Businesses obviously need to have checking accounts to conduct their various everyday financial transactions. However, most businesses don’t want to incur more banking fees than they need to. Unfortunately, Wells Fargo is implementing some changes in certain states that could affect business owners who use debit cards issued by Wells Fargo. How would you, as a business owner, like to be charged $3 a month just for using the business debit card once during the month? Initially, a $3 monthly fee doesn’t seem like a lot. Once you do the math, you’ll probably figure out that your business can incur $36 worth of fees each year just by using a Wells Fargo debit card once a month.

Thankfully, Wells Fargo is only applying the charge to bank account holders in a limited number of states. Business checking account owners in Georgia, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington can expect to start paying the $3 fee every month that they use the Wells Fargo debit card. This new change to accounts starts in October, so don’t be surprised to find a new fee on your Wells Fargo banking statement that month.

One way to avoid the cost of using a Wells Fargo debit card is to use cash or checks for all of your business transactions. You can still withdraw cash at any Wells Fargo ATM without having to pay the $3 monthly fee; therefore, many business owners may start using a local Wells Fargo ATM more often. Another way to avoid having to pay a monthly fee for your Wells Fargo business debit card transactions is to switch your business banking account over to another bank that doesn’t charge usage or transaction fees.

If you are a business owner that doesn’t bank with Wells Fargo, it may still be a good idea to ask your bank what their policy is concerning business bank account debit card transactions. At least a few other banks are probably going to catch onto Wells Fargo’s practices and start charging monthly fees themselves. It is best to know about any potential debit card usage fees ahead of time so that you and your business can try to avoid such fees.