The bank is charging me a fee to make change at the teller line, even though I have an account with them. Can it do that?
Yes. Federal law generally allows banks to charge non-interest charges and fees.
A bank's decisions regarding whether to charge certain fees and the amount and method of calculation for fees should be consistent with safe and sound banking.
Under federal law, bank disclosures shall reflect the terms of the legal obligation of the account agreement between the consumer and the depository institution. In addition, federal law requires that banks make certain disclosures at account opening and make certain subsequent disclosures. For instance, at account opening, banks must generally disclose the amount of any fee that may be imposed in connection with the deposit account (or an explanation of how the fee will be determined) and the conditions under which the fee may be imposed.
Review your account agreement for policies specific to your bank and your account.
If you feel that a bank imposes high fees, shop around and purchase your financial services accordingly.
Last Reviewed: April 2021
Please note: The terms "bank" and "banks" used in these answers generally refer to national banks, federal savings associations, and federal branches or agencies of foreign banking organizations that are regulated by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). Find out if the OCC regulates your bank. Information provided on HelpWithMyBank.gov should not be construed as legal advice or a legal opinion of the OCC.