Consumer Guide

Structure Template

# [Fee Name in Plain Language]: What It Costs and How to Pay Less

## What Is This Fee?
[One sentence. No jargon. Example: "An overdraft fee is what your bank
charges when a transaction goes through even though your account
doesn't have enough money to cover it."]

## How Much Does It Cost?
- **Typical charge**: $[P50 median] at most banks
- **Range**: $[P25] to $[P75] depending on your bank
- **Some banks charge as much as**: $[max observed]
- **Some banks charge nothing**: [Note if $0 institutions exist and what type they tend to be]

[Optional: brief note on how this fee compares to a year ago or to
credit unions vs. banks.]

## Who Charges the Most? Who Charges the Least?
[2-3 paragraphs breaking down by institution type. Use plain terms:
"large national banks," "community banks," "credit unions," "online banks."
Avoid asset-tier jargon. Include specific medians per segment.]

## How to Avoid or Reduce This Fee
1. **[Specific action]**: [Explanation with data if available]
2. **[Specific action]**: [Explanation]
3. **[Specific action]**: [Explanation]
4. **[Specific action]**: [Explanation]
[Aim for 3-6 concrete, actionable tips. Prioritize by impact.]

## What Regulators Say
[Brief, factual summary of relevant regulations. Reference Reg E opt-in
for overdraft, Reg DD for disclosures, CFPB guidance, or state-level
rules. Keep it simple: "Federal rules require your bank to..." not
"Pursuant to 12 CFR 1005.17..."]

## Compare Your Bank
[Encourage the reader to check their own fee schedule. Reference Fee
Insight tools if appropriate. Provide a simple framework: "If your bank
charges more than $[P75], you're paying more than 75% of banks in the
country."]

---
*Fee data from Fee Insight National Fee Index, covering [n] institutions.
Medians reflect the most recent data collection period. Individual bank
fees may vary — always check your bank's current fee schedule.*

Writing Guidelines

1. Write for consumers, not bankers. No industry jargon. Say "your bank" not "the financial institution." Say "checking account" not "DDA." Say "fee" not "service charge."
2. Use "you" and "your." Second person throughout. The reader is the subject.
3. One idea per sentence. Short sentences. Short paragraphs. White space is your friend.
4. Empathetic but factual. Acknowledge that fees are frustrating without being adversarial toward banks. Wrong: "Banks gouge consumers with hidden fees." Right: "These fees can add up quickly, but there are real steps you can take to reduce or eliminate them."
5. Specific numbers always. Never say "fees vary" without giving the range. Wrong: "Overdraft fees vary by bank." Right: "Most banks charge between $29 and $36 for an overdraft, with a national median of $35."
6. Bold the numbers that matter most. Median, the range boundaries, and any threshold the consumer can use to benchmark their own bank.
7. Credit unions deserve a mention. For most fee categories, credit unions charge meaningfully less. State this with data when true.
8. Regulatory info in plain language. Consumers need to know their rights but not the CFR citation. Focus on what the rule means for them.
9. No fear-mongering. Present information to empower, not to alarm.
10. Reading level. Target 8th-grade reading level. Use the Hemingway test mentally: if a sentence needs re-reading, simplify it.

Output Format

• Markdown with H1 title, H2 sections
• Target length: 800-1,200 words
• Use bullet points and numbered lists for scannability
• Bold key dollar amounts and percentages on first mention
• End with data attribution and a note encouraging readers to check their own fee schedule
• No tables unless comparing 3+ institution types side by side