It Pays to be Financially Responsible

From WSJ on how banks take your money:

Late fees, loan-origination fees, over-the-limit and overdraft charges helped generate 53% of banking-industry income in 2008, according to R.K. Hammer, up from 35% of income in 1995. The average bounced-check fee is $28.95, up about $1 from last year, says Greg McBride, senior analyst at Bankrate.com. And it's a charge that rises every year.

Like they say, the difference between banks and loan sharks is that banks don't break your legs for stiffing their loans. But are banks really that much better at this point? ...