Free Checking a Thing of the Past?

The day has come. We are beginning to see the ramifications of the Durbin Amendment - Dodd-Frank Act, which became effective October 1, 2011. The amendment imposes limits on the fees that banks can charge merchants for each customer debit card purchase. To compensate, some banks are looking to make up for the lost revenue via other means, such as charging you a fee for the use of your debit card and/or checking account. You have options as to where you do your banking. It is important to select an institute where the service and products best match your needs.

ABC News has compiled a list of the 10 largest banks and how much each is charging for basic checking accounts and the debit cards. Additionally, you can learn about your local bank and credit union options online.

It only takes a few minutes to do a side-by-side comparison as to your options but can save you significantly over the long run.