How to avoid the most common bank fees

Bank fees are climbing to record highs, according to the 2026 MoneyRates Checking Account Fee survey. Monthly maintenance fees now average $13.51 and out-of-network ATM fees have hit a combined average of $4.64.

But these "junk fees" are largely avoidable. The MoneyRates survey found that nearly a third of checking accounts (31.78%) charge no monthly maintenance fee. If you know where to look, free checking is still very much an option.

According to the MoneyRates survey, the average monthly maintenance fee has hit a record $13.51, or more than over $162 a year. But nearly a third (31.78%) of checking accounts don't charge a maintenance fee.

How to avoid monthly maintenance fees: Capital One 360 Checking and SoFi Checking and Savings* don't have monthly maintenance fees. Chase Total Checking and Citi will waive theirs if you meet the minimum direct deposit requirement.

Using an ATM that's not in your network is an easy way to rack up charges. Between your bank's surcharge and the ATM operator's fee, the combined average is now $4.64 per transaction, according to MoneyRates data.

How to avoid out-of-network ATM fees: Alliant Credit Union will reimburse up to $20 in ATM fees charged by other banks every statement cycle, while Ally Bank will return up to $10. Chase doesn't charge for using out-of-network ATMs, but you may be hit by a fee by the ATM owner.

The Federal Reserve's requirement that financial institutions limit withdrawals and transfers from savings accounts to six per month has been suspended since the start of the pandemic, but many banks still penalize customers for going over. Across the industry, fees for exceeding six withdrawals per month range from $3 to $25 per transaction.

How to avoid excessive transaction fees: Neither U.S. Bank nor fintech company SoFi limits electronic transactions for savings account customers.

If you spend more than what is in your account and your bank covers the transaction, you can be hit with an overdraft fee. According to the 2026 MoneyRates survey, the average overdraft fee is now $32.75 per occurrence — and the charges can cascade if you don't catch the first overdraft right away.

How to avoid overdraft fees: Capital One, Discover® and Bank of America don't charge for overdrafts. (You may need to meet minimum balance requirements or pay other fees, however.)

If your bank declines a transaction due to a lack of funds, you may be assessed a non-sufficient funds (NSF) fee, which typically ranges from $15 to $35.

How to avoid NSF fees: While credit unions, community banks and other smaller institutions may still charge NSF fees, most larger banks have done away with them, including:

• Ally Bank
• Bank of America
• Capital One
• Chase
• Citibank
• U.S. Bank
• Wells Fargo

Wire transfers let you send large sums of money without handling cash, but they can cost anywhere from $16 to $35 per transaction.

How to avoid wire transfer fees: If you're making a domestic transfer, use free peer-to-peer payment systems like Zelle or Venmo. There are limits to how much you can transfer, depending on the institution (Zelle) or whether your account is verified (Venmo).

If you have more time, ACH transfers take several business days to complete but are usually free or low-cost. For international transfers, Remitly waives the fee for your first payment.

Paper checks are falling out of favor, but roughly 11 billion checks are still written in the U.S. annually. Banks and third-party printers can charge $20 to $60 for a box of 200 checks.

How to avoid check ordering fees: Ally Bank Spending Accounts come with free checks. USAA Federal Savings Bank and Navy Federal Credit Union do, too, but membership is primarily limited to current and former service members and their families.

Compare offers to find the right savings account

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* New and existing Checking and Savings members who have not previously enrolled in Direct Deposit with SoFi are eligible to earn a cash bonus of either $50 (with at least $1,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received within 25 calendar days of your first Eligible Direct Deposit of $1 or more) OR $400 (with at least $5,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received within 25 calendar days of your first Eligible Direct Deposit of $1 or more). Cash bonus amount will be based on the total amount of Eligible Direct Deposit received within 25 calendar days of your first Eligible Direct Deposit of $1 or more. If you have satisfied the Eligible Direct Deposit requirements but have not received a cash bonus in your Checking account, please contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 5/15/2026 and will be available through 12/31/26. See full bonus and annual percentage yield (APY) terms at sofi.com/banking/checking-offer/ *SoFi Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A., Member FDIC. SoFi members with Eligible Direct Deposit can earn up to 3.10% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the 3.10% APY for savings (including Vaults). Members without Eligible Direct Deposit will earn 1.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 5/28/26. There is no minimum balance requirement. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet. *SoFi Bank is a member FDIC and does not provide more than $250,000 of FDIC insurance per depositor per legal category of account ownership, as described in the FDIC's regulations. Any additional FDIC insurance is provided by the SoFi Insured Deposit Program. Deposits may be insured up to $3M through participation in the program. See full terms at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms. See list of participating banks at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks. *Earn up to 3.80% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on SoFi Savings with a 0.70% APY Boost (added to the 3.10% APY) for up to 6 months. Open a new SoFi Checking & Savings account with Eligible Direct Deposit by 12/31/26. Rates variable, subject to change. Terms apply at sofi.com/banking#2. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC *Annual percentage yield (APY) is variable and subject to change at any time. Rates are current as of 5/28/26. There is no minimum balance requirement. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional rates and information can be found at https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet