it was the government that forced it. (from memory). It really made them offer good products and now it's really alian to me that the bank charge a monthly account keeping fee. If the pome banks did that thay would have no customers in less than a week. Thay also have some accounts that encourage saving by a tearing system. so that when you have say 1000 in an account anything over that goes into a higher interest account. this can be drawn on to stop you going overdrawn. then there is a 3rd tear so when you have 1000 in tear 1 and say 500 in tear 2 then it roll into another higher interest account and you have to withdraw from this yourself.so it encourages you to save.