Four in Five Consumers Won't Tolerate a Monthly Debit Card Fee, Reports Mintel Comperemedia

CHICAGO, Dec. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumers are quickly becoming fed up with banking fees. If your financial institution began charging $2/month for the convenience of having a debit card with your checking account, what would you do? Recent research from Mintel Comperemedia found that only 19% of consumers would pay the fee and continue to use the card, while 56% said they would use another payment method instead.

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Not surprisingly, consumer sentiment about bank fees doesn't seem to be subsiding. Almost a quarter of those surveyed (24%) reported that they would switch banks over a $2/month fee. Moreover, 29% of individuals surveyed for a separate study said they had heard of Bank Transfer Day that took place November 5th, 13% actually transferred banks and 8% planned to do so.

"Banks moved customers into new services like debit cards and online banking because they were cheaper and more profitable than cash and checks," says Susan Wolfe, vice president of financial services at Mintel Comperemedia. "They can't now backtrack and charge consumers for things they've been offering for years at no additional cost."

It seems banks aren't getting the hint, as the incidence of free checking accounts has plummeted in recent years. In Q3 2007, 75% of checking acquisition offers mentioned free checking. For the same period in 2011, that number dropped to 29%.

"It's clearly been a tough year for banks, but the answer doesn't lie in charging customers for things that the bank wants them to do anyway—like using their debit card," adds Susan Wolfe. "A better idea would be offering new products and services they wouldn't mind paying extra for: personal financial management tools, coupons and discounts offered through the online banking system, these are untapped markets that customers would respond to, and wouldn't mind being charged for."

Hear more from Susan Wolfe on this topic here.

About Mintel Comperemedia

Mintel Comperemedia provides competitive intelligence for businesses looking to advance and improve their direct marketing strategy. Tracking direct marketing (including mail, email and print advertising) targeted at consumers, small businesses and insurance agents, Mintel Comperemedia offers a unique perspective on everything from banking trends to insurance trends to credit card statistics. For nearly 40 years, Mintel has provided insight into key worldwide trends, leading the industry for consumer, product and media intelligence.

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SOURCE Mintel Comperemedia