Paper Bank Statement Fees: What You Need to Know (2024)

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  • Many banks charge you a few dollars per month for mailing paper bank statements to your home.
  • You can avoid paper statement fees by opting for paperless statements online.
  • If you don't like banking online, paper statements could be worth the cost.

A bank statement is a document that shows your account activity. One statement shows the activity over a "statement period," which is typically one month.

Banks are required to provide bank statements to customers for checking and savings accounts for any period in which an electronic funds transfer was made. So if you swiped your debit card, made an ATM withdrawal, or paid a bill from your account, you should receive a statement.

What are paper bank statement fees?

For many years, banks would print and mail monthly bank statements to every customer.

In an effort to reduce costs and paper waste, many financial institutions have stopped sending paper statements in favor of electronic statements — or else charging customers a small fee if they still want to receive a physical copy each month.

How much are paper statement fees?

Paper statement fees range from $0 to $5 at most financial institutions, though some will waive the fee if a customer meets certain qualifications.

Here are the paper statement fees at banks with the most branches around the U.S., as well as online banks:

BankPaper statement fee
Ally$0
Associated Bank*$0 or $4
Axos Bank$5
Bank of America$5
Capital One$0
Citizens Bank*$0 or $3
Chase Bank$0
Discover Bank$0
First Horizon Bank$2
Fifth Third Bank$5
KeyBank$0
PNC Bank$0
Regions*$0 or $3
TD Bank*$0 or $1
Truist Bank*Up to $3
Umpqua Bank*$0 or $3
U.S. Bank*$0 or $2
Wells Fargo$5
Woodforest National Bank$3

*At these banks, the paper statement fee may vary depending on which checking account you open.

Avoiding paper statement fees

Depending on the bank, you may automatically be enrolled in e-statements but not paper statements or vice-versa.

Speak with a customer service representative or check your online account settings to make sure you aren't paying for paper statements if you don't want to receive them.

With e-statements, otherwise known as paperless statements, you see your transaction history on the bank's website or mobile app. There should be a menu option specifically for statements where you can sort by month.

Benefits of electronic statements

Most banks charge a few dollars per month for paper statements, so opting for paperless statements eliminates this fee.

It's also better for the environment to receive your monthly statement electronically because the bank won't have to print and mail the paper to your home.

Some banks may also offer benefits when you opt for paperless statements. For example, a bank may waive your monthly maintenance fee or offer a cash sign-up bonus.

Paper statement fee FAQs

Can I still receive paper statements without paying a fee?

It depends on the bank. Some will waive the fee for customers who meet certain qualifications, such as age or minimum balance requirements, but it's not common.

Why are banks encouraging customers to switch to electronic statements?

E-statements are better for the environment, more cost-effective for financial institutions, and can offer better protection against identity theft.

How can I ensure the security of my electronic banking statements?

Use unique passwords for all of your accounts, enable two-factor authentication where available, and avoid downloading your e-statements on a public computer.

What should I do if I'm not comfortable with electronic statements?

If you'd rather receive paper statements, ask your bank if there's a way to reduce your banking fee for paper statements. Alternatively, consider printing your e-statements and keeping a file of them at home.

How much do banks typically charge for paper statements?

Banks may charge anywhere from $0 to $5 for paper bank statements.

Sophia Acevedo

Banking Editor

Sophia Acevedo is a banking editor at Business Insider. She has spent three years as a personal finance journalist and is an expert across numerous banking topics.ExperienceSophia leads Personal Finance Insider's banking coverage, including reviews, guides, reference articles, and news. She edits and updates articles about banks, checking and savings accounts, CD rates, and budgeting and saving. She is highly knowledgeable about long-term trends in rates and offers at banks across the U.S.Before joining Business Insider, Sophia worked as a journalist at her college newspaper and was a freelance writer. She has spent seven years writing and editing as a journalist.Sophia was nominated for an Axel Springer Award for Change in 2023 for her coverage of ABLE accounts, tax-free savings accounts for people with disabilities. She was also a winner of a 2018 California Journalism Awards Campus Contest for her photography.She loves helping people find the best solutions for their unique needs and hopes that more people will find the tools to solve their financial problems. She’s inspired by stories of everyday people adapting to their financial circ*mstances and overcoming their fears around money.ExpertiseSophia's expertise includes:

  • Bank accounts
  • Savings and CD rate trends
  • Budgeting
  • Saving
  • How banks operate

EducationSophia graduated from California State University Fullerton with a degree in journalism and a minor in political science.She is an avid reader across a variety of genres, and she started running in 2021. She ran in the 2024 Los Angeles Marathon.

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Paper Bank Statement Fees: What You Need to Know (2024)

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