[vkou]

The primary purpose of banks in our society is not storing money, but lending it out.

[divenorth]

Of course. But then why am I paying bank fees for a checking account? And savings accounts don't even pay enough interest to cover inflation.

[EduardoBautista]

Have you bothered to read the requirements for waving the bank fees? And if you are concerned with beating inflation, you are supposed to look into, at the very least, bonds or something similar.

Savings accounts are more suited for money you will need at any moment.

[divenorth]

Of course I have. I need to keep $3000+ in my checking account. Either way I'm paying for the account either by lending them the $3000 or by a $15 a month fee. Either way I lose out especially since I don't think I'm getting any value from my bank. I'm planning on switching banks.

I have some money in other investments but I just think banks are a rip off.

[grey-area]

And creating it in a regulated way (this is very important for controlling the money supply and thus the economy).