checking account fees

Practically nobody ever reads the disclosures that came with a bank account, and that's no surprise -- they average 111 pages long. That's way too much fine print, say Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Jack Reed (D-R.I.), who are calling on banks to cut those disclosures down to just one easy-to-comprehend page.

With some of the biggest banks raising fees again, many Americans are seriously considering finding new places to keep their money. But with direct deposit and automatic bill pay, moving your checking account can be complex. We talked to a pro for this easy five-step process to handle your bank swap.

You might assume that free checking is one of those banking benefits on the way out, but that's not the case: More than a third of checking accounts charge no monthly service fee. But that doesn't mean that banks don't expect to profit from your checking business. Here are the fees that make "free" a highly inappropriate designation -- and how you can avoid them.

The era of free checking accounts is coming to an end. Many consumers will face an extra $144 a year in account fees, plus higher dues for their debit cars, and increased ATM charges, too. It's all part of a banking industry backlash against last year's consumer friendly financial reforms.

You might not think you have a lot in common with the largest banks. But in some ways you do, which is part of the reason why individual checking account holders and debit card users can expect to see their bank fees increase this year. First, some history. Over the last couple of years, as the...

Beginning in February, Chase will begin charging a growing number of its customers for basic checking accounts. What might raise some objections is who's being singled out for these new fees: account holders who receive small direct deposits of less than $500. Right now, anyone who gets a direct...

A new study says a forthcoming crackdown on certain fees could cost big banks billions, but it's not clear that the impact will be as bad as they claim -- even as they blame these regulations for high checking-account fees they're foisting on customers. First, some background: Legislation passed...

A judge ruled that Wells Fargo has to pay its customers restitution for processing checking-account transactions in a way that makes the most charges bounce and maximizes overdraft fees. Other banks have also been sued over this issue.

With new laws clamping down on some credit card and account fees, banks are likely to find other ways to offset the lost income. Among the possibilities: Hefty increases in annual credit card fees or an end to free checking.

As reported in the New York Post, Citibank plans to eliminate the two fee waivers that had been available on its two basic checking accounts nationwide early next year. Previously, customers who had an "EZ" or "Access" checking account and didn't keep a minimum balance of $1,500 could avoid paying...