Returned Deposit Item Fees

Returned Deposit Item Fees are the ultimate victim-blaming penalty: you pay up to $15 for depositing a check that bounces through no fault of your own, while the original bad-check writer walks away scot-free. This fee hits 2.3 million Americans annually, according to a 2023 CFPB report, and it is 50% higher than the average overdraft charge at major banks. Outperforming #10 in audacity, this fee is more punitive than the typical $10 inactivity penalty, despite requiring no action from you. It can be avoided entirely by using mobile check deposit apps that verify funds before cashing, but most banks still impose the charge automatically, leaving customers to fight for refunds.