High minimum bbalances: a rip off

Regarding the article "Bank ATMs Take Deposits, Spit Out Cash, Demand Fees," June 9: NationsBank is luring new customers with minimum balances of only $750, while they are ripping off long-time customers like me.

I must maintain a $3,500 balance in my NationsBank personal account and $5,000 in my NationsBank small business account to avoid monthly charges. That's $8,500 doing nothing for me but it does plenty for NationsBank.

For the past couple of years, the minimums for both accounts have been jacked up by $1,000 per year.

With new account campaigns of only $750 per month minimums, I had better start shopping around for a better deal and move my business.

Esther de Ipolyi Houston