Dear Dave,

I’m shopping around for a new bank, because my current big bank has gone fee-crazy. They want $15 to tell me my mortgage payoff amount. Besides asking about fees, do you have any other advice when it comes to looking for a good bank? --Jim

Dear Jim,

I learned to stay away from the mega-banks a long time ago. It seems to me that somewhere along the line they forgot how to treat their customers like human beings.

That’s why I stick with community and regional banks. I love local credit unions, too. These are the kinds of places where you can go in and talk to the branch manager if they go fee-crazy. They have the power to waive fees, or fix situations if something gets out of whack or is just plain stupid! --Dave