Free Checking

     Lets be clear what we are talking about when we are talking about a free checking account.  Has such a thing really ever existed?   Up until a couple of months ago I am pretty sure every checking account I had ever had was free from any monthly or yearly charges. To be fair, I always had to pay for the printing of the checks but they were always free to use.  At least that's what I always thought but boy was I wrong.
     Banks all over America are adding fees and restrictions now that new legislation has gone into effect regulating what banks can charge merchants on transactions.  One causality of the new regulations is free checking.  My bank basically told me that if I bring them enough money and keep their $1500 in the account, then and only then could I have a free checking account.  Never once being penalized with an overdraft or ever using any ATM, I should be considered a great customer but that's not how the bank saw it.  It's not like the bank doesn't know of my fantastic credit score, they do and try to shove a new credit card down my throat every time I walk up to one of their teller windows. Once they even told me I qualify for a 15 thousand dollar credit line, all in cash advance if I wanted it.  This is the same bank that want me to give them 15 hundred dollars for a free checking account yet they are willing to give me 15 thousand dollars cash when ever I ask for it.  Makes no sense at all!  I am not stupid enough to pay their insanely high interest nor am I gullible enough  to give them 15 hundred dollars for a free checking account.  If it was not for the fact that someday I'll need an bank account to cash a social security check I would tell the bank to put their accounts where the sun doesn't shine.  I guess you could say I developed a resentment over this issue.  So my solution to the resentment was  "when you can't beat them join them", only try and make it as painless as possible.  Instead of giving them 15 hundred dollars, I canceled my checking account and gave them 300 dollars to open a savings account.  I'll still be able to cash checks I just will not be able to write any checks.  I have not written a check in twenty  five years so getting all steamed up about no free checking is really pretty stupid.  I guess doing banking business with a Credit Union is a better option and I may do that sooner than later.   But for now I'll fight the resentment in a way that's most convenient  for myself.
     In the end I'll win just like I always do.  Sure the bank will make a little money each month off my $300 but I will more than get the best of them every time I drink a cup of their free coffee each time I enter their lobby.  The bank will probably catch on sooner or later and start charging for their coffee.  I guess nothing is free forever!