Digital Workshop

How to avoid the bite of big bank fees

How to avoid bank fees
VIDEO1:2501:25
How to avoid bank fees

Getting nickeled and dimed is a little more annoying when the spare change in question—and often, much bigger feesare being debited directly from your checking account in the form of bank fees.

But it's a frustration that's easily avoided. A survey from the American Banking Association found that 74 percent of customers pay $3 or less in monthly bank chargesand the bulk of those pay nothing at all.

Read MoreThe mistake doubling your auto insurance premiums

To limit charges, start by reassessing your account. Almost three-quarters of credit unions still offer free checking, according to Bankrate.com, and 38 percent of big banks. Avoiding the fee at others might be as simple as keeping $100 or so in your account, or signing up for direct deposit. "We've found that's a reliable way to get a free account," said Linda Sherry, director of national priorities for Consumer-Action.org.

Banks may also tack on other fees for certain features, like getting mailed paper statements or even talking to a teller in person, said Ed Mierzwinski, consumer program director for U.S. Public Interest Research Group. Or using an out-of-network ATM. A study released Sept. 29 by Bankrate.com found the average fee is now $4.35 per transaction, an increase of 23 percent in the last five years.

So consider those fees when shopping around to avoid picking a "free" account that doesn't actually fit how you bank.

Read MoreAirlines least likely to require a 'Knee Defender'

Worse are penalty fees like overdrafts, which tend to be more prevalent over small charges. "Nobody wants to pay $35 plus $4 for a latte," Mierzwinski said. But that's what often happens under banks' default overdraft plans if you tap out your checking account. (The average overdraft fee is now $32.74, a new record, according to Bankrate.com.) Consumers' best bet is to opt out: Request that the bank decline the transaction instead, he said, or set up automatic transfers from a savings account.

Then play it safe. "Pretend you have $100 less in your account than you actually do," he said. That'll keep you firmly in the black.