Australians gratefully accept $10.4 billion from Kevin Rudd's first economic stimulus package, then hand half of it straight to their banks.

That's one way of looking at the effect of the nation's gargantuan level of bank fees.

Australians will fork out more than $5 billion in fees this year, according to Fujitsu Consulting.

That's half of Mr Rudd's initial package gone in a blink.

Prime ministers only have to pump such massive amounts into the economy in times of deep trouble.