I recently had to open a checking account at a new bank and I told them I wanted the no frills option. This bank charges for EVERYTHING and the minimum charge was $4 a month.
One of the ways to avoid charges was to have a minimum balance in the account but the balances were very high (at least $1000) and since this was non interest bearing account it did not make financial sense (cents!!!!) for me to keep a large balance in this account.
There were a number of other things to choose from, including the option to go on a pay per transaction basis, which is what I chose. This would limit me to $1 per transaction for the month and since I will only be accessing that account to pay one credit card I would only get charged $1 per month.
I got the account opened and promptly put it out of my mind since I would not be needing it any time soon. I logged in to Mint a few days later and noticed that there had been a $2.50 charge to my account and the description read ‘Check fee’. I do NOT write checks, had not ordered a check book and had not even opened the slip with the PIN for the debit card so I immediately got annoyed by this charge.
I emailed the bank and was told that a Check Fee had been added ‘for my convenience’ so that I would get copies of checks that I had written when my statement came in.
In this age of electronic banking where I do not write checks and not only have online access to my account but also have it linked to Mint, why would I need copies of checks (for an account where I did not even order a check book)?
I told the rep that I did not request or need that ‘convenience’ and would like to have it removed. The fee was reversed soon after but it just showed me that I need to monitor my accounts even though I have things set up on auto pilot because the bank can choose to ‘help’ me and make things more ‘convenient’ for me any time they choose and charge me a fee to boot!!!!
I would also suggest looking at your monthly interest on savings accounts. Make sure that the amount credited makes sense with the interest rate you are supposed to be getting. I recently found that the bank used a lower interest rate than what was advertised. Called the bank and they corrected the error. It was only a couple dollars but every penny helps!
I never thought about looking at the interest because sometimes I have big fluctuations in balances…but that is a good point to note.
Ughhh…That’s why I either go with the largest bank in town or one of the small local banks since usually have the best deals and lowest fees. But I still do most of my banking with USAA.
Sometimes it’s just easier to have a local bank to move money around in. I do agree that you need to watch them like a hawk though.