Save up to 300 euros by paying less commissions to the bank

Commissions for everything

For having a checking account, for cards, for a transfer … If you add up all the commissions, a year you can pay 300 euros.

Prepare to negotiate

Find out about the commissions that other banks charge and calmly think about your arguments to pressure them.

Photo: Sarah Jessica Parker in Sex and the City.

Study your bank accounts

The more savings you have in a financial institution and the more products you have contracted with them, the more force you will have when negotiating commissions.

Less is more

Whenever possible, unify all your accounts into one. That way you will pay a single maintenance fee instead of several.

Are there accounts without commissions?

Yes. In online banking, you can find accounts with zero commissions and no conditions.

Be careful with the cards

Get rid of the ones you don't use. And put to choose, better a debit card than a credit card, since its maintenance cost is lower.

When in doubt …

Always go to your bank teller. With the new system of commissions for withdrawing money from ATMs, it is difficult to know with certainty whether or not they will charge you and how much.

Beware of forgotten accounts

The fact that an account is zero and you do not use it does not mean that the bank stops charging you commissions. If you don't use them, cancel it.

Do not stay at zero

If you are in the red and they charge you something, in addition to the interest for the money that the bank advances you, you will have to pay an overdraft commission as a penalty.

Yes! to online procedures

There are many banks in which doing some transactions through the internet or ATMs has a lower cost than doing them in the bank's office.

Not! to the postal mail

Many banks charge for mailing with account information. Request that they send you notifications by mail. It is not only cheaper, but also more environmentally friendly.

As you have seen, there are many strategies to avoid fees and reduce bank charges. Here you have all the data to save up to 300 euros a year.

10 infallible tricks to save you bank fees

Negotiate with your bank. Although there are commissions that can hardly be taken from you, it is worth a try. Of course, think calmly about your arguments and find out about the commissions that other banks charge to pressure them.
It operates with a single entity. If you have multiple accounts, ideally they belong to one or two banks. The greater the savings you have in a financial institution and the more products you have contracted with them, the more strength you will have when negotiating the lowering of commissions.
Group your accounts. Whenever you can, unify all your accounts into one. That way you will pay a single maintenance fee instead of several. For example, going from having three accounts to just one means a savings of close to 100 euros per year.
Look for accounts without commissions. Those of traditional banking have the requirement that you establish a certain relationship with the entity (that you direct your payroll with them, for example). In online banking, on the other hand, you will find accounts with zero commissions and without links.
Don't go overboard with the cards. Get rid of those that you hardly use, because you use them or not, you pay an annual commission. If you can choose, a debit card is better than a credit card, since its maintenance cost is lower.
Don't mess with the tellers. With the commission system for withdrawing money from ATMs, it is difficult to know with certainty if they will charge you or not, and if so, how much (it depends on the bank, the amount, the place …). That is why it is best to always get it from an ATM in your bank.
Be careful with forgotten accounts. The fact that an account is zero and that you do not use it, does not mean that the bank stops charging you commissions. These will accumulate and when you deposit some money or cancel the account they will charge you all. If you don't use the account, you'd better close it.
The danger of running out of balance. Try to always have some money and anticipate possible receipts. If you are in the red and they charge you something, in addition to the interest you will have to pay an overdraft commission as a penalty.
The procedures, better online. There are already many banks in which doing some transactions through the internet or ATMs has a lower cost than doing them at the bank's office. In fact, the trend going forward is to charge for operations that are made at the window.
And waive the postal mail. There are banks that charge for mailing their customers with information about their account. Request that notifications be sent digitally to the mailbox of the online platform.

Did you know…

Same conditions forever?

In the event that your bank decides to change the conditions of your account (and with it the commissions), it must inform you at least two months in advance and if you are not interested, you can terminate it without having to pay any penalty