How can I negotiate checking account fees with my current bank?

Question added by Zaid Mahadin
Date Posted: 2015/03/15

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by Atif Rahman , Subject matter expert , EXL Services Pvt. Ltd.

1 . Take a look at your past three or four checking account statements. Find out what all of the fees and charges are, and make notes of them.
2. Figure out your checking account needs, and join them down. How many checks do you write per month? How many ATM visits do you make? How many deposits do you make? How often do you go below the minimum required balance?
3. Ready with this information, check with several other area banks to find out what they charge for the same services. Do this over the phone, if you have the time, or ask for the information to be sent to you in the mail.
4. Now you are ready to go to your own bank. First speak with the customer care & if required the speak to a manager. Say that you are looking to reduce your banking costs. Ask them to cut fees, and if they won't budge, tell them what the competition is offering. They may move on certain fees if they sense they will lose your business. Ask whether you can lower costs by: using direct deposit, getting photocopies of cancelled checks instead of the checks themselves.