Walletpop: CUs a good option for 'fee-weary consumers'

MADISON, Wis. (11/23/09)--"Fee-weary consumers" looking for a respite from bank fees and charges should consider credit unions and small community banks, according to a Friday column in WalletPop.

The column, "How to find a small bank or credit union" by Martha C. White, said that many readers wrote in response to a previous column about sneaky bank practices that consumers should "ditch the big bailout-recipient banks in favor of small community banks or credit unions."

As a result, Walletpop talked to some professional finance advisers for their input on the matter.

The article mentions the first step for consumers is to use the Credit Union National Association's (CUNA) credit union locator tool to find a credit union their area that they can join. (See the link).

"I think a partnership model is better than a corporate profit model when you're selling a service," Kathleen Day, spokesperson at the Center for Responsible Lending, told Walletpop.

" ... A business model mandating that profits be funneled back into the enterprise is, for many consumers, a big selling point," White wrote.

"Especially if you have a large nest egg you plan to keep in a savings account, it's worth your while to seek out a bank or credit union that will give you a decent interest rate," White concluded.

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Resource Links
Walletpop column
CUNA’s Credit Union locator
Your CU: What's in it for you? folder and booklet
There's Nothing Like a CU statement stuffer
CUs in the Media


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