Don't Waste Money on Avoidable Bank Fees!

May 18, 2011— -- Bank fees can be costly and irritating. Check out these money saving pointers that will help keep your bank account full.

ATM fees leapt five percent from 2009 to a new all-time high of $2.33. Additionally, the average fee banks charge for using an out-of-network ATM increased almost seven percent to an average of $1.41

Overdraft fees increased three percent to a new record of $30.47

Fees increased for both interest and non-interest checking accounts - non-interest accounts increased 40 percent from $1.77 to $2.49 while the monthly fee for not maintaining a minimum balance on an interest checking account increased almost four percent from an average of $12.55 to $13.04

The number of banks and thrifts with free non-interest checking accounts - such as no minimum balance requirements or monthly fees - dipped to 65 percent, down from 76 percent last year

Minimum balance requirements to avoid monthly fees on non-interest checking accounts are up 34 percent from last year, moving from $185.75 to $249.50. For interest-bearing checking accounts, the average minimum balance requirement jumped 15 percent, from $3,372 to $3,883.

Source: Bankrate.com