Review some of the options to look for when selecting your bank.

Perhaps the biggest concern among customers is the ever-increasing bank fees. Another growing concern is identity theft, which still limits the number of people who do their banking online. The ease of ATM machines is also a major concern when selecting a bank.

Banks are starting to charge for more services, such as copies of bank statements, opening and maintaining a checking account, check copies, overdraft protection, wire transfers, money orders, cancelled checks, bounced checks, customer inquiries and so on. Compare the most common fees and be aware of any transaction fees.

The ease of a bank is important unless you are primarily banking online, in which case you can look for a lower rate from a bank that may be located across town. A bank with numerous ATM locations is important for many people. If the bank allows you to use other ATM machines, find out what the extra charge is. If you use ATM machines often, as many people do, these additional fees can add up quickly.

The reality is that interest rates for most bank accounts are fairly minimal. If you do not need specific bank services you might think about getting the same or even higher rates from a credit union.

All banks offer direct deposit, but some will also offer incentives for signing up for it.

Compare minimum balances to open and maintain accounts without paying fees. Also ask about linking accounts or "relationship banking," as it is sometimes called, where you benefit from having several accounts at one bank, thus eliminating the need to have a specific balance in each individual account.

Understand what other special services are offered and at what cost. From broker services to banking software to special accounts for children, you can sometimes find services that may be of benefit to you.

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