Bank of America made big headlines when it announced it will begin charging $5 a month to some customers who use their debit cards for purchases.  Some big banks, such as Wells Fargo, are considering imposing similar debit fees.  Others, such as Citigroup, plan to leave debit cards alone but will raise some checking fees.

As a result, most Americans will face new fees on debit card transactions, increases on existing fees, and more difficulty in avoiding fees.

However, you can avoid these fees and even come out ahead:

  • Switch to Coosa Pines FCU.  If your bank wants to charge you, do something about it.  Take advantage of Coosa Pines' emphasis on service over profits, and say goodbye to big-bank fees.  Coosa Pines offers fewer and lower fees on all accounts and services, and we don't make it impossible to keep up with fees.  In fact, you can view our fees online and compare them with your bank's fees.

  • Keep all your accounts in one place.  Move different accounts such as credit cards, auto loans, mortgages, checking, or investing accounts to Coosa Pines FCU to avoid fees you may encounter with other financial institutions.

  • Pay with cash.  Cash won't trigger transaction fees; some retailers will even reward you with discounts for using it.  Just be careful how you get your cash.  Frequent ATM withdrawals could cost you even more than using a bank debit card.  A better solution: Use a Coosa Pines Debit Card with UChoose Rewards within our network ATMs to save.

  • Look for deals.  Now that merchants are paying less for debit transactions, some offer rebates.  Just be sure the items you buy are needs, not merely wants, and are already in your budget.

Don't let bank debit-card fees dent your finances.  Switch to Coosa Pines Federal Credit Union today.

CPFCU Checking Account     CPFCU Visa Debit Card with UChoose Rewards     Auto Loans Starting at Just 3% APR!*    

Platinum Visa Credit Card with UChoose Rewards     Mortgages Starting at Just 3.25% APR!*

*APR=Annual Percentage Rate.  Restrictions apply.  Contact a loan officer for details or to apply for a loan today.