The checking account is the centerpiece of the consumer banking relationship. Studies have shown that a consumer overwhelmingly defines his or her bank as the institution where the checking account is located. No wonder then that banks throw many marketing dollars toward attracting and retaining consumer checking accounts.

To make it easier to sort through the many different bank and account combinations, both locally as well as online, Bankrate maintains an extensive database designed to foster comparison shopping in any of more than 400 markets nationwide. In addition, Bankrate conducts a thorough study of checking accounts and ATM fees, including those of online banks, to provide insight into trends and helpful benchmarks for the banking public. Consumers who know the national averages for checking services can shop for a checking account more wisely.

Bankrate's Fall 2004 Checking Account Pricing Study looked at a total of 464 checking accounts from the largest banks and thrifts in the 25 largest U.S. markets. Bankrate surveyed one interest and one noninterest checking account at each institution that can be opened for the lowest minimum deposit. In addition, Bankrate gathered data on a total of 27 online checking accounts at 17 institutions.

Between this and prior surveys conducted by Bankrate, several trends have emerged.

• Interest-checking accounts aren't worth the bother. The fees and balance requirements dwarf those of noninterest accounts, and the yields earned in return are anything but adequate compensation.
• Bounced-check fees have reached a record high. With the Check 21 legislation now in effect, check writers face increased prospects of incurring these now-higher fees.
• ATM fees have plateaued. That includes both those assessed on noncustomers by ATM owners, and those assessed by banks on their own account holders for using another bank's ATM. However, these fees continue to extract billions of dollars per year from consumers' wallets.

Perhaps you're tired of dealing with high fees at every turn at traditional brick-and-mortar banks. If you are ready to turn to online banks, be prepared for higher balance requirements. But online banks do have lower fees, pay better yields and often do not assess ATM fees to their own customers.

Click on the links below to learn more:

• ATMs
• Interest accounts
• Noninterest accounts

ALSO: Search Bankrate for the best checking account rates

-- Posted: Dec. 8, 2004