ZERO STARS for The worst sort of price gouging. I was charged FORTY DOLLARS to cash two checks here.
As part of my work, I have to deal with just about every bank in town - from big nationals to small locals and credit unions. Businesses have a right to charge for their services, and some banks charge for non-members to cash checks drawn on their bank.
For example, while Bank of Nevada doesn't charge a fee, both Bank of America and Wells Fargo charge between $7.50 and $8.00 per check.
This is different.
Last week, I brought in two client checks that were drawn upon Silver State SCU - and was charged twenty dollars EACH to cash them. TWENTY. DOLLARS. EACH. for checks that were well under $300.
Yes; it would be great if I had my own bank account, and could go through my own bank to cash checks - but a series of very unfortunate events over the past few years has has left me in seriously dire financial circumstances, and I'm working my butt off to rectify that situation.
You know what doesn't help a poor person to climb back up out of a financial pit? a $20 service fee to CASH A CHECK. It makes me physically sick to think of how much work I did just for the honor of cashing a check at this Credit Union. Hours of my labor went into a fee rather than into food or paying rent. I could have eaten for a week on that.
Because I had no other option to get the money that I had worked for, I paid the fee. But there is NO justification for this kind of price gouging for a service that costs the bank nothing other than the teller's time. It is sickening and unethical.
Needless to say, I will no longer accept checks from clients who bank with SSSCU, and I will make sure that the clients understand why.