Checking accounts pricey at big banks; Consumers can shop around, even on the Internet, because fees and minimums vary greatly.(BUSINESS)

Big banks continue to charge big bucks for their checking accounts.

Bank of America, the nation's and Florida's largest bank, and No. 2 Citibank have 10 of the 20 "worst" products in the latest checking account pricing study by Bankrate.com.

Though the cost of maintaining a regular checking account has leveled off, interest-bearing checking remains a bad deal for many consumers, said the North Palm Beach research company.

Average yields on interest-rate checking are below 1998 levels despite overall rate hikes, and many such accounts are yielding less than 1 percent interest, or less than $50 a year on a $5,000 balance, the company said.

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