Judith Briles

Tiffany Bass Bukow

Kyle Busch

Certified Financial Planner Board

Kimberly Clouse

Megan Corcoran

Doris Dobkins

Emily McDowell

Gail Rickards

Lea Saslav

Kara Stefan

Jeffrey Strain

Jill Terry

 

CONTRIBUTORS

Nicole Alper

Mary Jo Barnett

Kathy Buys

Judy Davis

Mimi Doe

Arlene G. Dubin

Michael Falk

Melissa Francis

Kathleen Gurney

Marlene Jupiter

Maribeth Kuzmeski

Jacqueline Marcell

Eileen Michaels

Hinda Miller

Suzanne Northington

Alicia Potter

Barbara Shapiro, CFP, CFS, CDP

Patricia Smith

Julie Sullivan

Katie Sweeney

Eric Tyson

 

Career Category Contributors

Chip Brookshaw

Greg Cannon

Doug De Carlo

Sacha Cohen

Rob Einaudi

Josh Green

Kristin Kane

Hillel Kuttler

Carleen Mackay

Eva Marer

Linda Pliagas

Carl Pritchard

Russell Shaw

Sylvia Sheehan

Cinda Voegtli


Search Ms.Money
Search this site
powered by FreeFind
FinancialInvestingBankingPlanningCareerPurchasesCommunity

Bank Like a Banker

by Kimberly A. Griffiths
Author of One Paycheck at a Time (www.onepaycheckatatime.com)

The business of banking has changed dramatically over the last decade. Because the cost of doing business the old-fashioned way is no longer effective, banks are interested in changing their customers' behavior by encouraging electronic banking alternatives whenever possible. They have done this by charging high fees for services that were once free. If you pay $200 or more in annual fees for banking, it's time to do some competitive shopping.

Before becoming furious with your bank, it may be that the products you're using no longer meet your personal needs. If you have an established relationship with your bank, inquire about the other types of lower-cost checking and savings account products.

By understanding the rationale of why a bank charges fees for different services will allow you to be a savvy banking customer. If human contact is required to serve you, such as a teller or personal banker, this is very expensive for the bank. The incentive is for banks to encourage more high-tech, "low-touch" methods of meeting your needs. This is accomplished by servicing as many customers as possible with automated telephone services, cash machines, and online self-service banking.

Since the bank needs to train their employees, provide a paycheck and benefits, pay for the branch building, and in some cases, supply uniforms, it is conceivable that your one banking transaction per pay period could cost the bank $3 or more for your one banking transaction.

If you conduct your banking via an automated telephone system, the cost of this type of transaction is much less expensive. However, if you then require assistance from a telephone banker, the price goes from $1 for the automated process to as much as $2 for human contact. For the same reasons stated above, the training, location, computer equipment, etc. becomes more expensive when human interaction is needed.

Now it is clear why electronic banking methods are preferred by financial institutions. In fact, most banks are rewarding their customers with lower fees the more the customer does his/her banking electronically. For example, even though Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) costs the bank around $100,000 each plus the cost of the computer network and maintenance, the cost of these type of transactions drop to 50 cents to $1 each. Not only are these machines more cost effective, the 24-hour availability to customers is very convenient.

With the ease and convenience of Automatic Clearing House (ACH) payments, this "checkless" process drops the price to around 25 cents each. And finally, the Internet drops the expense even further to less than 10 cents a transaction. I realize that there is still some fear of banking electronically, but the security that banks have instilled with computer technology far surpasses the current security of traditional banking methods. If you lose your checkbook and wallet, the cost and worry of canceling these checks is very tedious. It's very possible that a thief could forge your name and deplete your accounts in a matter of hours. The sophisticated computer technology, however, although not perfect, has a far more secure system to protect you and your money.

Avoid being the bank's best customer. Attempt to cut your annual bank fees in half by educating yourself. Inquire about the options and products available to you with your banker. By asking about the alternative banking methods, you may find that your bank fees will drop considerably.

This is an excerpt from One Paycheck at a Time, www.onepaycheckatatime.com, by Kimberly A. Griffiths, ISBN: 1591133327. One Paycheck at a Time, a 200-page workbook, contains budget management exercises for an entire year of paychecks.

The author, Kimberly A. Griffiths, has been through the vicious cycle of debt herself, and provides a no-nonsense system to managing your money paycheck to paycheck. You customize the journal based on your pay schedule and learn the necessary tools for making ends meets


Money Books & Authors

Read our interviews
with authors of financial books for women.


Tools & Calculators

What is your financial health?

How much are you worth?

What is your cash flow?

See all Calculators


Seminars & Workshops

Find a financial seminar or a workshop at a location near you.

 

 

Site Map | About MsMoney.com | About Tiffany Bass Bukow | Contact Us | Privacy | Terms of Use

 

Copyright © 2006 MsMoney.com, Inc. All rights reserved.
MsMoney.com is a trademark of MsMoney.com, Inc.