M&T Bank Outrageous check cashing fee E Amherst New York

This fee is easily avoidable.  All you need to do is to go to YOUR bank and deposit the check in YOUR account.  Since you are an account holder at your bank they won't charge you a fee.

Now, if you don't have another bank because you "choose" not to, then you also "choose" to be subject to the terms of other banks for cashing checks of non-account holders.  Where yes, while $20 is a bit on the high side since they appear to charge 2% you were also trying to cash a check for around $1000.  

And before you say it, yes while not all banks do this, MOST do.  I would bet you would be surprised if you actually asked your bank what they charge.