| Checking study: A detailed look
at the results |
|
|
|
Monthly service
fee -- interest account
The average monthly service fee on an interest checking account
hasn't varied much in the past five years, and this version of the
study was no exception. The average fee is $10.85, up only pennies
from $10.81 in the fall 2005 edition and down from $11.08 one year
ago.
Monthly service
fee -- noninterest account
The average monthly service fee for noninterest accounts hit a new
low. Yes, you read that right -- a fee hit a new low. The average
fee fell from $3 to $2.80, extending a gradual trend in recent years
attributable to the growth of free checking.
Bounced-check
fee
The average bounced-check fee rebounded, rising from $26.90 to $27.04
since the fall 2005 survey. The average fee is still the second-highest
on record, behind only the average of $27.13 one year ago.
Online access
The availability of online access continues to creep higher. Currently,
online access is available on 98 percent of accounts, versus 97
percent one year ago and 96 percent two years ago.
ATM fees
ATM surcharge
The average fee assessed by banks to nonaccount holders using their
ATMs bounded higher once again, establishing another record high
in the process. The average ATM surcharge is now $1.60, up from
$1.54 in the fall 2005 survey. The average surcharge has increased
14 percent in the past year and 21 percent in the past two years,
from $1.40 and $1.32, respectively.
Percentage of
bank-owned ATMs with surcharges
The percentage of banks with ATMs that assess surcharges also hit
a record high. Of the banks in the survey that own ATMs, 98 percent
hit nonaccount holders with a fee, up from 96 percent in fall 2005
and 89 percent two years ago.
|
