bank charges

Meaning

Bank charges are fees that a bank obliges its customers to pay for various services or as penalties, such as for overdrawing an account or transferring money internationally. The term is neutral but often carries a slightly frustrated tone when discussed by customers.

Examples

• I was shocked by the high bank charges for sending money abroad.

  I was shocked by the high bank charges for sending money abroad.

• Some accounts offer free banking with no monthly bank charges.

  Some accounts offer free banking with no monthly bank charges.

• If you go over your limit, you will have to pay heavy bank charges.

  If you go over your limit, you will have to pay heavy bank charges.

• I called the bank to ask if they could waive the recent bank charges.

  I called the bank to ask if they could waive the recent bank charges.

• Our business account has high bank charges for processing cash deposits.

  Our business account has high bank charges for processing cash deposits.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ The bank gave me some expensive bank costs this month.

  ✓ The bank applied some high bank charges this month.

  Use bank charges or bank fees rather than bank costs or bank prices.

• ✗ I paid a bank charge because I used my card in another country.

  ✓ I paid bank charges because I used my card in another country.

  While singular bank charge is possible, native speakers usually use the plural form bank charges when referring to fees in general.

Related Expressions

Practice

• I switched to a new digital bank to avoid paying high monthly ___.

  💡 Fees charged by a financial institution.

  Show answer

  bank charges

• If you don't keep a minimum balance, you might incur extra ___.

  💡 Costs or fees applied to your account.

  Show answer

  bank charges