NEW YORK – Sometimes it seems you’re better off stuffing money under your mattress.

According to a survey conducted by Bankrate.com, bank fees, penalties and required minimum deposits have also risen dramatically over the past five years.

The average penalty for a bounced check has risen 19 percent to $25.80.

ATM fees, especially those levied for use of another bank’s ATM, have jumped 57 percent to $1.40.

Minimum balance requirements for accounts that earn interest and are not subject to maintenance fees average $2,257.82. Maintenance fees are also hefty – $10.86 a month. Noninterest accounts require a much lower minimum, an average of $245.37.

When selecting a bank account, consider what’s important to you and for what purpose the account will mostly be used.

Some banks offer interest-paying accounts, but they’ll require large minimums.

For accounts that will be turning over frequently as checks come in and out, it may be better to choose a low minimum and forgo the interest.