can't recommend them enough

I have been with the same one for over 35 years.

The only affiliation mine has with with another big finance is via the VISA debit and credit cards they offer their members. I don't use the credit card -- not sure what bank its affiliated with if any, but the Debit Card is in the Credit Union's name, not a Wall Street bank.

Don't think you'll get away from fees for overdrafts anywhere however.

Opened a credit union. It can be harder going in to locations depending on where you are, but they have way more forgiving and they have been better on loans. F@cking WaMu refused to give me a loan, got one from the credit union after I was laid off during the recession because I was good with my credit...and WaMu went under for making bad loans??? If they did not loan to me, and I never miss a payment, then who the f@ck where they lending too?

So I would look in to credit unions a bit more. As a teacher you should have an auto in for many of them, and I also understand they are far better for our country.

I've belonged to my credit union for decades, and they've been great.

I've been using one as my bank ever since it became possible. To date, no problems whatsoever. My CU became like a bank around 1990, I think, not really sure. It's a small town CU, locally operated, and has been since the fifties. I'm through with the big banks. They really have nothing to offer me to make them a viable choice.

I recommend credit unions over banks. And credit unions are not bank subsidiaries.

$20 a check for overdrafts is actually less than many places. My credit union charges $35, but will waive if the overage is not my fault. I am always hyper-aware of how much money, to the penny, I have. Since I am over 65, I pay no other fees, and get a tiny little dividend once in a while. I have not written a check for years, I pay everything online - mortgage, utilities - and I NEVER have anything automatically deducted. You never know if you can depend on the money being there.

I belong to a military one, and have for decades. Wouldn't ever switch--great service.

Some members of my family are members at Digital Federal Credit Union--they are pleased with it.

eom

Free bill pay
Excellent website
Comes with an ATM and no ATM fees ever
They reimburse all ATM fees the next day
Deposit checks using the app and snapping a pic ... In the account the next day
No bounced check fees
Little bit of interest on balance
I've had them for many years- very pleased

nearly 30 years. Never had a problem or unpleasant experience.

Out here in the great Northwest, specifically the Seattle–Tacoma area, Credit unions are the way to go. I am a member of the Boeing Employees Credit Union. Because they are a state credit union, I do not have to actually work for Boeing. I am a retired teacher. Our state teachers' credit union did not have many of the services that the BECU did when we joined.

Now I am not sure what your state has, so I can only give you some generic recommendations.

Your best bet is to see if you have a state chartered teachers' credit union. Hopefully they have a branch in your area. But, if they do not, then where ever they are located, call and physically talk to an employee to see if your local ATMs will accept their debit cards free of cash machine charges.

As with all things, you do have to do your homework. If there is no teachers' credit union, look at the various credit unions in your area and see if they will take members of the community. If they do, then tell them you would like to open a checking, savings, and credit card account. Ask them what protections they provide in case you accidentally overdraw. For example, when we joined, the Boeing Employees Credit Union offered three possible protections were we to bounce a check. They first took funds from our savings account. If that was too low then they withdrew cash from an emergency account we set up, and finally, if that was maxed out, our credit card was the last resort. The previous 3 options come with a fee. But BECU also gives you a grace period of one business day to put the funds in yourself with no fee attached. I check online daily.

See if there is a fee for any of the "banking" services they provide. Checking should always be free. Ideally you should always get an interest deposit on any funds that reside in your checking or savings accounts.

Corporate banks started to make the middle class pay through the nose with ever increasing fees since Reagan was in power. Credit Unions are our way to fight back. We, as members, own them. I hope this helps.

Personally I use a bank that pays 2.5% interest in checking and refunds all ATM fees, even though I live hundreds of miles away. I have no idea what they charge for overdrafts - will never be an issue.

especially a local or perhaps state wide one. I dumped big banks years before the movement told us to.

Hell, you're teachers association my help with that, maybe they have one of their own. Credit Unions are about membership, and their banking regs and methods tend to be more conservative and conventional, with none of the hedge fund crap and BS high risk investments.

And their loans are generally simple interest loans with minimal shenanigans.