Banks are trying to make a few dollar more by making changes. Bank of America recently raised ATM fees to $3 in most locations. The average ATM surcharge for non-customers was $1.64 in 2006, nearly double that in 1998, according to Bankrate.com. Banks are also boosting other fees, often assessing $35 fees on account overdrafts and $39 late fees on credit cards.

Bank of America Corp has raised the fee it charges non-customers to withdraw cash from most of its automated teller machines to $3 from $2, a move that may prompt rivals to follow. HSBC, which owns former predatory lender Household International, has been charging $39 credit card late fees years. Historically most business models show high fees are an unsustainable due to customer abandonment. The only option is to make high fees the norm at all banks, thus giving the customer no other option.