Beware - This Bank Will Gouge You!

My "free" checking account at Independent Bank (Little Elm, TX branch) suddenly developed monthly service charges totalling $11.00. The charges showed up on my September bank statement. When I inquired about the charges, I was told: "We mailed out a letter in June to all free checking account holders to inform them that service charges were being initiated". Further inquiry resulted in the revelation that Independent Bank offers yet another "free checking account", but I must come in and apply for the new account in person. Even if such a change were being initiated, why couldn't the bank have politely informed account holders in June that ANOTHER type of free account is available???? The simple answer is that this bank has taken this opportunity to extract funds from its account holders who either ignored their letter or, worse yet, never received it . I have no recollection and no record in my files of having received the letter supposedly mailed in June. I have closed my account at Independent Bank and will never do business with them again. Perhaps others can profit from my experience. (I have awarded one star to this bank due to the fact that it is not possible to award zero stars.)