Local bank w/ low balance free checking accts anymore? (mortgage, refinance)

[Straitlover]

I want to join a particular gym that has a low monthly fee, and they require the monthly fee deduction from a checking acct (won't let me pay the year up front, can't use a CC). I don't want to give them access to my main account, so i was thinking of setting up a separate acct w/ a small balance but don't want to pay a big monthly fee. Any suggestions for a local bank?


I do plan on seeing if SECU will let me set up a second checking acct, but I don't want them to be able to get money from my main acct if for some reason the balance falls too low on the second account.

[m378]

Originally Posted by Straitlover

I want to join a particular gym that has a low monthly fee, and they require the monthly fee deduction from a checking acct (won't let me pay the year up front, can't use a CC). I don't want to give them access to my main account, so i was thinking of setting up a separate acct w/ a small balance but don't want to pay a big monthly fee. Any suggestions for a local bank?


I do plan on seeing if SECU will let me set up a second checking acct, but I don't want them to be able to get money from my main acct if for some reason the balance falls too low on the second account.

ACH is generally a safe way to pay. You know your checks have your account number and routing number on them, right?

That seems like a crazy amount of work just to pay a gym.

[Straitlover]

Last time I allowed automated deductions from a checking account (another gym) and tried to stop them, it took 6 months, and I did not get the money back. Don't want to deal with that again.

[twingles]

Coastal will but you have to make a certain amount of withdrawals a month to qualify.

I agree about the automatic deductions. I will only do it for things like utilities - it's too much work to stop it for things like gyms, cable companies that you might switch away from etc. Also did it for my orthodontist but that had a definite end point.

[m378]

Originally Posted by Straitlover

Last time I allowed automated deductions from a checking account (another gym) and tried to stop them, it took 6 months, and I did not get the money back. Don't want to deal with that again.

Ah....that makes sense then.

[myname_isborat]

PNC will pay you to open an account with them.
https://www.pnc.com/en/personal-bank...red-offer.html

[K4GPB]

Maybe PayPal will be of help?



This discussion might help:
https://money.stackexchange.com/ques...gym-membership





In other news:

Easy check fraud technique draws scrutiny - Technology & science - Security | NBC News

[Straitlover]

Originally Posted by myname_isborat

PNC will pay you to open an account with them.
https://www.pnc.com/en/personal-bank...red-offer.html

I already have a checking acct w/ PNC. When I refinanced my mortgage to a home equity loan (low balance and they had a really good rate), part of the requirement was setting up the account and having the payments deducted. Don't want to sue that acct because that's where I have the money that used to go to escrow deposited and don't want to take a chance on losing that. I do see that they have a plain acct that has a $7 monthly fee that is waived w/ a $500 average monthly balance. That might work.

[wheelsup]

I made over $2000 in June opening up bank accounts. Some minimums were only $1,500 to waive the monthly fees.

[CalicoskiesNC]

First Citizens has a free checking but requires you to sign up for online banking and receive e-statements instead of paper ones.