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business newsTen Ways That Banks Rob You Blind
By
Scott Reeves Jul 06, 2009 11:45 am
With a little planning, you can avoid most of these hidden charges.
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Charges -- including late fees, overdraft charges, and loan-origination costs -- now generate about half the banking industry’s income. A bounced check can cost as much as $30 at some banks. Then come new credit-card fees.
Major banks such as JPMorgan Chase (JPM), Wells Fargo (WFC), and Bank of America (BAC) offer the convenience of easy-to-find branches and an extensive ATM network. But regional banks such as The Apple Bank for Savings or M&T Bank (MTB) may offer a better deal to individuals. Shop around.
Planning and good money-management practices can help you avoid most fees. Here’s what you need to know:
1. Credit-card membership fees:
Competition killed most annual credit-card membership fees. But like zombies, the charges keep coming back. Remember that you’re not limited to a card issued by your bank. There’s no reason to pay a fee for a credit card, so shop around.
2. Credit-card transaction fees:Legislation kicking in next year limits late and over-limit fees on credit cards and the manner in which the fee is calculated on new and old balances. In the meantime, expect fees to increase until the new law goes into effect. Grace periods are likely to be restricted -- or even end. Read the disclosure statement.
3. Checking account fees:
Banks seem to think you should pay them for the privilege of taking your deposits. In many cases, you can avoid the monthly fee by maintaining a minimum balance in a checking or savings account. If not, shop around for the lowest monthly fee or one based on the number of checks written per month. The latter may make sense if you pay most bills online and write just a few checks each month. 4. Overdraft fees:
It’s easy to bounce a check if you don’t reconcile your account each month and keep an accurate record of all checks written. Check your ATM balance before making a withdrawal because most banks are only too happy to advance you the money and then charge a hefty fee if the withdrawal puts you in the red. Ask about linking your checking account to a bank-issued credit card to provide overdraft protection.
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