Avoiding fees is a breeze at First American Bank, especially if you follow these easy tips.

The best and simplest way to avoid fees for check writing, ATM withdrawals, CIRRUS® withdrawals, balance inquiries and monthly account maintenance is to keep the following minimum combined daily balance in a combination of your checking, savings and/or money market account.

Combine the balance in your checking, savings, and money market accounts.  If the combined balance is greater than or equal to the amounts in the chart below, you will avoid those annoying fees*.

*Fees include excess check writing fees, excess ATM withdrawal fees, CIRRUS® withdrawal fees, balance inquiry fees, and monthly account maintenance fees.

There are several ways to avoid writing more checks than your account's limit.

	Sign up for online bill payment. You can pay virtually anyone anytime. Set up either a one time payment or recurring payment. Plus, keep track of your payments all in one place by reviewing past payments and payees. Click here for more information.
	Use your Tran$action® card in place of cash or checks at merchants displaying the MasterCard® logo.
	If you have a STAR® ATM card or Tran$action® card, you can use our Online Banking service to move money between accounts or to make a loan payment. You can also use our Bank-by-Phone service. Call (847) 952-3000 and we'll tell you how it works.

There's never a charge for withdrawals made at the many First American ATMs within the STAR® network throughout Chicagoland.  There's also no charge for non-First American STAR® withdrawals unless you exceed four during your statement cycle.

	All First American accounts are charged $1.00 for an excess withdrawal. Remember, you get 4 free non First American STAR ATM withdrawals per statement cycle, and if you have direct deposit, you get 8 free.
	Plan your cash needs in advance and try to use First American ATMs.
	Have your paycheck deposited automatically through our direct deposit service, and get four extra free withdrawals, for a total of eight free foreign ATM withdrawals.

Some non-First American ATMs may ask you to pay a fee, which will be displayed on the screen of the ATM.

	Become familiar with our 280+ First American Bank ATM locations.
	Search for ATMs that do not charge a fee.
	Use your Tran$action® card in lieu of cash withdrawals.

If you use an ATM that says Cirrus® and is not a STAR® ATM, you will be charged.

	If you have our Free Checking account, Cirrus® withdrawal fees are $2.00. For all other checking accounts, a Cirrus® withdrawal fee is $1.50.
	Try to use STAR® ATMs whenever possible.
	When traveling, try to take the amount of money you think you'll need. If that's not practical, take heart. Cirrus® withdrawal fees are often less than the cost of traveler's checks.

Using a STAR® ATM just to check your balance results in a $2.00 charge for Free Checking, and $1.50 for all other accounts.

	Remember that your balance is normally printed on both deposit and withdrawal receipts, at no charge.
	It's also easy (and free) to check your balance through our Online Banking service or through Bank-by-Phone.

This fee is charged when either your account balance drops below the minimum requirement in any monthly period.

	If you have Free Checking, there's no account maintenance fee. For all other checking accounts, keep your checking account balance above the minimum established for your particular account.
	Keep the appropriate minimum balance in your savings and/or money market account as well.