The average monthly service fee has long been a deterrent from opening an interest-bearing account. While the average fee has dipped 2 percent in the past year, from $10.86 to $10.61, the average remains well above the $10 mark first established in fall 2000. The current average, down just $0.01 since spring, is still 14 percent higher than the $9.29 average of six years ago. Prior to fall 2003, the monthly service fee that was gathered included any additional fee for the return of canceled checks or image statements.

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-- Posted: Dec. 8, 2004