How to Find Hidden Fees in "Free Checking" Offers

Many banks offer "free checking accounts" that give consumers the impression that they are just that--free. Most banks will try to charge you in a couple of different areas and suddenly your "free" checking account won't be so free anymore. Follow these steps so you can find the hidden fees in the next "free checking" offer that a bank tries to pass on to you.

Instructions

1. Read all the small print to see what types of hidden fees are a part of your "free checking" account. They have to legally provide you with this information, but it's your responsibility to get out that magnifying glass and read the small print before signing up for anything. If you have any questions about the fees, be sure to ask someone at the bank.

2. Don't pay a monthly maintenance fee for a checking account. This can be a baseline fee or a fee you have to pay if the balance drops below a certain balance anytime in a given month.

3. Learn if your the checking account offers unlimited check writing. Some "free checking" offers charge you a fee for each check that is written over a certain number each month.

4. Look for fees charged for talking to a teller at the bank. Believe it or not, there are a few banks out there that will actually charge your account for talking to a real person at the bank instead of solely using their ATMs.

5. Determine if there is a fee for using the ATM. Some banks will charge you for using another bank's ATM on top of what the bank who owns the ATM is charging you. You can also get charged for using your own bank's ATMs to take cash out or even by using it over a certain number of times in a month.