www.CUNA.org/newsnow (10/21/10) Free checking is on the demise in big banks, with at least one source suggesting that smaller Main Street banks and credit unions can prepare for the opening to attract more members or customers.
The article noted that Bank of America is charging $8.95 a month for banking with a teller and receiving a paper statement. Twelve percent of BofA's revenues is made through fees. Tuesday the bank announced a major shift in how it addresses consumer business. Free checking will be nearly unheard of, largely because of the number of regulations hitting banks' bottom lines, including new laws on high-risk trades, are squeezing banks' bottom lines, the article said.
Free checking rose steadily in recent years before dropping this year, according to
Moebs Services, a Chicago-based economic research firm. Last year 81.5% of banking customers had free checking. That dropped to 72.5% this year.
Moebs Services founder Michael Moebs said it is now up to smaller Main Street banks to use the opening and grab customers from big banks. Free checking could become a mainstay of community banks and credit unions in the future, he said.
CU checking accounts are often called the best value in the financial industry.
