You could be in for higher fees if you don't keep an eye on your checking account.

Fees for bounced checks and withdrawing cash from an out-of-network ATM rose again this year, according to a survey by Bankrate.com.

The average cost of using another bank's ATM is now $3.43, up 13 percent from last year. A bounced check costs an average of $28.95, up 2.5 percent from a year ago, according to the survey.

The good news is that avoiding such fees is easy.

''With 24/7 online access to your accounts, there's really no excuse for losing track of your balance anymore,'' said Greg McBride, senior financial analyst with Bankrate.com.

Other good news: More banks are offering free checking accounts.

That's one reason the average monthly service fee on noninterest bearing checking accounts fell to $1.93, down steadily from 10 years ago, when it was $5.37. That fee is applied only if you don't maintain the minimum balance -- which dropped to an average of $109.26 this year, down from $155.49 last year.

The minimum needed to open an account was $82.71 this year, down from $83.02 last year.

Bankrate.com's survey was based on information from 249 banks and thrifts in the nation's 25 largest metropolitan areas.

The $3.43 average ATM fee includes the surcharge levied by the ATM's owner for nonaccount holders ($1.97) as well as the fee banks charge for using an out-of-network ATM ($1.46). Nearly all ATMs have surcharges for nonaccount holders, according to Bankrate.com.

The best defense against overdraft fees is to link your checking account to a savings account, McBride said. A nominal fee of $5 or $10 is usually charged for overdrafts in such cases.

Other overdraft protection options -- such as linking your checking account to a credit card -- are likely more expensive, McBride said. You'd also have to pay interest if you're linking your account to a credit card.

Banks sometimes have tiered fees for bounced checks, McBride said. The fee for a second bounced check would be higher than for the first.

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