Bill Burr once complained to Joe Rogan that his bank took $28 every month ‘for no reason’ — now the government is taking action on these frustrating fees. Here's how you can avoid them

Jing Pan
Bill Burr once complained to Joe Rogan that his bank took $28 every month ‘for no reason’ — now the government is taking action on these frustrating fees. Here's how you can avoid them
Bill Burr once complained to Joe Rogan that his bank took $28 every month ‘for no reason’ — now the government is taking action on these frustrating fees. Here's how you can avoid them

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Banks are in the business of making money, and one of the ways they do that is through fees.

These fees can seem small, but they do add up. In fact, even high-net-worth celebrities have ranted about it.

“[My bank] is taking $28 a month out of my account for no reason,” top comedian Bill Burr tells Joe Rogan during an episode of the Joe Rogan Experience podcast last year.

Some of the most common yet sneaky bank fees people — like Burr — face are maintenance fees, overdraft fees and non-sufficient funds (NSF) fees.

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Earlier this month, the Biden administration and the the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau (CFPB) proposed a rule that would limit overdraft fees to as low as $3, and it would apply to approximately 175 banks. The proposed fee limit is reportedly based on the actual cost banks pay to recoup the losses from overdrawn accounts. According to the Associated Press, U.S. banks take in upwards of $8 billion in overdraft fees every year.

Last week, the CFPB proposed another rule would prohibit non-sufficient funds (NSF) fees on transactions that financial institutions decline in real time when customers swipe or tap their card.

These proposals are part of President Biden’s larger economic agenda item that aims to eliminate “junk fees” — fees he believes are putting an unnecessary financial burden on American families.

Here are three ways to counteract the costs that come along with simply having a bank account.

Find a cheaper bank account

Getting the most out of your cash is difficult when you’re being charged for having any at all.

A bank account from Chime* has no minimum balance requirement, no account maintenance fees and is compatible with mobile payment platforms like Google Pay and Apple Pay.

Plus, you get overdraft coverage of up to $200, providing a safety net for when times are tough. With access to over 60,000 fee-free ATMs nationwide, cash withdrawals are convenient and cost-free.

Chime’s direct deposit lets you get your paycheck up to two days early, so you can start saving faster.*

Read more: Retire richer — why people who work with a financial advisor retire with an extra $1.3 million

Make your money work for you

Believe it or not, there are banking options available that will actually make you money in the long run, rather than discreetly deplete your balance.

Acorns* is an online platform that automatically saves and invests for you. Acorns will invest your spare change from purchases you make, and even a piece of your paycheck, automatically — you don’t even have to click a button.

Fees for your account are low and transparent, starting as low as $3 per month so you can focus your funds on making investments instead.

Opening an Acorns account takes under three minutes, and once you make your first investment, you’ll get an extra $20* in the bank with this exclusive offer.

Save on your insurance premium

Sometimes banking fees are unavoidable. But there are other areas of your finances where you can avoid paying too much.

Shopping around for a better rate* with BestMoney is one of the easiest ways to shave some money off your car insurance bill and make up for those pesky bank fees.

All you have to do is answer some quick questions about the factors that can affect your rate and BestMoney will help you find the lowest prices available in your area.*, saving you up to $820 a year.

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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

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