Banks & Banking Accounts - Saving Money Tips

[jeffrey]

1. Ask for a bank account's annual percentage yield when searching for an account. Banks often quote different interest-bearing figures which they calculate in different ways. Annual percentage yield is the standard interest yield calculated the same for all banking accounts everywhere.

2. Check and reconcile your bank statements. Banks make mistakes. If you believe you've been overcharged, make sure you talk to a bank representative in person to resolve the miscalculation.

3. Ask your bank if they offer special deals for shareholders. Many do and a purchase of a single share of their stock may be worth many times its cost in savings.

4. Ask your bank if they offer special deals or discounts for senior citizens. Some offer discounts to those over 55 years of age.

5. Consider online banking so that you can combine your accounts with a personal-finance management program such as Quicken. This will allow you to link your banking with your budgeting and financial planning.

6. Consider paying your bills through electronic bill-paying each month. Not only can it save you the monthly hassle of paying your bills, you also don't have to pay for any postage.

7. If you don't mind doing your banking from home, try a virtual bank. They tend to have lower fees and pay higher interest rates.

8. Look for banking services outside of banks. Credit unions, mutual funds and brokerage cash-management accounts all offer similar services as bank accounts, often with lesser fees.

9. Make sure to keep the minimum required balance in your bank account. Not doing so can cost you hundreds of dollars in extra fees each year.




10. One of the many fees banks typically charge is the "check image fee" which usually runs about $1 a month. If you don't need to see your cancelled checks. you don't need this service and should ask for it to be removed.

11. Order your checks from a mail order company or over the Internet rather than from your bank which will charge as much as 50% more for the convenience.

12, Periodically check with your bank to see what fees are being charged since new fees are a bank trademark. If you were unaware, don't understand or don't agree with certain fees charged, contact the bank manager. Often you can get the fees waived or change your current accounts to avoid them.

13. Take advantage of bank offers to reduce charges. Banks often will offer such deals as free checking if you direct deposit your paycheck.

14. Try to do your checking with a credit union instead of a bank. Since credit unions are there for their members and not out to make a profit, they are much more likely to offer completely free checking or free checking with a small minimum balance.

15. Use a banking account that will pay you interest (and doesn't charge fees to make the interest worthless). There's no point to keep your money at the bank if they're not going to pay you to use your money.

16. With interest rates so low, search for promotions which give you money when opening a new banking account. Although there will usually be a minimum deposit and the minimum amount of time the account must remain open, you'll likely come out better than putting your money in an account with a higher interest rate, but no opening cash bonus.

17. If you're paying for the use of your own money by paying fees to maintain a checking account, look for a bank with no-fee checking. Many banks offer no-fee checking if you keep a minimum balance in a savings account or maintain a minimum combined balance in your savings and checking accounts.

18. Get information from several banks and choose the one that best fits your particular banking habits. If you always dip below the minimum balance, it makes no sense to have "free" checking, since the fees for going below the minimum will cost much more than the interest earned.

19. Balance your checkbook every month to avoid bouncing checks. Fees associated with bouncing a check continue to rise and are typically in the $25 - $35 range.

20. Make sure that your bank has a large ATM network with branches near the places you withdraw money so you aren't charged additional out-of-network ATM fees.

21. Do your banking at a bank where use of ATMs is free of fees.

[amomof4]

When my husband turned 55, I called the bank to find out what discounts were available. We got a free interest bearing checking account with no minimums and free checks. They didn't give it automatically to us. We had to ask.

[Tightwad Kitty]

It took me a little while to cotton on to these deals , as you don’t get this information sent to you when you turn 55 plus but you must read all bank literature every six months or so to see if any changes may save you money on fees and charges.

Your Bank Account maybe right now but may cost you money in the future. Here the banks are changing and canceling different account packages all the time. So be, on lookout all the time for a better deal and be prepared to change banks too!

My charges for last year was about $30, and most of that was a credit card annual fee.

This tip doesn't just apply to over 55, everyone needs to look at they bank fees, changes and interest rates.

[galejo73]

I had a question about #16. "With interest rates so low, search for promotions which give you money when opening a new banking account. Although there will usually be a minimum deposit and the minimum amount of time the account must remain open, you'll likely come out better than putting your money in an account with a higher interest rate, but no opening cash bonus."

would it be a bad idea to open up multiple accounts in order to cash in on free money when opening an account? for example... i signed up with ING through here for the free $25. Would it be a mistake to take that same money (or whatever the minimum is for opening a new account at another bank) and open up an account, say at Bank of America, because they are offering $50 for opening an account with them? and what kind of problems might occur from doing this...? that is, what if i opened the account, left the money in there for the bonus cash and then when it clears close the account (if it isn't worth it to keep it open)? just wondering...

[jeffrey]

Originally Posted by galejo73

would it be a bad idea to open up multiple accounts in order to cash in on free money when opening an account? for example... i signed up with ING through here for the free $25. Would it be a mistake to take that same money (or whatever the minimum is for opening a new account at another bank) and open up an account, say at Bank of America, because they are offering $50 for opening an account with them? and what kind of problems might occur from doing this...? that is, what if i opened the account, left the money in there for the bonus cash and then when it clears close the account (if it isn't worth it to keep it open)? just wondering...

That's exactly what a lot of people do. The problem comes with keeping track of accounts if you're not organized and the time involved, but other than that, there aren't any real negatives. You also have to read the terms of agreement closely so it doesn't end up costing you more than your thought.

[galejo73]

ok, i hear ya...
thanks!

[jmerinka7]

I was surprised to see that someone can use the credit card with annual fee now. How many are with no fee and very and 0 or low%. I'd like to use Discover with the saving program. It helps me to pay for the college with the reimbursment of $120 just for one semest. They do have the same program now until September.

[gotalkmoney]

I tend to like number 5. I strive for online banking/billpay. When I was looking for a new bank, free billpay was #1 for me. This way when I pay my 6-8 bills a month, I don't have to fork out a stamp for each one. I can simply set up a schedule with my bank and go from there.

Good tips!

[Great to be Debt Free]

I liked these tips, too, and just got the $25 offer for ING. DH and I are going to set up our ER fund there and my car fund (to replace my car within the year) with another online bank (for some reason, I can't remember the name, but it offers a little higher APY than ING and gives you $20 up front).

[jmerinka7]

Yes, of course, but what happend if it electricity disorder? Or the computer virus?
I walk 2 times from Manhattan without working cel or telephone. Also at this time no any working bank or bank machine. Also, I received a letter notification from my insurance that after 1 year of direct deposit they would like to charge me for the future web transaction of $10.00 and the regular check is $5.00.
I checked now all web transacktion with the customer service to be sure that it is no overcharges.

[ScrimpAndSave]

I love ingdirect.