|
Bankrate.com surveyed the largest
banks and thrifts in each of the 25 largest markets to find the latest trends
on checking account and ATM fees. Here is what the latest survey revealed for
each of these items, and how that compares with previous findings.
Checking accounts
Average yield -- Interest rates are rising,
but you probably haven't noticed just by watching your checking
account. The average yield on an interest checking account is 0.31
percent, up only slightly from the record low of 0.27 percent two
years ago.
Minimum to open
and earn interest -- The average minimum deposit required to
open an interest checking account and earn interest is nearly $450,
consistent with the findings over the past four years.
Minimum to open
a noninterest account -- The average minimum deposit required
to open a noninterest account is just $72.56, virtually unchanged
from the spring 2005 survey.
Minimum balance required to avoid fees -- interest account
-- The average balance required to avoid fees on an interest account
is an onerous $2,294, just $1 lower than the average in the prior
study, and the sixth consecutive time the average has exceeded $2,000.
Minimum balance
required to avoid fees -- noninterest account -- The average
balance required to avoid fees on a noninterest account is a reasonable
$267.78, down from $301.47 in spring 2005.
Monthly service fee -- interest account -- The average monthly
service fee on an interest checking account is -- gulp -- $10.81,
down slightly from $11.08 in spring 2005 but still the third highest
ever recorded. Worth noting is that since the fall 2003 survey,
the monthly service fee no longer includes the cost of canceled
checks or image statements, and this tends to understate the average
fee relative to periods prior to the switch.
Monthly service
fee -- noninterest account -- The average monthly service fee
on noninterest accounts has always been a fraction of that seen
on interest accounts. The current average of $3 is the lowest seen
in previous editions of the survey, though since fall 2003 the monthly
service fee does not include the cost of canceled checks or image
statements. This tends to understate the average relative to periods
before that change, but the declining trend was well-established
even then.
| 
