Bank Raises Fees Until Customer Walks – So He Leaves 26 Cents Behind and Costs Them Money for 25 Years

Banks raise fees quietly. One charge at a time. A small increase here, a new service fee there. For many customers, it feels unavoidable.

But for one Canadian man, those constant charges eventually crossed a line. Instead of yelling at customer service or writing angry emails, he chose a much quieter and much more patient form of payback.

It started more than 25 years ago, and remarkably, it is still going on today.

When a “Good Bank” Slowly Changed

According to the original story, the bank started out reasonable. The man had been a customer for about five years and held several accounts, including a Registered Retirement Savings Plan.

Over time, the bank raised fees on basic services that were once free. Investment account fees also increased, and new charges appeared with little explanation.

Research backs up this frustration.

A 2023 report from the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada showed that monthly banking fees have steadily increased over the past two decades, especially for investment related accounts.

Many customers say they feel trapped because switching banks can be complicated and time consuming.

Eventually, this customer had enough.

Moving Everything Except One Tiny Detail

He decided to leave the bank completely. He moved all his banking and investments to another institution and closed nearly every account.

Nearly.

One RRSP account was left open with exactly 0.26 Canadian dollars inside it.

That tiny balance triggered something important. As long as the account stayed open, the bank was required to send him a monthly paper statement. No fees applied because the balance was too small. But the bank still had to process, print, and mail the paperwork.

Month after month. Year after year.

The Letter That Made It Even Better

About 15 years ago, the bank finally noticed. They sent him a letter asking if they should send a check for the remaining balance so the account could be closed.

His response was simple. He said no. He might want to add to it someday.

That one sentence guaranteed the account would stay active.

According to banking experts, printing and mailing a single paper statement can cost between one and two dollars when labor, materials, and processing are included.

While this cost is insignificant for a large bank, it still adds up over decades.

For him, that was the point.

“It Does Not Hurt the Bank, It Makes Me Smile”

In edits added later, the man addressed common criticisms.

Some people complained about paper waste. He explained the bank uses 100 percent recycled paper, and he recycles every statement again. Over 25 years, it adds up to roughly 300 envelopes.

Others argued this behavior contributes to higher banking fees. He dismissed that idea completely, saying bank fees rise because of corporate decisions and shareholder pressure, not because of one account with 26 cents.

Most importantly, he admitted the truth. This was never about hurting the bank financially. It was about personal satisfaction.

He said he smiles at least once a month when the statement arrives. In his words, that joy is worth more than the money ever was.

Why Petty Revenge Feels So Good

Psychologists say small acts of harmless revenge often help people feel a sense of control after being treated unfairly. According to a study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, even symbolic acts of retaliation can reduce feelings of anger and helplessness.

This story fits that idea perfectly. There was no confrontation. No shouting. No legal risk. Just patience and persistence.

And it worked exactly as intended.

Here’s what the community had to contribute:

Some left small balances in old accounts.

Others overpaid credit cards by a few cents to force monthly statements. One commenter even passed the tradition down to a grandchild.

Many people feel powerless when dealing with large financial institutions. Small, clever acts like this help restore a sense of balance, even if only emotionally.

A Quiet Lesson in Choosing Your Battles

There is a lesson buried in this quiet revenge. Not every fight needs to be loud. Sometimes the most satisfying response is calm, legal, and long term.

The bank continues to send its monthly reminder. The account still holds 26 cents. And somewhere, a retired man enjoys a small, genuine laugh each month.

After all these years, that might be the best return on investment of all.