ADVERTORIAL:
Cape Town - Bank fees getting you down? Make sure you’re paying the best fees with this handy guide.
Visit websites such as Just Money or Think Money to compare interest rates and charges of various banks. (According to the independent Solidarity report, Capitec Bank has offered the lowest bank fees for 2012, 2013 and 2014.)
When choosing your bank, make sure you have the best deal on:
- ATM withdrawals (at your bank, another bank, supermarket till, overseas ATM or bank)
- Balance enquiry fees
- Cash deposit fees
- Cheque deposit fees
- Debit card purchases
- Debit order fees (some banks charge as much as R120 for a rejected debit order)
- Electronic banking fees
- General banking charges and admin fees
- Statement fees
- Stop order fees
- Transfer fees
Know what you get. Know what you pay
If some of your transactions are included in a bundled option at a fixed monthly cost, take a good look at the types of transactions and how many you can do for what you’re paying. You may find that paying for only what you use will save you money.
As a Capitec Bank client, if you have 10 debit orders, make 4 cash withdrawals, view your account balances and draw statements electronically, get 20 SMS notifications and deposit R4 000 cash into your bank account, you’ll pay less than R100 per month.
View the full list of Capitec Bank fees on our site or download the fees table as a PDF.
Things to consider
Some banks may not mention administration or management fees but that doesn’t mean they won’t charge them. Always ask.
When taking credit, always consider the total cost and term and understand any other costs such as credit insurance. Capitec Bank offers free retrenchment and death cover on credit of 6 months or longer.
Tip: Cash is expensive. Use your card for free at tills, and when buying online, through telephone or mail order.
Some banks charge a flat rate for ATM withdrawals while others charge a partial rate over and above the initial minimum amount.
When drawing money from an ATM at another bank you will be charged a fee. (Why not take part in our chat about how cash is expensive on Facebook?)
Don’t let any of your debit orders bounce – you’ll pay a penalty fee and missing a payment will damage your credit rating.
Tip: Manage your money better with our cellphone banking app, now with a handy budget tool.