HERE'S a banking secret not too many people know about; some banks offer fee-free accounts.

They've been around for a while, but no one seems to have been spruiking this opportunity, at least not loudly.

These Basic Bank Accounts are available from the following banks - ANZ, Bank Australia, Bank of Melbourne, Bank of SA, Bendigo, Citibank, Commonwealth, NAB, St George, Suncorp and Westpac.

Australian Bankers' Association (ABA) executive director for retail policy, Diane Tate, said there were eligibility requirements attached to most of these accounts.

"They are for people receiving a government pension or a Seniors Healthcare Card or that sort kind of thing," Ms Tate said.

"It's for people on lower incomes and for older Australians."

The basic bank account has no accounting keeping fees, free monthly statements, a debit card attached, fee-free use of your bank's ATM services plus other advantages.

"These have been made available as the banking industry believes that banking needs to be made accessible for all Australians.

"More and more banks are seeing their social obligation is to ensure this accessibility."

For anyone having trouble managing their money, the ABA recommends the use of the Money Smart website, www.moneysmart.gov.au.

For more general information on the basic bank accounts, go to www.affordablebanking.info

To find out specific information on the basic bank accounts, your eligibility, the account restrictions and whether this type of account is best for you, you need to visit your bank branch.