question about ATM fees at area banks for non-account holders

[dabroots]

I'll probably open an account at Citizens Bank, because comments on other posts regarding local banks seem to to lean toward it as being the most customer-friendly

Comments

[cpdavngr]

Most likely, the banks with the lowest rates in general are probably the ones who are members of the Freedom ATM Alliance

[dabroots]

Hey, that's great. Thank you. Dollar Bank has a branch just few blocks from here. And while none of them have a buttload of branches,combined, they cover P'burgh pretty thoroughly. I'll check out Dollar Bank.

[qlarue]

Beware the fees with Dollar Bank. They charge you for your monthly statement.

[dabroots]

is it a set fee, or is it based on complications of a monthly statement?

DEBIT fees....

[cpdavngr]

On a related topic to this, has anyone noticed various stores around town charging fees for using your bank card as a DEBIT instead of a CREDIT card? I usually see signs for charges such as these and use CREDIT instead accordingly. However, I noticed some charges on my bank statement of like $0.30 or so that I couldn't account for. I figured out that Steak and Shake was one of the charges, but I know that they have a sign explicitly telling you that they charge for DEBIT transactions. Has anyone else had any experiences where they used their card as a DEBIT card and UNKNOWINGLY got charged a small fee for it?

Re: DEBIT fees....

[deadinplastic]

it is a common practice by banks to charge you for using your debit card for purchases because it makes them liable if your money is stolen, but if it is used as a cc there are some provisions where visa pitches in. also it is just another way to make money on fees(a large portion of bank's profits come from fees).

Re: DEBIT fees....

[cpdavngr]

I'm not sure if I understand your reply... Are you speaking from the store's point of view? As in the BANK charging the STORE a fee for them to process the CARDHOLDER'S card as a debit card and therefore the STORE passes that fee onto the CARDHOLDER?

My statement is referring to the STORE charging the CARDHOLDER a fee for the CARDHOLDER using their card as a debit card, not the BANK charging the CARDHOLDER a fee (directly).

Re: DEBIT fees....

[deadinplastic]

sorry, i am only on one cup of coffee. my understanding it that some banks chose to pass that fee onto the stores instead of consumers. I have seen that range anywhere from .30 to .75. The caveat here is that at least in michigan where I lived before it was a policy change letter sent junkmail telling you that you have the right to opt out of this "security" feature on the personal side of the transaction. This may not have been the 100% guaranteed thing for the banks.

[deadinplastic]

do not forget that some banks will also hit you with a $1.50 or more fee for using other atms so the transaction will actually cost you $3.

[dabroots]

Good point. I'd forgotten some pull that trick. And thanks for pointing out the value of having a debit card that's also under the Visa or Mastercard umbrella.

[qlarue]

I just started accounts with Citizen’s about six months ago. Their customer service is great…very friendly tellers. However…

They don’t charge if you use their ATMs but they do charge if you use another bank’s machine. I think it is a $2 fee from them and then another $1.50-$2 from whoever owns the machine you used. Which sucks because there are whole neighboroods in the city where they don’t have any ATMs.

Also, their online banking site is down frequently. Don’t wait until the last minute to check your balance or transfer funds.

I don’t care for the rewards program either. It seems like it is taking a really long time to earm points. And to log in and check your point balance you have to put in your debit card number and your social security number. I don’t care for that at all.

It took a me a long time to decide between Citizen’s and National City. I think I made the wrong choice.

[dabroots]

Do they charge you a fee for using your debit card for purchases at stores, etc.?

[qlarue]

Not that I have discovered yet. But debit purchases do not count towards rewards. You have to use it as a credit card.

[amand_r]

You know, the reason they want you to use your debit card like a credit card? Because there's a small fee that every store has to pay every time a credit card is used. The points you get with the bank are rewards for getting them to charge that fee.

It's amazing what you learn working at a gas station.

[amand_r]

I know some people have had problems with National City, but I have free checking with them, and they don't charge me to use other ATMs. I am never charged to use my debit card as either debit or credit. In fact, they're pretty good. I'd only switch if something drastic changed in customer service or if Bank of America came to town. ::fangirls BoA::

[bhudson]

National City has been OK for me, except for their tendency (that I've heard from more than one friend and have experienced first-hand) to screw up cheque orders -- as in, I once got cheques in my name joint with some random woman's name I've never heard of, at my address, with presumably her account number. Which is terrifying

[amand_r]

I highly recommend ING Direct's savings accounts. The interest is like mad high.

[dabroots]

ING is a new one for me. What is it? Do they have many branches? But what about checking accounts with them?