12 Steps To Kick Your Bank Fee Addiction

Feel like you’re powerless to avoid bank fees, particularly in the wake of Bank of America's new $5 debit card fee and Citibank's announcement that many customers will pay more for checking accounts?

It’s true that bank fees are rising, seemingly everywhere. Indeed, where three-quarters of the nation’s banks offered free checking in 2009, only 45% do today, according to BankRate.com, which conducts an annual survey of checking account costs. Average fees have jumped as much as 76%, while the balances required to avoid a fee has roughly doubled.

But you don’t have to pay more. In fact, you may well be able to get more (or better) bank services for less money.

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