5 Bank Fees And How to Avoid Them

Whether it’s $0.50 or $50, losing money to unnecessary fees is frustrating. To make matters worse, the price of bank fees have been steadily increasing over the years. In 2019, the average overdraft fee was $33.36, roughly 67% higher than the average overdraft fee in 2000 ($20). The average ATM fee in 2019 ($3.09) reached a record high for the 15th year in a row and was 2% higher than the year before. Eventually, these fees can add up, sending people further into debt. The good thing is, there are simple tips and strategies that you can do to avoid them. Here's five:

Solution: Get low bank balance alerts on your phone.

Just last year, Americans gave over $11.68 billion to big banks in overdraft fees alone. It’s extremely common to forget about debits that are coming up. Low bank balance alerts help keep you aware of how much you have in your account and whether or not you may need to cancel any subscriptions or hold off on some purchases.

Solution: Withdraw cash whenever you’re near your bank’s ATM.

I’m sure many of us have been in this situation: You’re out grabbing some food and when you get to the register, they tell you that it’s cash-only. You open up your wallet and it’s just dust and a quarter you found yesterday. You see an ATM and decide to get some cash. All you need is $10 but you end up having to pay an extra $3 or more to get your money.

This exact scenario has happened to me far too often. Nowadays, whenever I’m near my bank’s ATM, I'll withdraw some money so that I always have at least $20 cash on hand.

Solution: Set automatic reminders for bill due dates.

Like I said before, it’s tough keeping track of all the expenses that are due. We have rent, bills, car payments, credit card statements, student loans, etc. to think about. Mark them on a calendar, set reminders on your phone, or just post sticky notes on your door. Make sure you see every expense coming.

Solution: Consider switching to an online-only bank or credit union.

Traditional banks will typically charge a monthly service fee if an account isn’t meeting certain requirements. For instance, they will charge a fee if someone is unable to maintain a certain minimum bank balance. Many online banks and credit unions will offer free checking accounts and other services to help keep your money in your account.

Solution: Reach out to your bank and ask if you can have your fee waived.

There’s a saying my dad always told me: “It never hurts to ask.” If you do happen to incur a bank fee, your bank may be inclined to waive it if you reach out to them. And even if they don’t, at least you gave it a try.

At Earnin, we stand firmly against unfairness, which is why we never charge mandatory fees or subscriptions for our tools. For additional help in avoiding overdraft fees, we have a tool in our app called Balance Shield, which not only sends free low bank balance alerts, but can also send emergency cash outs to your bank account when your balance drops below a certain amount that you have set.

We’re here to build our community up and get them to a better financial place, without the fees.