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Once you've squared away the safety issue, you can start looking at your bank (or prospective bank) with a new set of glasses.

Are you getting the services you need and deserve? Are you paying too much for these services?

To scope out services and fees, go to the bank and talk to a representative at a desk. (You don't want to establish your relationship through a teller's window; you want to sit down and talk with someone directly.) Tell them you want to open an account, and ask what services they offer and what fees they charge.

Take the best deal you can find (provided the bank passes the safety test, of course). If one bank is particularly convenient, but doesn't offer the best package, you can negotiate! Most people don't realize this, but it's true. Go back to the bank rep and say, "Gee, I'd really love to bank here, but I can get a better deal down the street. If you can match this, I'll bring my business to you."

Straight Talk Tip: All other things being equal, you want to go with the bank that has the lowest minimum balance requirement.

Smart Money Move: Don't order your checks from the bank–they always mark up the charge. Order direct, from someone like Checks in the Mail (800/733-4443) or Checks Unlimited (800/533-3973). You'll pay half the price and get exactly the same checks...name, address, bank, account number and all.

Bank Fees You Can Comparison Shop

There are some fees you can negotiate with your banker. Here are six such fees:

More Cost-Cutting Tips

The two most common areas where a bank hits you up for extra dough are automated-teller machines and check overdrafts. Here's how to eliminate both fees:

1. Switch to a "no-fee" ATM card. Switching banks just to get a no-fee ATM card may seem like a drastic measure, but we're not kidding here. If you're getting charged $1 a pop to use your ATM card just once a week, you're forking over $52 a year for the convenience of accessing your own money. Come on, when are these guys gonna wise up? Probably long after you've hit the high road.

2. Have your bank account "sweeped." We don't want you to clean out your checking account. We just want to ask your banker to automatically move, or "sweep," money from your savings account into your checking account if your checking balance is too low to cover a check that is drawn against it. Why should you pay the bank a $20 overdraft fee when you've got money in the bank that will cover the check? If your bank doesn't offer a sweep, your banker should at the very least be willing to call and alert you to checks coming in, so you can transfer funds by phone to cover the check.

Continue to keep your banking costs down with these tips on hidden fees:

• Fight Back Against Bank Fees!
  
• Avoid ATM and Bounced Check Fees

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