online banking

I remember receiving my first paycheck postcollege – along with my first checking account fee. While you're a student, many banks will prompt you to sign up with a free checking account, but things change when you graduate. I was startled and annoyed at this fee, but little did I know the few years preceding college, I would rack up several others. Here are five important things you should be aware of when banking in your 20s.

• Know the fees associated with your account. Ask what types of fees to expect and how you can avoid them. They creep up, and your bank might not prepare you for new fees either. For instance, large banks like Bank of America are instating monthly fees for debit card usage. While charges are between $3-$5, it's still a pretty significant fee for debit card users.
• Your purchasing habits are stored. In the ever-connected modern day world, purchases made by debit and credit cards are stored and analyzed. This might not mean a whole lot to you in terms of your debit card usage, but companies could use the data to determine your interest rates for credit cards. Keep that in mind if you tend to make not-so responsible choices like purchasing huge items spontaneously or blowing your paycheck in a 24-hour period. Otherwise, opt to make more cash purchases.

Read more must-know banking types for 20-somethings.

Banks seem to find a way to add extra charges to their online services. Kiplinger has put together a list of banks where there are no fees to cringe over.

As banks attempt to bolster their bottom line, many customers, especially at big banks, are getting stung by fees for formerly free checking accounts. The assault of new fees wouldn't seem so onerous if banks were paying more on deposits. But the average yield on savings was recently 0.22 percent and on checking accounts only 0.14 percent, according to the online bank-comparison site DepositAccounts.com.

However, these seven online banks (including one credit union that anyone can join) offer free checking accounts, charge fewer fees than big banks, and tend to offer higher rates. Because these banks lack dedicated ATMs, they usually reimburse you for other banks' ATM charges. You'll have to rely on direct deposit to put money in your account, although some banks allow you to deposit checks via your smartphone. As with traditional institutions, up to $250,000 per account is protected by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. or the National Credit Union Administration.

Related: Little Banks, Better Deals

Ally Bank
Website: ally.com

Ally lets you open its Interest Checking account with just $1 and promises 24/7 access to its customer-service representatives by phone, email, or online chat. The account has no monthly maintenance fee and offers mobile banking and free bill pay. Plus, it rebates all ATM fees nationwide. It also offers free person-to-person payments through Popmoney.

The account pays 0.4 percent interest on balances up to $15,000 and 0.75 percent on balances over that amount. By the end of the year, you will be able to use an iPhone, Android, or BlackBerry mobile device to deposit checks, transfer funds to accounts at other banks and pay bills.

Read on for more.

Fees are going up, up, and away, according to a Bankrate study that was released today. Consumers need to be aware of these fees, especially during the holiday season, a time when there is an increased amount of spending. Managing your money is going to be even pricier, so users will have to be more aware of their budgeting practices and keep an eye on the sneaky bank fees. Here are some of the increases you should watch out for:

• ATM fees: The ATM fees have risen to $2.33 from the previous year, an increase of five percent. If you're using an out-of-network ATM, you'll be charged an average of $1.41. That's seven percent higher than last year.
• Minimum balance requirement: Note: This applies to accounts that require minimum balances. This year, the average minimum balance requirement to avoid monthly fees in a noninterest checking account has risen to $249.50 from $185.75 last year. For the case of interest-bearing checking accounts, it has increased to  $3,883.40 from $511.22.
• Bounced checks: If you bounce a check this year, you might be paying the average of $30.47. This compares with last year's average bounced-check fee of $29.58.

Last year, American banks made over $20 billion on debit and ATM overdraft fees alone. Remember a good way to avoiding some of these bank fees is to check out online accounts such as ING or SmartyPig. As for ATM fees, make sure you have enough cash on hand, and withdraw money only at your bank's ATM machines or get cash back at grocery stores. Stay alert, Savvy readers!

There's a new trojan virus on the block, and instead of infecting your computer with malware or copying your data, it's actually stealing your money. Over 3,000 people in the UK have already been emptied of nearly $1 million dollars to date from the Zeus3 trojan, and while this sounds like the perfect time to panic, the only "silver lining" for the rest of us is that the trojan has affected customers from just one online banking system . . . so far.

There is one major problem, though. Find out what it is, and how the trojan works when you read more.

Attention Citibank iPhone app users: Citigroup announced that its iPhone app contains a security flaw that could store some user data and compromise account security. The information was saved to a hidden file within the app, and includes account numbers, bill payments, and security access codes. Additionally, if you synced your iPhone with your computer at all after using the app, this data may be stored on your computer as well. According to Citi, they don't believe the data was breached by anyone, but is urging users to update the app to the latest version, which corrects the problem.

To learn more, just keep reading.

If something terrible happened to you, would your loved ones have to jump through hoops to access your various online accounts? Mine would. I hadn't considered coming up with an online estate plan until a Wall Street Journal article suggested it.

The article recommends a few solutions for making sure your login information is kept safe but is also accessible should you get into trouble, an accident, or worse. The suggestions include giving a lawyer or trusted relative all the information; dividing up different accounts to different people; or storing the information in a safety-deposit box or home safe.

Do you have an online estate plan? How would you go about ensuring your usernames and passwords are safe but accessible?

You're a pro at avoiding ATM fees and finding free checking, but banks are slapping fees on everything from your standard withdrawal at another bank to helping its customers. Yes, that customer service call could come with a charge. Banks are relying on fee income more than ever, so don't be surprised if your institution starts sticking you with a tab for checking your balance.

The Wall Street Journal identifies 10 fees you should keep an eye on, and while it mentions that you might have some luck asking your bank to waive a fee you catch on your account, wouldn't it just be easier to avoid them in the first place? Two of the fees listed by the WSJ stand out as particularly silly — $2 to $4 fees for visiting a bank teller more than a couple times a month, and $0.50 to $5 for making account inquiries or reordering checks over the phone.

Find out if your bank charges for any of these services; it's relatively easy to dodge them once you're aware. You can take care of most banking business online and make deposits through your bank's ATM.