If you write a check for more than you have in your account and the bank refuses to pay it, you might be charged bounced check fees by both the bank and the person or company to whom you write the check. If the bank decides to pay the check despite your negative balance, it might charge you an insufficient funds fee.

To avoid both types of fees, keep good track of your checking account balance, including ATM withdrawals, debit-card purchases and electronic payments.

You can also ask your bank for overdraft protection. If you have it and bounce a check, the bank will pay it so you are not hit with merchant fees, but the payment will become a loan, on which the bank will charge a fee and/or interest.

Another option is to link your checking account to your savings account, and make sure you have enough in your savings account to cover any possible overdrafts. Ask your bank about these and other options and the fees involved.

For more information, see http://www.federalreserve.gov/pubs/bounce/ or http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/special/20050416a1.asp