What do you mean by "It is $5/mo for accounts with less than $1000, but you're not going to get better than that at a bank."? Aren't there lots of banks that charge nothing even if you only have <$1000?
There aren't many anymore. Banks mostly eliminated or heavily restricted free checking accounts when overdraft fees got capped.
You may be able to find a couple credit unions that do this, but you still have minimum account balances and other hurdles that make it difficult to open an account if you have bad credit and little money (not to mention time or financial savvy).
My credit union requires I have a savings account with $5.00. The overdraft fee is $30. There are no recurring costs outside of that. Both checking and savings accounts earn interest - much less for the checking account - rather than costing me money.
I don't know about the credit check part; I set up with my parents years ago so that may have exempted me as I didn't have any credit history at the time.
In the UK its the opposite; the majority of checking accounts are free, some premium accounts charge a fee but generally come with rewards.
Overdrafts; there are fees for unarranged overdrafts, but its reasonably trivial to arrange a limit and this is generally fee-less (naturally you pay interest; mine is 1.2% calculated daily)
ATMs are largely free regardless of who your bank is.
In France they sure aren't free. Banks even charge a monthly fee for a debit card in addition to a monthly account maintenance fee. Of course banking in the France is stuck in the 1980s with many banking transactions requiring an actual visit to your specific bank branch and a consultation with your personal banker.
Interesting; my perspective (working in the finance industry) has been that European banks are ahead of the curve with technology and, importantly, technology for customers. It sounds like maybe not?
It grates for me when I withdraw cash. The most convenient ATM for me charges $3 when I withdraw money. My approach to this is to never pull less than $300, so the fee is 1% or less. But for people who are pulling $20 because that's what they have right now, this is a 15% tax. It's a perfect example of regressive taxation. For me it's a minor inconvenience, for most Americans it's a significant burden.
My debit card comes through a credit union. As long as I use the ATM of another credit union in the same network, I pay no fee. As it happens, there is such an ATM on the side of the building where I work, and for that matter I think there was one about half a mile from my late mother-in-law's house a hundred miles from here. I do resent paying $3 to Bank of America because I forgot to withdraw money before I left for work.
I wouldn't say it's hard, Wells Fargo has free checking for anyone with over $500/mo in direct deposits or makes 10+ debit card transactions per month. Even someone making part-time minimum wage can probably make the debit card requirements without an issue.
Every credit union in my area offers free draft accounts as well, just put the $25-100 member balance into savings and you're done.
Some people can't afford to be overly picky with their bank, and I know at least one person who has been screwed by at least one of the big (US, consumer) banks (Bank of America, Chase, Citi, US Bank, Wells Fargo) - all of them suck.
For as awful as they are, Wells Fargo even has the "opportunity" checking account that gives people who have negative marks on ChexSystems a second chance at having a proper checking account. Compared to the awful re-loadable debit cards from Walmart, et. al, it's a great option and the monthly fee can be waived with 10 debit transactions per month or $500 in direct deposits.
Would I go out of my way to say I LIKE Wells Fargo? Hell no, they've done tons of shady stuff - but compared to how US Bank has screwed over every one in my family at least once they've been at a "below average" level of suck.
https://www.ally.com/bank/interest-checking-account/#fees