Banks Make $32B in Overdraft Fees

Even though some banks are trying to improve their consumer policies and reduce hidden fees, they are by and large still making a pretty penny off their customers. According to the Pew Charitable Trusts, banks made some $32 billion in overdraft fees alone in 2012. The median penalty is $35, which 14 of the largest 44 banks charge. Free checking is also down, as banks are increasingly finding it unprofitable to cover operations costs to maintain free accounts for customers. Just 59 percent of banks surveyed offered free checking in 2014, down from 82 percent in 2009. However, there is some good news for consumers: Banks have improved significantly in fee disclosure, with 32 of the 44 largest banks meeting Pew’s own standards.