If you write few checks each month, look at no-frills flat fee checking accounts. This is particularly important if you cannot meet minimum required balances to avoid regular checking account fees. Bank consultants regularly recommend low check limits, high per-check fees, and, special, higher, bounced check fees for these accounts. Banks shouldn't charge regular customers outrageous bounced check fees or alleged credit card late fees. And send a letter to the bank president explaining that you closed your account because of outrageous bank fees.
Bigger banks means bigger fees.
But 12 million families cannot afford bank accounts. These families need access to better bank accounts. Congress should require banks to offer low-cost lifeline accounts, as only New Jersey and New York require. The financial powerhouses created by the new law have the right to share and sell your customer information with virtually no right to privacy. See PIRG's privacy alert for more information.