Teller Fee Spurs Call for Boycott of 1st Chicago

WASHINGTON - Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., called for a boycott of First National Bank of Chicago because of the institution's plan to charge $3 to customers who use tellers.

Rep. Waters, who has introduced legislation to freeze bank fees for low- balance customers, said she was she plans to meet with consumer organizations to explore a boycott and other means of combating First Chicago's "newest effort to gouge customers."

Thomas Kelly, assistant vice president at First Chicago, said that the fees will be charged to offset the cost of offering low- and zero-minimum balance checking accounts.

"These are products that are aimed directly at making banking affordable to everyone," Mr. Kelly said.

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