The New World of Bank Fees

If you hadn't noticed, fees are rising at the bank. Almost everything costs more now, and things that used to be free now result in a fee.

It's not news that fees are rising, but you may be surprised at the activities that create fees. Services you used to consider standard features of a bank account -- online bill pay, the ability to make unlimited withdrawals with a teller -- are being redefined as "premium" features.

Why all the fees? You can blame it on two consequences of the recent financial crisis: weaker banks and stronger regulation. Don't expect those things to change anytime soon.

The Financial Brand published a thorough review of the new world of bank fees -- it's worth a look if you want to know what to expect in the coming years. You might conclude that you'll either need to work harder to avoid fees, or learn to accept them.