Expense Category
Client Services

What expense category are banking fees?

This is a difficult question to answer, as banking fees can be classified under multiple expense categories. It depends on how the fee is incurred and what the fee is for. For example, a monthly service fee for a business checking account can be classified as a bank service fee. However, if you are charged a fee for making a wire transfer, that fee can be classified as a bank transaction fee. In general, any fees associated with the use of your business bank account can be classified as bank fees. Other common examples of bank fees include ATM fees, overdraft fees, and returned deposit fees.

How to Classify Banking Fees on Your Financial Statements

When it comes to your financial statements, you will want to classify your banking fees in the same way that you would classify any other expenses. For example, if you have a monthly service fee for your business checking account, you would classify that fee as an operating expense. Similarly, if you are charged a fee for making a wire transfer, you would classify that fee as a transaction expense. In general, any fees associated with the use of your business bank account can be classified as bank fees. Other common examples of bank fees include ATM fees, overdraft fees, and returned deposit fees.

How to Avoid Bank Fees

There are a few ways that you can avoid bank fees. First, you can shop around for a bank that has lower fees. Second, you can negotiate with your bank to waive or lower certain fees. And third, you can be proactive about avoiding fees by keeping a close eye on your account balances and transactions.

1. Shop around for a bank with lower fees.

One way to avoid bank fees is to shop around for a bank that has lower fees. There are a number of online resources that can help you compare the fees of different banks. For example, NerdWallet has a helpful chart that lists the fees of major banks. When you're comparing banks, be sure to pay attention to both the monthly service fees and the fees for individual transactions.

2. Negotiate with your bank to waive or lower certain fees.

Another way to avoid bank fees is to negotiate with your bank to waive or lower certain fees. For example, if you are a good customer with a long history of maintaining a high balance in your account, you may be able to negotiate a waiver of the monthly service fee. Similarly, if you are willing to set up direct deposit or maintain a certain balance, you may be able to negotiate a lower fee for individual transactions. It's always worth asking your bank if they are willing to waive or lower any of your fees.

3. Be proactive about avoiding fees by keeping a close eye on your account balances and transactions.

The best way to avoid bank fees is to be proactive about avoiding them. This means keeping a close eye on your account balances and transactions. For example, if you know that you will be making a lot of transactions in a given month, you may want to consider getting a business checking account that has unlimited transactions. Or, if you are worried about overdrawing your account, you may want to set up alerts so that you are notified when your balance gets low.

In general, any fees associated with the use of your business bank account can be classified as bank fees. Other common examples of bank fees include ATM fees, overdraft fees, and returned deposit fees.

The information provided in this article does not constitute legal or financial advice and is for general informational purposes only. Please check with an attorney or financial advisor to obtain advice with respect to the content of this article.
Banking fees
“Accurate classification of expenses is vital for businesses as it forms the backbone of financial reporting, tax compliance, and strategic decision-making. It enables businesses to track and analyze their spending patterns, identify cost-saving opportunities, and assess the profitability of various operations or projects. Having a single source to turn to for accounting classification suggestions, such as the Ramp Expense Classifier tool, is immensely helpful as it provides consistency, reduces ambiguity, and streamlines the expense classification process.”
Audrey Carroll
Senior Manager, Accounting, Ramp
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