It’s A Bad Sign When Your Checking Account Comes With A Guide Book

When it comes to consumer complaints about banks, hidden fees are often at the top of the list. Ironically, banks actually can’t hide their checking account fees as they are required by law to disclose them to customers at account opening. Banks must also give customers advance notice anytime they change a fee. All of this sounds good in theory, but practically, it’s still up to the consumer to read these disclosures, which, let’s face it, is easier said than done. We’re all busy and a fee schedule is not high on anyone’s list of exciting and engaging reading material.

So what’s a consumer to do? Ask to see a bank’s fee and service charge schedule in advance of opening an account. The document itself could provide insight into what you can expect. Is it relatively simple, straightforward and brief or does it resemble War and Peace in both size and scope? The larger the document, the more fees a bank charges, and the greater the likelihood you’ll be charged a fee that you weren’t expecting in conjunction with your checking account.

At Ephrata National Bank, our fee schedule is a two-page, pamphlet-sized flyer which is simple and easy to understand. To request a copy, contact us, and while you’re at it, be sure to check out our truly free checking account.