interest to their customers who have money market accounts, CDs and other interest-bearing accounts. They also make money from the fees they charge customers for things like checking account maintenance, ATM withdrawals, overdrafts and cashier’s checks.
It’s no surprise that banks rarely lower their fees. But fees have been on the rise lately due to lower profits. The recently passed Great Recession and Credit Card Act includes... Articles Tagged ‘Checking’
Banking Fees Continue to Rise
Banks are in business to make money. They accomplish this in a couple of different ways. First off, they earn interest on the money that they loan out. They pay part of this interest to their customers who have money market accounts, CDs and other interest-bearing accounts. They also make money from the fees they charge customers for things like checking account maintenance, ATM withdrawals, overdrafts and cashier’s checks.
It’s no surprise that banks rarely lower their fees. But fees have been on the rise lately due to lower profits. The recently passed Great Recession and Credit Card Act includes...
Monday, July 25th, 2011
Banks are in business to make money. They accomplish this in a couple of different ways. First off, they earn interest on the money that they loan out. They pay part of this interest to their customers who have money market accounts, CDs and other interest-bearing accounts. They also make money from the fees they charge customers for things like checking account maintenance, ATM withdrawals, overdrafts and cashier’s checks.
It’s no surprise that banks rarely lower their fees. But fees have been on the rise lately due to lower profits. The recently passed Great Recession and Credit Card Act includes... Managing Your Checking Account with an Online Bank
Online banking has made our lives much easier. We can check our balances, pay bills and make deposits from home, work or anywhere else there’s a computer. Still, a majority of consumers prefer to work with a bank that has a branch in their area in case the need arises to do some of their banking in person.
But with advances such as direct deposit and easy transfers, online-only banks are growing in popularity. Their fees are often lower, and their interest rates more favorable than banks that have multiple physical locations. When it comes to checking accounts, online banking...
Monday, June 20th, 2011
Online banking has made our lives much easier. We can check our balances, pay bills and make deposits from home, work or anywhere else there’s a computer. Still, a majority of consumers prefer to work with a bank that has a branch in their area in case the need arises to do some of their banking in person.
But with advances such as direct deposit and easy transfers, online-only banks are growing in popularity. Their fees are often lower, and their interest rates more favorable than banks that have multiple physical locations. When it comes to checking accounts, online banking... A Banking Checklist for College Students
The college years are a time for learning - not only about your chosen discipline, but about life in general. They’re the first time most of us are out on our own, so we’re forced to learn in a hurry how things work in the real world. We have to start budgeting our time and our money, and make sure that all of our needs are taken care of since Mom and Dad are no longer close by to help us out.
One of the most important things that a college student can do before embarking on that educational journey...
Monday, May 16th, 2011
The college years are a time for learning - not only about your chosen discipline, but about life in general. They’re the first time most of us are out on our own, so we’re forced to learn in a hurry how things work in the real world. We have to start budgeting our time and our money, and make sure that all of our needs are taken care of since Mom and Dad are no longer close by to help us out.
One of the most important things that a college student can do before embarking on that educational journey... Is Money Market Checking Right for You?
A checking account often represents a person's first step into the world of banking. It is a wonderful tool for managing your money, and it makes paying bills and making purchases convenient because you don't need to carry cash. But one thing the average checking account won't do is earn you money. Depending on your bank and the type of account, you may actually have to pay monthly or per-check fees. Even if you have free checking, wouldn't it be nice to earn some interest on the money in your account instead of it just sitting there until you...
Friday, March 18th, 2011
A checking account often represents a person's first step into the world of banking. It is a wonderful tool for managing your money, and it makes paying bills and making purchases convenient because you don't need to carry cash. But one thing the average checking account won't do is earn you money. Depending on your bank and the type of account, you may actually have to pay monthly or per-check fees. Even if you have free checking, wouldn't it be nice to earn some interest on the money in your account instead of it just sitting there until you... How to Make the Most of Your Checking Account
For many of us, the basic checking account is the backbone of our personal financial system. We generally deposit our paychecks into our checking accounts, pay our bills from the checking account and use our checking accounts as a short term (and sometimes not so short term) place to safely store our money.
Getting the most of your checking account can help you avoid unnecessary fees, unexpected expenses and help you manage your daily finances better.
Making the best of your checking account also means you’ll have a better grasp of your finances and will be able to respond quickly and...
Sunday, February 13th, 2011
For many of us, the basic checking account is the backbone of our personal financial system. We generally deposit our paychecks into our checking accounts, pay our bills from the checking account and use our checking accounts as a short term (and sometimes not so short term) place to safely store our money.
Getting the most of your checking account can help you avoid unnecessary fees, unexpected expenses and help you manage your daily finances better.
Making the best of your checking account also means you’ll have a better grasp of your finances and will be able to respond quickly and... How do Free Checking Offers Work?
You’ve probably seen TV commercials from banks that offer “100% Free” checking accounts. Perhaps you’ve even received a free checking account application or brochure in the mail from a large national bank, or saw an online banner ad.
The offers might not have struck you as odd, but when you think about it you might start to wonder – how do these free checking offers work? How can the bank afford to give away free checking services when it costs them time and money to maintain those accounts?
The truth is that banks are often willing to offer free checking...
Thursday, February 3rd, 2011
You’ve probably seen TV commercials from banks that offer “100% Free” checking accounts. Perhaps you’ve even received a free checking account application or brochure in the mail from a large national bank, or saw an online banner ad.
The offers might not have struck you as odd, but when you think about it you might start to wonder – how do these free checking offers work? How can the bank afford to give away free checking services when it costs them time and money to maintain those accounts?
The truth is that banks are often willing to offer free checking... 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... Tips for Making Online Banking Work for You
Chances are you’ve seen advertisements in magazines or on the internet for online banks, touting the high rates that they pay on savings accounts and perhaps also the low rates they charge for mortgage loans along with the convenience and time savings associated with paying your bills online.
Many people have found that online banking can be an important part of their financial strategy. If you haven’t set up an account with an online bank, there are several points that you should consider to make sure that you find the best bank for your needs and goals. If...
Wednesday, November 24th, 2010
Chances are you’ve seen advertisements in magazines or on the internet for online banks, touting the high rates that they pay on savings accounts and perhaps also the low rates they charge for mortgage loans along with the convenience and time savings associated with paying your bills online.
Many people have found that online banking can be an important part of their financial strategy. If you haven’t set up an account with an online bank, there are several points that you should consider to make sure that you find the best bank for your needs and goals. If... 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.... 
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