More Bank Fees -- and What You Can Do About Them

You're not imagining it: Banks, especially big ones, have been overhauling their offerings and piling on the fees lately. And while some banks have started dishing out goodies like coffee and danish, don't be distracted by the tasty treats -- they're just there so you won't notice just how crazy this fee-creep has gotten lately.

As we reported recently, Bank of America will start rolling out a new account structure this month -- with some fees -- in three states, a pilot program that's set to go national later this year. Under BofA's new format, account holders will have the option of signing up for one of four accounts. The most basic is an electronic banking-only option that won't charge a fee -- unless you want to do something radical like talk to a human teller. In that case, you'll pay around $9 a month for the privilege. Other fees for the BofA accounts range from a low of $9 to as much as $25 for an account with all the bells and whistles.