“Just open a basic checking account and use it to pay utility bills and such.”
I have never had a debit card in spite of the bank’s constant pressure to acquire one. I have always had a free checking account. A couple months ago the bank did away with their free checking accounts and converted our account to a $15.00/month account. We changed to a $6.00/month account and will probably transfer to a credit union.
Not in favor of government control of banks, although ultimately they already do control them. I don’t know how you made the leap from my commenting about having to pay to cash checks if you have no account to suggesting that I support government takeovers of banks.
I did not accuse you of wanting government control, I asked you if you would be for it, and I am sure you are not.
The main point is, any bank is a free enterprise, free to charge whatever they think is in the best interest of the business. There is no mandate which requires us to open a checking account. If you are unhappy with one bank, shop for
the next one or find an alternate method to save you money.
And by the way I am against Dodd-Frank law because it is over-regulation. What is really needed is to bring back Glass-Steagall. Repeal of that law is the main reason for the banking debacle of 2008, and I can see more such debacles ahead.