Thanks, government! Banks' 'free' checking accounts are no longer free

Thanks to the Dodd-Frank financial regulatory reform law signed into law by President Obama, "free" checking accounts aren't either.  In fact, they're costing consumers more than ever -- all in the name of... er, helping the economy or something:

The details:

Banks have raised fees on automatic teller machines, overdrafts and checking accounts for customers who don’t meet new standards tied to account balances or regular deposits. …

The fees come as the banking industry looks to lose more than $10 billion a year in revenue through federal restrictions on debit cards and overdraft policies, according to bank consultants. …

Customer fees are just one way banks are trying to step up profits. Most financial institutions also are cutting costs. Bank of America Corp., BAC -0.60% for example, is seeking to shed 16,000 jobs by the end of the year. …

Rising fees aren’t the only frustration to bank customers. Most traditional accounts these days earn next to no interest as the Federal Reserve seeks to keep rates at record lows, a strategy intended to jump-start the U.S. economy.