Written by Laura Grace Tarpley, CEPF and Sophia Acevedo, CEPF; edited by Sarah Silbert
2023-09-14T21:27:27Z
- Paper statement fees
- How to avoid paper statement fees
- Pros and cons of paper statements
- FAQs
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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, including deposits and withdrawals. One statement shows the activity over a "statement period," which is typically one month.
Banks issue bank statements online or you may receive physical copies by mail. However, if you receive paper statements your bank may charge you a fee.
What are paper statement fees?
Paper statement fees occur when a bank charges a fee for receiving a printed physical bank statement. Paper statement fees may range from $0 to $5 at most financial institutions.
Some banks automatically send you paper statements; others require you to enroll. When you open an account, ask an employee or check the website for information about whether you need to opt in or out of paper statements.
Many of the best banks provide online statements for free. You can find these when you log into your bank account online or via the mobile app.
Fees at the top banks
Here are the paper statement fees at banks with the most branches around the US, as well as online banks:
| Bank | Paper 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.
How to avoid paper statement fees
Although most banks charge you for paper statements, not all do. If you're set on receiving statements in the mail, you can bank with an institution that won't impose a fee, such as Ally or Discover Bank.
Otherwise, you can enroll in e-statements to avoid fees.
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, and you're able to sort by month.
Depending on the bank, you may automatically be enrolled in e-statements but not paper statements, or vice-versa. Speak with a customer service agent to make sure you aren't paying for paper statements if you don't want to receive them.
Pros and cons of paper statements
Paper statements can be useful for tracking your transactions more closely. But if you don't want to pay a monthly fee, you may want to enroll in e-statements instead.
Paper statement fees FAQs
Do banks charge for paper statements?
Yes, some banks charge a fee for receiving paper bank statements. Banks may charge anywhere from $0 to $5 for paper bank statements.
Can I ask my bank for a paper bank statement?
Yes, many financial institutions will ask whether you prefer to receive online or paper bank statements when you first open a bank account. You may also change the way you receive bank statements at any time by calling customer support or making changes through the bank's mobile app.
Can you walk into a bank and ask for a bank statement?
Yes. If you have a bank account with a brick-and-mortar financial institution, you may request a copy of a bank statement at a branch. The bank may charge a fee, though.
Laura Grace Tarpley, CEPF
Personal Finance Reviews Editor
Laura Grace Tarpley (she/her) is a senior editor at Personal Finance Insider. She oversees coverage about mortgage rates, refinance rates, lenders, bank accounts, and borrowing and savings tips for Personal Finance Insider. She was a writer and editor for Business Insider's "The Road to Home" series, which won a Silver award from the National Associate of Real Estate Editors. She is also a Certified Educator in Personal Finance (CEPF).She has written about personal finance for over seven years. Before joining the Business Insider team, she was a freelance finance writer for companies like SoFi and The Penny Hoarder, as well as an editor at FluentU. You can reach Laura Grace at ltarpley@businessinsider.com.Learn more about how Personal Finance Insider chooses, rates, and covers financial products and services »
Sophia Acevedo, CEPF
Banking Editor
Sophia Acevedo is a banking editor at Business Insider. She edits and writes bank reviews, banking guides, and banking and savings articles for the Personal Finance Insider team. She is also a Certified Educator in Personal Finance (CEPF).Sophia joined Business Insider in July 2021. Sophia is an alumna of California State University Fullerton, where she studied journalism and minored in political science. She is based in Southern California.You can reach out to her on Twitter at @sophieacvdo or email sacevedo@businessinsider.com.Read more about how Personal Finance Insider chooses, rates, and covers financial products and services >>Below are links to some of her most popular stories:
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