The short answer
This is a legitimate charge from Paper Statement Fee.
What is a Paper Stmt Fee?
A transaction labeled PAPER STMT FEE on your checking account or credit card statement represents a Paper Statement Fee assessed directly by your financial institution. Rather than originating from a third-party merchant, this internal bank surcharge is billed under the service category of Paper Statement Fee. Financial institutions apply this recurring fee to cover the ongoing expense of printing account summaries and mailing them to your home address.
This fee appears each month when your deposit account is not enrolled in electronic delivery. Banks typically deduct between two and six dollars each billing cycle if you receive paper documents by mail. The fee often surprises accountholders after opening a new account that defaults to postal delivery, or after introductory fee-waiver periods expire on standard checking tiers.
You can stop this charge permanently by signing into your bank's mobile app and switching your delivery preference to paperless e-statements. Once electronic statements are active, future monthly fees cease immediately. You can also call your bank's customer service desk to request a courtesy refund for the recent fee, which representatives routinely approve when you activate paperless delivery.
Costs and Waivers
The fee generally ranges from $2 to $5 per statement period.
Some banks automatically waive this fee for seniors (e.g., 65 or older), students, or customers who meet specific high-balance requirements.
- Step 1 Log into your bank's mobile app or online portal and review to 'Statement Preferences' or 'Account Settings'.
- Step 2 Select the option to enroll in 'Paperless' or 'eStatements' to stop the fee from occurring in future months.
Will they refund the past paper statement fees?
Typically no, as the service was rendered, but you can always ask customer service for a courtesy refund when you switch to paperless.
Dispute Rights & Fraud Prevention
Under federal banking guidelines, institutions must disclose all recurring schedule fees when you open an account. If your bank billed a paper statement fee without proper notification or failed to waive it despite your paperless enrollment, you can formally dispute the charge with your bank or file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Frequently asked questions
Is the PAPER STMT FEE charge legitimate?
If you authorized a payment to Paper Statement Fee, then yes. This is the statement descriptor used by Paper Statement Fee. Paper Statement Fee
Independent reference — not affiliated with Paper Statement 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