The short answer
This is a legitimate charge from Monthly Maintenance Fee.
What is a Monthly Maint Fee?
A charge labeled as MONTHLY MAINT FEE on your bank or credit card statement represents a recurring account maintenance fee assessed by your financial institution. Banks apply this fee to checking or savings accounts that fail to maintain required minimum daily balances or direct deposit thresholds.
These charges typically appear on a monthly billing cycle to cover account administration, customer support, and electronic transaction processing costs. Many traditional banks waive this fee automatically if customers meet specific activity criteria, such as maintaining a minimum balance or receiving regular payroll deposits.
If you want to avoid future maintenance fees, review your account agreement online or contact customer service to request a fee waiver. You can also switch to a fee-free online bank or credit union that does not require minimum balances for basic checking accounts. Keeping close track of your monthly statements ensures complete financial security and prevents unexpected surprises from recurring charges.
Common Triggers and Waivers
You are typically charged this fee if your account balance falls below a specific minimum threshold set by your bank during the billing cycle.
Many banks will waive the fee if you meet certain criteria, such as setting up direct deposit or making a certain number of debit card transactions.
- Step 1 Check your bank's fee schedule or account agreement online to find the exact requirements for waiving the maintenance fee.
- Step 2 Contact your bank's customer service to ask if they can waive the fee as a one-time courtesy, or switch to a fee-free account tier.
Can I find a bank that doesn't charge this fee?
Many online-only banks and local credit unions offer checking and savings accounts with no monthly maintenance fees and no minimum balances.
Dispute Rights & Fraud Prevention
Maintenance fees are standard banking charges rather than fraudulent merchant transactions. However, if you believe your bank assessed a fee in error despite meeting waiver requirements, request a customer service credit.
Frequently asked questions
Is the MONTHLY MAINT FEE charge legitimate?
If you authorized a payment to Monthly Maintenance Fee, then yes. This is the statement descriptor used by Monthly Maintenance Fee. Monthly Maintenance Fee
Independent reference — not affiliated with Monthly Maintenance Fee. Billing names and policies change; verify with the merchant or your bank before acting.
Verified sources
Every claim on this page is checked against official sources — open them to confirm before you call your bank.
- CFPB: Disputing Credit Card Charges https://www.consumerfinance.gov
- FTC: Fair Credit Billing Act https://consumer.ftc.gov
Reviewed Aug 5, 2026 · low · About UnknownCharges