Banks bleeding companies to keep households sweet on fees BUSINESS has slammed data showing it continues to cross-subsidise lower banking fees for consumers, calling for greater scrutiny of the banks after fees shot up 7 per cent last year despite little new borrowing activity. The banks last year earned $7.3 billion in fees from businesses - taking fees earned to $26bn in the past four years - largely from account servicing on loans and income for arranging bank bill facilities, an annual survey from the Reserve Bank yesterday showed.