Banking is just a part of life. Unless you keep all your cash locked up in a safe at home, you probably use a bank to hold on to most of your money. But not only do banks hold our money, but they provide a lot of useful services such as writing checks, offering ATM and debit cards, savings accounts, and even online bill payments. But these services aren't always free. In fact, thanks to new financial reform, banks are finding even more ways to charge you fees.
Even when a bank does offer free services, there are still many little events that can trigger small bank fees. Using an out of network ATM can cost you a few dollars. Having your balance in your account drop below a certain limit may trigger a monthly service fee. And obviously, overdrawing your account or writing a bad check can be costly.
While the fees may not always be large, if they happen frequently it can really start to add up. A few dollars here and there could end up costing you $20 each month or more. Learn how to reduce your bank fees and save money.