The future of Direct Customer fees
Banks often charge transactional fees only if a customer has gone beyond what’s deemed to be the core commercial relationship. Hence, fees are usually charged to customers whether they have overdrawn an account, written an inspection in circumstances where they’re insufficient funds to pay for it, written a banker’s draft, designed a wire transfer or completed a foreign exchange transaction etc.
Although different banks will probably try different approaches, many of them will want to move to a far more transparent business model with customers. This can involve no fees whatsoever for customers that conserve a minimum positive balance and therefore are willing to tie inward payments for their checking account (such as regular salary payments for instance). It may also be the bank will require another accounts to be maintained to help keep fees at zero (for example having a separate checking account or buying insurance with the bank etc). However, the model here will typically be to not charge fees for normal everyday transactions, and will also include items for example electronic bill pay, peer-to-peer payments online or using a smart phone app as well as account balance enquiries online or in an ATM.
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November 21st, 2011
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