Posted: Oct 10, 2011 11:52 AM
TUCSON - Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona is alerting consumers about new fees on their bank statement for using their debit card.
Recent banking law changes capped the ‘swipe fee' that banks can charge retailers for debit transactions. The average fee was 44 cents per transaction, but the new law caps the fee at 21 cents. Banks say they will lose hundreds of millions of dollars a year are looking to recoup that money by modifying checking account fees.
BBB is advising consumers and business owners to be on the alert for notices from their financial institutions about changes in the terms of their accounts.
Account holders may want to ask their bank if there are programs to waive the fee for accounts with a minimum balance. It also pays to shop around; some financial institutions may keep no-fee debit cards.
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