Since I have a mortgage I also have an escrow account with it.
When the taxes or insurance go up the end/start of the period they send me a note on total new fee’s and I’m given a choice - pay the full increase or my monthly fee will go up so much a month.
Since the fee’s and total amount are on the monthly statement the only “hidden” amount would be the insurance. I’d have to check with the wife to make sure thats the right amount.
Countrywide had an option that once the loan had been in good standing for 24 months, they would remove the insurance requirement and then the homeowner could pay the insurance directly. My guess is that this may be an option that these banks do not advertise, might be worth it to inquire...