Banks are required to disclose all fees associated with their accounts. An account with fewer, lower fees is usually better, regardless of the interest rate.

Check-printing fees are often higher at banks than outside printing providers.

An old-fashioned savings account may be subject to monthly fees which are higher than the small amount you gain in interest. A checking account with few fees may be a better choice. For larger amounts of money, a money market account might be a good option. You’ll earn more interest with this type of account, but again, you may be charged extra fees if the account balance drops below a certain amount.