According to Bankrate.com ‘s 2015 Credit Union Checking Survey, 38 percent of banks and 72 percent of credit unions offer free checking accounts.
“When evaluating checking accounts, consumers should definitely include credit unions in their search,” said Greg McBride, Bankrate.com chief financial analyst. “They have competitive offerings, and many participate in large ATM networks that extend the credit union’s reach.”
To use out-of-network ATMs, credit unions most commonly charge a fee of $1.50, while banks charge $2.50. However, many credit unions belong to ATM networks that provide access to more than 30,000 surcharge-free ATMs nationwide.
HealthNet Federal Credit Union does not charge for checking accounts, nor does it have any requirements that must be met to maintain free checking, such as a minimum account balance, direct deposit or spending a specific amount each month. Also, HealthNet is part of the CO-OP Network, which gives members access to more than 30,000 ATMs nationwide, and it charges no more than $16¹ for a box of checks.
For additional information on HealthNet’s Healthy Checking, or to become a member, visit one of its four locations, call 901-226-1111 or go to www.healthnetfcu.org.
¹ With regular shipping. For expedited shipping, the cost for a box of checks will vary by type of expedited shipping requested.