Speak, Memory

What is the point of Overdraft Protection if the banks are just going to charge you some exorbitant* fee each time you actually need the ODP?!? WHY???

I also do not understand why banks must charge me to use, make, or keep money in their business. It's MY money. If I am young and poor and trying my damnedest to make ends meet and therefore cannot meet the bank's required monthly saving's account balance (but it is indeed in the BLACK), then why do they get to CHARGE me for trying to be responsible and SAVE money? WHY???

If you can't tell, I'm down on banks right now. We're shopping around, thinking about changing and mostly I keep lamenting that my small town bank is in...well, a small town, far away from here. A bank that doesn't charge for ODP, or savings accounts, or (*gasp!*) money orders.

I guess it's either a credit union or sucking it up for us. le sigh.

*exorbitant meaning $10-$15. Sure, it's not a HUGE amount, but it stands to reason that if one *needs* ODP, then one cannot *afford* a $10-$15 fee for each use!