Bank On It: A Comparison of Area Banks

Saving money is expensive. Bank customers have seen account and transaction fees escalate over the past few years--often amounting to more than $50 per year.

Finding the right account for your needs can be a difficult task. In the table below, The Crimson has compiled a list of accounts geared toward students at area banks and has listed the fees associated with those accounts.

Bank: Fleet

Account: Student Self Service Checking

Monthly Maintenance Fee: $5 per month without direct deposit; $3 per month with direct deposit.

Minimum Balance to Avoid Maintenance Fee: None

Transaction (ATMs, Withdrawals, Checks) Limitations: 20 checks per statement period allowed without fee, unlimited ATM transactions at Fleet ATM's

Transaction Fees: $0.50 fee for each check in excess of 20 per statement

Period; $2 per staff-assisted transaction;

$0.50 for each ATM mini-statement (with a history of recent transactions)

PERKS: Fleet Total Access Card (Visa Check Card); Maintenance fees waived during the summer (June, July and August) upon request and with no account activity; Unlimited electronic banking through Fleet ATMs, Touch Tone Telephone Banking and Fleet HomeLinkSM online banking. (Online bill payments cost $4.50 per month.)

Fees for Using ATM'S at Other Banks: $1.50

Bank: Cambridge Savings Bank (CSB)

Account: Basic Checking Account

Monthly Maintenance Fee: $3

Minimum Balance to Avoid Maintenance Fee: None

Transaction (ATMs, Withdrawals, Checks) Limitations: 8 transactions (checks or in-person withdrawals) per month; unlimited ATM transactions at CSB ATMs

Transaction Fees: $1 fee for each check in excess of 8 per statement period

Perks: Check/debit card

Fees for Using ATMs at Other Banks: $1 fee for using ATMs at banks that belong to the SUM network; fees vary are high for using non-SUM network ATMs

Bank: Cambridge Trust Company (CTC)

Account: ATM Convenience Account

Monthly Maintenance Fee: Free

Minimum Balance to Avoid Maintenance Fee: None

Transaction (ATMs, Withdrawals, Checks) Limitations: 8 free checks per statement period; unlimited ATM transactions at CTC ATMs

Transaction Fees: $3 for each check in excess of 8 per statement period

Perks: Personal banker for each customer

Fees for Using ATMs at Other Banks: $1 fee for using ATMs at banks that belong to the SUM network; additional fees apply for using non-SUM network ATMs

Bank: Cambridgeport Bank

Account: Free Checking

Monthly Maintenance Fee: $0

Minimum Balance to Avoid Maintenance Fee: None

Transaction (ATMs, Withdrawals, Checks) Limitations: Unlimited check-writing; unlimited ATM transactions at Cambridgeport banks

Transaction Fees: No per check charges

Perks: Visa Check Card; 3 free ATM withdrawals per statement period at non-Cambridgeport banks that belong to the SUM network; access to bank account via electronic banking. (Note: Viewing your account is free, but online transactions require an online account with a $2.50 maintenance fee and $0.35 fee per electronic transaction)

Fees for Using ATMs at Other Banks: $1.25 fee for ATM transactions in excess of three per statement period at banks belonging to SUM network; additional fees apply for using non-SUM network ATMs

Bank: Citizens

Account: Basic Checking Account

Monthly Maintenance Fee: $2.50

Minimum Balance to Avoid Maintenance Fee: None

Transaction (ATMs, Withdrawals, Checks) Limitations: 12 transactions allowed per month (includes checks, ATM or in-person withdrawal)

Transaction Fees: $1 fee for each transaction (includes checks, ATM, in-person withdrawals) in excess of 12 per statement period

Perks: Debit card

Fees for Using ATMs at Other Banks: none

Bank: Wainwright

Account: Personal Basic Checking

Monthly Maintenance Fee: None

Minimum Balance to Avoid Maintenance Fee: None

Transaction (ATMs, Withdrawals, Checks) Limitations: 5 checks per statement period; unlimited ATM transactions at Wainwright banks

Transaction Fees: $1 Check Activity Fee for each check in excess of 5 per statement period

Perks: 5 free ATM transactions per statement period at non-Wainwright banks belonging to NYCE, CIRRUS, or Plus network

Fees for Using ATMs at Other Banks: $1 fee for transactions at non-Wainwright ATM's in excess of 5 per statement

Bank: Wingspan.com

Account: Checking

Monthly Maintenance Fee: $7.50

Minimum Balance to Avoid Maintenance Fee: $1,000

Transaction (ATMs, Withdrawals, Checks) Limitations:

Perks: Check/debit card; free online bill payments

Fees for Using ATMs at Other Banks: ATM-provider usage fees apply, with up to $5 in rebates per statement period