My bank recently told me that unless I kept a $1500 balance in my checking account, they would charge me $12 a month as a fee. My first thought was to tell them to go to Hades, but I was wondering how common these fees are. If I seek to find a bank with free checking, will I run into the same type of fee structure?

TIA!
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I have never had to maintain a certain balance in an account to not incur a fee. Is this a sort of interest bearing account? Those are typically the only accounts I know of that would have a minimum balance fee. :-)
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They're common but not universal, Hugh. It wouldn't surprise me if you're with BoA. A lot of bank waive the fees based on number of online transactions, etc.
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It's common on interest bearing and business account checking. Most every bank here in FL has a free checking service they provide. It's truly free from fees and the min. balance is either zero or like $5. Just call your bank up and ask them to switch you to their free checking. If they don't offer one, there are plenty other banks that do.
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I use a credit union. There are no fees accept for using foreign ATMs. Also, I'm pretty sure they only require something like $1 (or $100 I forget) to keep the account active.
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:-)
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Hugh, I've found that you just need to shop around. Some account plans require a minimum balance and/or direct deposit to have fees waived, some require certain activity levels or don't pay interest, but are free otherwise with no minimum balance. Some require you to maintain a balance in a savings account, but checking can be any balance. Try the smaller, local area banks and credit unions, they tend to offer more services / less fees than the bigger banks.
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It is a buyers market. You can (and should, at least occasionally) look around to see how good a deal your bank it for you. If you find a better deal, go in and talk to an account manager. Explain why you would like to stay and how the better deal is tempting you away. When it comes to fees, some can be waived (new banking regulations may alter that).

A friend of mine has had interest free credit cards for years because she flatly states that if they don't waive all interest that she will move her account to another place.
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I'd switch banks. There are many banks that don't follow this practice. I use a credit union, which doesn't have any fees unless my account is in the red.
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Thanks, guys! This is Chase, it is not a business account, there is no interest attached to the balance. It was free when I opened it a few years back, in Dec they sent me the letter stating that starting in Feb they would charge the $12. I use it only to do online stuff, I have never written a check. I'll talk to a rep there and see what they can do for me. I'd like to keep it since my other stuff is also with Chase and I can easily transfer funds between accounts and the like- but not for $12 a month-- a $1500 balance would be very hard to maintain at this point in this account.
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Most banks, or credit unions at least, will give free checking as long as you have direct deposit into the account.
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I have several accounts at a traditional brick and mortar bank along with an account online through Ally. Neither requires a minimum balance and does not charge any fees other than the normal overdraft fees.
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I currently have Chase and as long as I use direct deposit, I have no fees.
I deposit a few bucks into my wifes account so she won't have fees either.
I haven't received such a letter from them yet.
I switched from CitiBank because they sent me the same letter last year.
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I know a bunch of people who are closing their Chase accounts because of that new policy. A number of them are employees of Chase too.
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I worked for a small regional bank for over 2 years. I never had an account there. They had little to no ATMs, and were fee happy. They were bought out about a year after I left.
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Good. Chase will eventually figure it out (maybe). They don't really make their profit off of the little man, but if enough pull their accounts, then it may make a difference.
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Go with a local bank if at all possible. I would no more bank with a national bank than cut me leg off!!! Well actually, not, but if there was a local option I would go with it.
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I'm switching to my credit union because of their new policy...
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You have to remember that banks are now subjected to new laws that limits the means in which they can make money off of their customers. I think a lot of speculation is that doing so would then be made up over the long haul by having fee based accounts for everything and would eventually offer nothing for "free".
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Which will send people in droves to Credit Unions.

:-)
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