Charging for late payments works every time.

Worth noting the hold length isn't really about whether the check is local, it's about your account history and how much you keep in there. A newer account or low balance will get hit with longer holds no matter which bank you use. Switching might help if you go somewhere you've banked longer, but the real fix is usually direct deposit or keeping a cushion so one check doesn't wreck your bills.

My buddy runs a taco truck and he did the opposite for years, always ran out by 1pm and felt great about it. Then he started tracking it and realized he was turning away like 10-15 people every single day, mostly the after work crowd. He bumped up his prep by a third and now he stays open til 3 and those late folks turned into his best regulars. Wild how being "sold out" feels like a win until you do the math on who you sent home hungry.