Complaint Review: first-convenience-bank - Killeen Texas

I sure don't know about all schools but I can tell you for certain that the small, poor, rural school district I just retired from had a required class called "Life skills".  It included many things that people should know about to effectively function as citizens.

One of the skills involved how to work with banks, how to manage checking/savings accounts etc.  It included actually opening a small personal account with a local bank and managing account books and check registers.  Contrary to popular believe, banks actually do want people to use theire accounts correctly. If you go to a bank and ask nicely, they will be happy to explain how it all works and you can avoid any fees at all.

I recommend people stop whining and take the steps to learn how to work within the system, it really isn't very hard for most people.

After my first misadventure many years ago, I have only had a couple fees in many years and they were totally my fault and I cussed at myself, not the bank.

Take charge of your own actions. you'll have a more serene life.

To avoid those pesky little NSF fees, the first thing you must do is maintain an accurate, up to date check register.  If you do this and also verify the deposits you have made have actually been made available, it will go a long ways to helping you.  Checking  your balance online only shows what transactions have cleared or been credited at that time.  It does NOT reflect any transactions that are pending, including checks you just wrote or debit card usage, especially when your debit card is used for gasoline purchases which can and  usually do incur up to $100 in funds temporarily held to make sure the merchant gets paid.  Check with your financial institution for help in properly using your account.

If you don’t want to make this little extra effort, those of us who do thank you for keeping our banking costs lower.  Most banks follow the same procedures, so constantly changing banks will yield the same end result. 

Years ago, money management, ie  good banking practices was taught in schools.  It’s pretty apparent that has either changed or is being disregarded.

“They somehow did some banking gymanstics and charged me overdraft fees on my ATM withdrawal”

The order you conduct transactions is not always the order transactions are presented to an account. They single best way to avoid overdrafts is to never draw against unavailable funds.

“Because they prey on middle and low income individuals to make mistakes so they can charge them excessive fees.”

There was no mistake. You intentionally overdrew funds from your account. This is totally your fault.

 Get a bank you don't have to outsmart.

- Or better yet how about instead of trying to "outsmart" your bank and talking about their "bad banking practices".  How about looking at your own "bad" practices and just don't INTENTIONALLY overdraft your account.

 I knew I was overdrafting but I figured it would only be for two transaction and most banks will forgive the first few fees.

- I don't know where you get the idea that "most" banks will forgive the first few fees. Perhaps 5-10 years ago that was the case.  But banks were tired of having people who thought that it was no problem to just "borrow" some of the bank's money for a few days.  Of course even when a bank does forgive the fees you STILL complain.  After all you legitimatly had $175 in fees and they did forgive half of them by only charging you $87.50.

At this point I would normally just give you the standard spiel about keeping an accurate register, but that does no good to someone who INTENTIONALLY spends more money with the "hope" that the bank will just let them slide.  Quite frankly with your admission that you did this intentionally you are lucky you got anything back.

Once you overdraft you are subject to their policies.  Perhaps instead of thinking that "most" banks will just let you slide, you should have actually read their policy.  Instead of AFTER the fact saying that you didn't know or how you THINK they shouldn't charge you.

Oh and be sure to update us on how your next bank treats you when you intentionally overdraft your account with them as well.