Topic: Credit Unions

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The Simple Dollar
Buried in debt? How a credit union can help.

A credit union is a very useful tool for someone who is trying to get their debt load under control. Don’t neglect to use it.
Change Agent
Cooperative businesses provide a new-old model for job growth

Co-ops worldwide represent much more than hippie grocery stores: They're a fast-growing way to do business better in fields from finance to agriculture to industry.
Checking fees too high? Customers eye credit unions.

Checking fees, other charges caused credit unions to gain double the normal number of customers. Mulling more hikes in checking fees, big banks could lose more customers, advocates say.
Why credit unions and small businesses are beating out big banks

Community-based capitalism offers an exciting new model for American prosperity and a way out of the current economic morass. Constructive Capitalism is shareable, local, and sustainable. Examples of its impact abound.
Occupy Wall Street? No, divest from it.

A growing bank divestment movement is pushing universities to move their money from big banks to small local financial institutions. So far, bank divestment successes are few and far between.
The New Economy
Why banks shun 30 million Americans

A quarter of US households have few or no ties to the banking system, which hurts their financial future. Financial reform has made it even harder for banks to serve them.
Debit cards: Chase, Wells Fargo dropping fees

Debit cards' fees so unpopular in pilot programs that Chase, Wells Fargo will eliminate them. Bank of America likely to offer ways to avoid fees on its debit cards.
Take your money and run

Bank of America's $5 per month debit card fee is just the tip of the iceberg. Big banks are starting to charge fees for what used to be basic services. In protest, switch to a community bank or credit union. It's more convenient than camping out with the Occupy Wall Street protesters.
Checking account fees: too expensive for poor?

Checking account fees at big banks rising to $10 or more per month. Without large balances or computer access to eliminate checking account fees, poor could move to smaller institutions or out of banking system altogether.
Debit card fees: Senate discusses limiting swipe costs to stores

Debit card fees are the topic of debate in the Senate on Wednesday. Some lawmakers oppose a proposal from the Federal Reserve to lower the debit card fees that stores must pay when a card is swiped.
The Simple Dollar
401(k): Not eligible yet? Open an IRA.

401(k) eligibility doesn't kick in for 11 months. Open a Roth IRA in the meantime. See question No. 6 in the reader mailbag.
Saving Money
No free checking accounts at your bank? Try this.

Many banks weigh eliminating free checking accounts. But more than a third of US credit unions expect to keep free checking accounts.
Happy Valentine's Day! Let's balance the checkbook.

Don't let money ruin your Valentine's Day. Couples find ways to talk about money without ruining the romance.
The New Economy
Refinancing auto loans: Did you know you could?

Refinancing auto loans is not only possible, it's easier and cheaper than mortgage refinancing.
The New Economy
NCSECU: Credit union helps customers avoid overdraft fees

North Carolina State Employees' Credit Union (NCSECU) offers a program that helps customers avoid overdraft fees. Can such innovations lure customers away from big banks?
Letters to the Editor

Readers write about why Congress needs to bail out the arts, whether local banks are better than larger banks, and Obama's approach to the challenges facing the US and the world.
Wall Street bailout: a win for Main Street?

The TARP covers financial institutions, but average Americans are still waiting for help.
Microloans for the Gulf Coast?

Three years after Katrina, one-quarter of New Orleans small businesses are still closed.