Number of Free Checking Accounts Dropping - kcentv.com - KCEN HD - Waco, Temple, and Killeen

(KCEN) -- Whatever happened to free checking?

According to bankrate.com, only about 40 percent of non-interest checking accounts are free to all customers.

That number is down from 45 percent last year and is down from 76 percent in 2009.

The average monthly service fee on checking accounts is at a record $5.48.

Nearly seven out of ten people say they would consider dumping their bank if it raised its fees on checking accounts.