Thursday, September 11, 2014

10 Secrets about Banks

Do you think you know enough about the bank you park your money with? Does your bank teller reveal all the profitable options available? Are you aware if there are any loopholes which a bank does not want its customers to know? To work smart on your money matters, you need to probe more into things you did not know about banks.


We bring to you a list of ten things that you must know. Read on for better and safer banking in the future!
Theft and loss protection on your ATM Card

Your bank must tell you about what kind of protection it offers if your ATM card is stolen or lost. It becomes all the more important if you use your card for debit transactions.

You might lose all your money if the card is stolen and not get even half the protection that a credit card customer gets.

Usually, there are better options than just getting an ATM card blocked if you ask for it.

The more you shop, the more they earn

The bank charges you a certain fee every time you shop with your debit card or credit card. Your plastic money is in fact your bank’s wealth too.

Why do you think there are reward points for all you shoppers? The more you swipe, the more is their profit.

It does not always take three days for cheques to clear

Cheque clearance depends on a person’s credibility and the type of cheque issued.

A payroll cheque, for example, is cleared the moment it is deposited. If the customer depositing the check has big bucks in his account, the cheque is likely to be cleared right away.

In case of overdraft, the bank can take your deposited money

Yes! The bank is allowed to compensate itself from your deposited money in the event of your overdrafts (when your account balance is below zero) and other charges. You not only pay the accumulated interest but also lose a part of your deposits to your overdraft loans.

Bank tellers have targets to meet

Bank tellers are like salespersons, who must meet their sales quota for the month. They must get enough number of customers to open accounts in order to meet their performance metrics.

The bottom-line in this case is that, the banks need you as much as you need the bank.

Banks don’t reveal their highest interest-paying accounts

When you sign up with a bank, it is not obliged to tell you about the accounts that pay you the highest interest rate. Therefore, make it a point to inquire about the highest interest-paying options available.

You might end up overdrawn due to bank fees

When signing up with a new bank, make sure to inquire about their fees.

Fees are not the same for all banks. If you do not compare such fees with other banks, you might end up being overdrawn (withdraw money in excess of what the account holds) in 30 days time due to hefty bank fees.

Does your teller brief you on all types of fees?

You pay fees on a lot of banking activities which you may not even be aware of!

Most banks charge fees on ATM service, debit card service, stopped payment, overdrafts, printed feeds, balance enquiry, monthly checking account, cheque writing and wire transfer. Make sure to always check with the bank for such fees.

The overdraft protection fee

The banks charges a fee for every check you overdraft, or debit overdraft. Apart from this fee, you pay an interest on the balance you owe, until you pay it off completely.

In case your credit card is linked to your overdraft account, you may have to pay as much as 18% to 25% interest for your overdrafts.

It is in their interest if you are indebted for a longer term

Banks deliberately encourage you to go for a longer term option for the repayment of your loan. They make you believe that long terms can save you in the event of shortage of funds or unforeseen circumstances. But, it is obvious that the longer you are indebted, the longer they can pocket interest from you. Negotiate wisely on the loan term, after planning your budget carefully.

some of the beautiful banks images














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