While I don't exactly recommend keeping money under a mattress due to possible theft, fire, or flood, according to Bankrate.com, checking account fees are bleeding us dry.
Using an ATM costs an average of $1.97 -- and that's when you use your own bank.
The average charge for out-of-network ATM fees is $3.43.
In addition, overdraft protection has gone up 2.5% in the last year and currently averages $28.95.
If you want to earn interest on your checking account, you need to pay a yearly fee of $12 and keep a minimum balance of $3,500.
Why are we dealing with such high bank fees right now?
The high fees come at a time when banks are struggling to unload bad mortgage loans. Some analysts say that banks are making up for loan losses by charging higher penalties -- and doing so more often -- to bank and credit card customers. -- ABC News
Some of these bank fees can be avoided.
Here are some things you can do to keep a handle on bank fees...
