Bank Fees Rise As Lenders Try To Offset Losses

New York Times:

Bounced check: $32. Stop-payment: $30. A.T.M. charge: as high as $3.

Even now, after all those bailouts, banks never seem to tire of dipping a little deeper into your wallet. Despite the tough economic times and increased scrutiny from Washington, they are keeping most fees at record highs, and are eking out slight increases on others like overdraft charges -- a step they rarely took during past recessions.

Read the whole story: New York Times

Comments

[pledge16]

Thank NP it's her congress,since the gov owns citi it's the gov thats raiseing your rates.Same old gov just different names.

[adelphi sky]

We pay our balances off each month. My minimum payment on a balance of $374 is now $44 for Home Depot. I'm cutting up that card when I get home.

[oldguru]

Someday, this recession will be over. Where do these banks think they are going to get customers? Do they think we are stupid enough or forgetful enough to let them have any of our money, or to pay intrest to them on a loan? I sure will not. I am paying off all loans, and I will NEVER do business with any of these robber banks again. I do not think I am alone.

[Yurdelite]

I do not understand why people do not take their money out of these banks to send a message to them. Americans are so lazy these days and that is why the crooks are running the show.

[smiththomas]

They try to keep our eye on the banks inwhich we too preferred stock so we dont pay as much attention to the auto company we purchased .

[rogerthat21]

We need to stop the corruption by Goldman, bank of Amerika, and Jp Morgan. Stop the Geithner and bernanke. .

good political & economic articles: http://iamned.blogspot.com

[rogerthat21]

disgusting­...more corruption from the bailout banks...wa­x payers being scammed..t­wice!

good political & economic articles: http://iamned.blogspot.com

[ebanks84]

The first line of this article brought to my mind an instance where I got charged $32.00 for a $3.95 shipping fee. It ended up being a ripoff because the product company eventually deducted another $83.00 from me without my consent. I was ordering a 30-day free sample of something and was supposed to pay only the shipping which was $3.95 I believe. However you had to return the item in 10 days if you decided you didn't want it or else you would be charged the $83.00 for the next month's shipment. Of course you didn't read that little tidbit until they took your money because it was stuck at the bottom of the page in a "terms" link which they never required you to read before requesting the sample. Anyway, I was so perturbed for paying my bank $32.00 for a $3.95 charge that I raised holy heck with the company and my bank. Eventually I got all my money back and the charge because of the shady business dealings of an internet scam. I will never do that again for sure!

But the thought of paying more to the bank than the original charge was ridiculous to say the least.

[Yurdelite]

Banks do this every single day and more underhanded dealings.

[ebanks84]

And I pray they accumulate MORE LOSSES than ever before when people start cutting up their cards or mailing them back to the banks with ADDRESS UNKNOWN, NO SUCH SUCKER, NO SUCH PHONE!

[oneangrymamma]

The banking creeps are NOT raising fees to offset losses = that's just the latest excuse. They are raising fees because that is what they have been doing systematically and regularly for the past 10 years. The only difference is, they now have a better cover story!. Here's a story from 2004 about the obscene outrage of bank fees: Read it'n weep!
http://archive.democrats.com/view.cfm?id=24052

[ebanks84]

And systematically, we should MAKE THEM FAIL, as Rush would say :)

[DHC]

This is what happens with a passive Dem. controlled Congress. OF COURSE the legislators knew this would happen but they had to suck the teet of their money machines. Meanwhile, the citizens lose, once again. I worked hard for, I raised money for, CHANGE. If this is my reward then I have to say I'm about finished with American politics. I've been sold down the river one too many times.

[OMG1109]

Republican controlled for almost 12 yrs prior to...

Not sure anyone is happy with what is going down right now but where were you in the past 8yrs under the Bush administration. Did you ever think if Bush had not lied and taken us to war in Iraq and gave his FULL attention to this war (limited as it was) that just maybe they would have noticed the failing economy, the loss of jobs, etc?
We were in a full blown recession one yr before BUSH would even would use the word.....h­e called it a SLOWwwww DOWNnnnn!
I remember when he was asked about gas prices nearing $4/gal and if his stupid look did not tell all, his remarks did, "no, I did not know that, where did you hear that"? He was so out of touch it was ridiculous

[KarateKid]

Don't respond to a ninny. DHC is a Republican in disguise. They've been known to do that around here.

[Ryoki]

They moved the puppet from the right hand to the left. But the show is the same. As we watch the show our pockets are picked.