It used to be that banks were service providers who were open late and made their money by investing the money you deposited with them. For depositing money with them, they would pay you a little bit of interest.

The times, they are a-changing!

How times have changed! Nowadays, you will be lucky to find a bank that's open when it's convenient for you. Nowadays, you will be lucky to find a bank that doesn't charge high service fees which are always much more than the interest you earn.

So what can you do, since banks are a necessary evil?

New and smaller banks are emerging to fill the gap where larger banks have been failing consumers for years. In response to that, larger banks are beginning to move back into a service-oriented model of doing business by expanding their hours.

Before selecting a bank, be sure to shop around. Here are some ways to save money on your banking:

1. Get your banking online rather than at the branch. The fee is are much lower!

2. Stop writing checks. Most banks charge a fee for every techie right. And most companies, like the ones you pay monthly bills, well except other methods of payment, such as online or direct withdrawal.

3. Some banks give you a bonus or a credit based on holding a minimum balance or by using their credit card for purchases or by using three or more of their services (mortgage, line of credit, and bank account, for example).

Small banks are still okay

The bigger banks may have been around longer than the smaller banks, but banks still have to comply with federal banking regulations, which mean banking at a smaller, service-oriented branch can be just as safe. And they may even be guaranteed by the federal government if they go bankrupt. If you're deciding to switch from a larger bank to smaller bank, check with them on any federal guarantees they have.

It's your money. Don't let the banks take it from you! Fight back by actively looking for a bank that has lower fees and better service. Or, if you don't want to switch, you can manage you fees by examining the services they provide and altering how you pay for things.

Jeff Lakie is the founder of Banking Resources a website providing information on Banking