“Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world. He who understands it, earns it … he who doesn’t … pays it.” – Albert Einstein
The little things in life add up…quickly. Compounding can be good, but it can also be bad. A few knee injuries here and there over time add up to be a constant knee problem. A few steps on a carpet every day eventually make for a worn-down carpet. The same compounding can happen to your bank account.
Fees associated with your bank account may seems small but can quickly accumulate into a financial mess if you’re not careful. To help you avoid that financial mess, we’ve compiled a brief overview of a few fees you may encounter with your bank.
These are fees that you have to pay in order to keep your account open and running. They come in monthly or yearly installments. Essentially, you’re paying the bank to hold on to your money.
How much they’re costing you: Maintenance fees, according to Chime Bank, often range from $10 – $15 per month. That’s about $120 – $180 per year.
How to avoid this fee: There are two ways to avoid paying monthly or yearly maintenance fees.
These fees a fairly straight forward. Use an ATM and you’ll get charged a fee for using that ATM. The fees you need to pay attention to come from two types of ATMs: banks that you don’t have an account with and business-ran ATMs (gas stations, bars, movie theaters, etc.).
How much they’re costing you: According to InvestorPlace.com, “the average that a customer pays in 2017 when withdrawing from a bank they have no account with is $4.69.” If you stop by the ATM 2 days a week, you’re paying about $40 per month to access your money. $40 FOR YOUR OWN MONEY!
That amount can be even higher when dealing with different businesses that have ATMs inside of their establishments. Be especially careful when travelling and when pulling money from areas of desperation such as tourist areas, bars, and arenas. Some may charge $1 to use the ATM while others may charge up to $8 or higher. Those fees can add up quickly if you’re not careful.
How to avoid this fee: ATM fees can be a thing of the past if you plan accordingly. Here’s how:
According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), in 2016, Americans paid $15 billion in overdraft fees. That’s a lot of money.
So, what is an overdraft fee? They’re fees charged when you try to withdrawal an amount larger than the amount you actually have in your account. For example, if you write a check for $200 and you only have $150 in the bank, you’ll likely be charged an overdraft fee.
How much they’re costing you: CFPB Director Richard Cordray explains that “banks often charge fees of around $34 for each overdraft incident.”1 That $34 may seem like a manageable amount, but like any other fee, it can add up quickly and hurt your wallet.
How to avoid this fee: With a little planning and with a proactive mindset, you can avoid these fees. Here’s a few ways you can do that, courtesy of Credit.com.
Simply put, banks may charge you to receive a paper bank statement.
How much they’re costing you: According to the Two Cents financial blog, bank customers are paying “$1 to $5 for opting into paper statements rather than the electronic versions.” This may not be a large amount, but the fact is that you’re throwing away $5 a month for snail mail.
How to avoid this fee: It’s easy. Log in to your online bank account and edit your statement delivery preference to “paperless.” You’ll save yourself money and you’ll save some trees.
There are other, rarer fees that you may come across while working with your bank. It’s important that you understand every fee that you may be charged before you sign up for a new account. The most common trend here is that each fee seems manageable (albeit unnecessary) by itself, but it is very easy to be overcome with banking fees and experience a very negative compounding effect on your finances.
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