Have you had to pay a bounced-check charge lately? Have you noticed that the fee for this is much higher than it used to be? Have you also noticed that your bank is no longer providing many courtesy services that it used to? If so, you’re not alone. Millions of Americans are paying higher fees across the board at their local banks, in the form of higher credit card rates, ATM and cash advance fees, and even fees for deposit slips or to talk to a teller.

A recent study conducted by the U.S. Public Research Interest Group of over 500 banks and 40 credit unions showed that customers who failed to meet monthly minimum deposit requirements paid an average of $228 per year in underlimit fees. The average fees collected were $266 at large banks, $191 at small banks and $101 at credit unions. (In all fairness, the study did also show that the percentage of banks that offered totally free checking had increased from 17.5% in 1999 to 29% in 2005.

Credit and debit card fees are also increasing. When you draw money out of another bank’s ATM, the fees for this are now often half-again as much as they were even a few years ago, both from the bank being drawn on and the bank of the ATM machine. Cash advance fees from credit cards are also increasing, both in dollar amount and percentagewise. Other miscellaneous services, such as balance-transfer fees, foreign exchange fees and even account research fees also cost more than they used to. If you need a copy of a check or past statement, a fee of $5 or even $10 can be assessed to you.

Fortunately, there are several alternatives available for those who wish to avoid these fees. Internet banking is starting to make its presence felt. A full range of FDIC insured bank products is now available online, and the lower overhead required from these online institutions usually translates into higher rates and lower fees for its customers (check out www.everbank.com). Many brokerage and investment firms also offer checking and money market accounts with free features such as automatic bill pay and other banking services.