banking - What Is Your Bank Charging You? A Guide To Bank Charges

When you're shopping around for a bank account there are a lot of factors to consider. Many people go for up-front incentives, such as money paid into the bank account, vouchers or a gift. However, it is worth looking at bank accounts in more depth to find out what you might be paying for various transactions. Here are some of the transactions that banks might charge you for. Authorised Overdraft An overdraft is like a short term loan. The bank gives you permission to spend more than the funds you have in your account. This amount is usually fixed in consultation with the bank and may be reviewed at stated periods. Some banks have a free authorised overdraft up to a certain limit and charge for any balance over that limit. This is the best way to arrange an overdraft. Unauthorised Overdraft When customers spend more than they have in their accounts without arranging an overdraft limit, this is known as an unauthorised overdraft. Banks penalise customers heavily for this by charging an unauthorised overdraft fee of more than '35 in some cases. The excess spending will also be charged interest at a higher rate than normal. Cheque Services Some banks charge for clearing cheques more quickly than the standard period (this can range from three to seven days depending on the banks involved and the day of the week). There may also be fees for processing cheques in a foreign currency. Taking Money Out Sometimes customers need to set up direct debits, where companies take certain sums from a bank account each month. They may also wish to set up standing orders, where they arrange to pay a certain amount to another bank account or company each month. Some banks charge a setup fee for these services. . It is also worth looking at the daily withdrawal limit on a current account. This can vary widely depending on the bank you choose. Other Bank Charges Banks may also charge for other services such as: 1. setting up a loan facility 2. changing or issuing foreign currency 3. writing cheques that exceed the cleared balance in an account 4. stopping a lost cheque Banks will also charge customers if they have to write to them about an infraction of bank rules, such as exceeding the overdraft limit or defaulting on loan repayments. This means that defaulting customers have to repay the debt as well as the additional charges. Doing some research could save consumers a small fortune in bank charges. In addition for looking for incentives, consumers should look for banks that keep their charges as low as possible. With a bit of digging, it is easy to find banks with: 5. an automatic overdraft limit for which there is no charge 6. free standing orders and direct debits 7. free transfers between banks 8. low unauthorised overdraft fees 9. low charges for other bank transactions Choosing a bank that fits this profile will help with overall financial health. Joe Kenny writes for SelectLoans.co.uk, a UK personal loans comparison site, visit us today for information on all loan topics including secured loans and links to leading UK providers. Our Site: http://www.selectloans.co.uk/ Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joseph_Kenny banking - Why International Banking Services May Be Right for You Many baby boomers are starting to look at retirement. In doing so they are looking for ways to get more bang for their retirement buck. One thing many are thinking of is retiring to other countries with a lower cost of living and that are somewhat foreign and exotic to their present lifestyle. This is causing many to look into international banking services to see if offshore banking will be right for them as they seek an offshore retirement life. So just what services do international banks provide? To speak of international banking, you will find it covers a large assortment of different topics which can range from providing personal bank accounts to business bank accounts to providing foreign currency services and so on. This will allow you to make transactions into foreign currencies from your retirement funds much more easily, especially if the trade takes place between the Euro, the US dollar or even Swiss Francs. Further services that international banks can have include providing you with traveler's' checks, allowing you to have a foreign currency account and even providing you with advice should you desire at some point to begin the importation and exportation of goods or services. They will provide you with investment consultations in foreign countries as well. Beyond this, by managing your finances in an international bank in another country, you may find you can take advantage of lower taxes or even of no taxes as well. This will certainly give you something which can stretch your retirement dollar further. And even though this article addresses mostly baby boomers thinking about retirement, as a business person you will find that international banking services that are provided may allow you to take your business global. That is no small feature when it comes to growing your business. If you open an account in another country that you wish to do business in and have an account in an international bank with offices in that country as well as others, you will find it much easier to make payments, and receive them as well, in the local currency. This could save you quite a bit in transactional fees. Not to mention that most banks will keep a close eye on the political and economical happenings in the country. As you can see international banks could be a boon not only to the baby boomer looking at retirement but also to the business person seeking to expand into the global market. However you will need to carry out your research carefully before opening an account to determine just how stable and secure the bank is and how many international banking services are provided by the financial institution you are looking at. Many banks on the Isle of Man, Guernsey and Jersey are considered to be very stable as such institutions are highly regulated there. The political and economical climates are very stable as well.