What fees can a savings account charge, and why is an extra fee taken when my balance drops?

Common savings-account fees: a one-off opening fee, a recurring administration or maintenance fee (monthly or quarterly), a statement fee, a below-minimum-balance fee, a closing fee, and transaction fees such as branch withdrawals, cards or ATM use.

The below-minimum-balance fee is charged only in periods when your balance falls under a threshold the bank sets.

Fees are fixed amounts while the return is a percentage, so the smaller the balance, the bigger the share fees take. A hypothetical example: fees of 12 EGP a year equal 4% of a 300 EGP balance, but only about 1.33% of a 900 EGP balance. Some accounts pay no return at all below a certain minimum.

Also, if the return is calculated on the lowest balance in the month, the fee debit itself lowers that base.

• Check the key-facts statement: every fee and its frequency, the threshold for the extra fee, the minimum balance that earns a return and the balance basis, and compare in your statement the return credited with the fees deducted.