Day To Day Banking

What Is Your Bank Charging You? A Guide To Bank Charges

When you're shopping around for a bank account there are a lot of factors to consider. Many people go for up-front incentives, such as money paid into the bank account, vouchers or a gift. However, it is worth looking at bank accounts in more depth to find out what you might be paying for various transactions. Here are some of the transactions that banks might charge you for.

Authorised Overdraft

An overdraft is like a short term loan. The bank gives you permission to spend more than the funds you have in your account. This amount is usually fixed in consultation with the bank and may be reviewed at stated periods. Some banks have a free authorised overdraft up to a certain limit and charge for any balance over that limit. This is the best way to arrange an overdraft.

Unauthorised Overdraft

When customers spend more than they have in their accounts without arranging an overdraft limit, this is known as an unauthorised overdraft. Banks penalise customers heavily for this by charging an unauthorised overdraft fee of more than ?35 in some cases. The excess spending will also be charged interest at a higher rate than normal.

Cheque Services

Some banks charge for clearing cheques more quickly than the standard period (this can range from three to seven days depending on the banks involved and the day of the week). There may also be fees for processing cheques in a foreign currency.

Taking Money Out

Sometimes customers need to set up direct debits, where companies take certain sums from a bank account each month. They may also wish to set up standing orders, where they arrange to pay a certain amount to another bank account or company each month. Some banks charge a setup fee for these services. . It is also worth looking at the daily withdrawal limit on a current account. This can vary widely depending on the bank you choose.

Other Bank Charges

Banks may also charge for other services such as:

1. setting up a loan facility 2. changing or issuing foreign currency 3. writing cheques that exceed the cleared balance in an account 4. stopping a lost cheque

Banks will also charge customers if they have to write to them about an infraction of bank rules, such as exceeding the overdraft limit or defaulting on loan repayments. This means that defaulting customers have to repay the debt as well as the additional charges.

Doing some research could save consumers a small fortune in bank charges. In addition for looking for incentives, consumers should look for banks that keep their charges as low as possible. With a bit of digging, it is easy to find banks with:

5. an automatic overdraft limit for which there is no charge 6. free standing orders and direct debits 7. free transfers between banks 8. low unauthorised overdraft fees 9. low charges for other bank transactions

Choosing a bank that fits this profile will help with overall financial health.

Joe Kenny writes for the UK personal finance sites http://www.ukpersonalloanstore.co.uk and also http://www.cardguide.co.uk


Rate This Article:


Related Themes:


Related Websites

LGN, Make Money, how to make money, work from home, make money, home business
Goal Setting #3

An Introduction to Internet Banking in South Africa
What is Internet Banking? The technological advancements of the Internet have dramatically changed the face of banking across the globe. Banks have harnessed the power of the Internet to provide electronic banking services – enabling clients to use a personal computer to make transactions over the Internet. This allows clients to manage their finances safely and conveniently from the comfort of their own homes. Traffic of all information on sites that provide Internet banking services is encrypted, which makes it impossible for a third party to obtain or modify any information after it has been sent. Every time you access your Internet banking account, you will be required to enter your secret code and password – eliminating the risk of ...

You Dont Want Bank of America Locations, Join Bank Of America World Wide Web Banking
If you are asking for Bank of America locations and you are finding it not simple, try bank of America online banking instead of looking off line. Online banking services are greatly becoming the way to easily access corporations from any part of the worldI can assure you that with online banking there is not need to look for Bank of America locations.

Bank Reconciliation Statement measures company’s Cash Account
To keep a record of your bank statement of your business up-to-date is very necessary for business. This process and track record enables business owner to produce their own financial reports as and when it is needed. It will also helpful in analyzing business position in market and also helps to make some necessary decisions for business.

Unique Ideas for Celebrating Bank Holidays around the World
Bank holidays are known by public holidays when most of the public holidays get closed and not a single transaction will be held during that day. Banks are normally closed on this day but is varies from one country to another. List of bank holidays varies from one country to another. Like India, US, UK, Germany, and Ireland all are having different list of holidays. Apart from list, the way and tradition of celebrating these bank holidays are also varies from one community to community. Like during Christmas, Boxing Day, Good Friday, New Year, Independence Day, Easter day and Labor Day are some of the famous bank holidays celebrated around the world with great fervor and joy.

Investment Banking Adviser - Investment Banking Articles
Those who are able to achieve higher yields on their investments typically don't have a broker and don't listen to the advice of a financial planner. After all, if either of them knew what they were talking about they wouldn't be hustling others into allowing them to learn the trade game off of other people's money.

Investment Banking IPO - Investment Banking M&A
Regulation D, Under Sections 4(2) and 3(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, the SEC adopted Regulation D to coordinate the various limited offering exemptions and to streamline the existing requirements applicable to private offers and sales of securities. The Regulation establishes three exemptions from registration in Rules 504, 505, and 506.


Privacy Policy | Copyright/Trademark Notification