www.CUNA.org/newsnow  (05/18/2009)  Consumers negotiating their way out of bank fees and other savings pitfalls "can always vote with your feet and move to a credit union," says a personal finance editor for CNNMoney.com (May 18).

The article, by Gerri Willis, offers ways consumers can score a sweet deal on an auto, including "arming yourself with as much information as possible--before you head to the lot" and being prepared to walk away if the deal isn't materializing.  Willis encourages haggling to negotiate better deals on big ticket items.

"You also can negotiate bank fees right now.  Large national banks have gotten billions from TARP (Troubled Asset Relief Program)--your tax dollars--but you don't have to give them another dime," says the article.  Other advice includes cutting bank fees by avoiding out-of-network ATMs, watching for overdraft fees, and avoiding account maintenance fees and teller fees.