OTR Banking Tips, Options

My bank has one checking account that has zero fees if you maintain a balance of say $500 each month. I think it includes up to 3 ATM free withdrawals per month. Another of their checking accounts charges $5/mo and never charges ATM fees. In both cases, the bank doesn't charge a fee for using their ATMs and reimburses ATMs fees charged by ATM's bank. I don't know how they handle the private ATMs as found in truck stops, convenience stores, etc. It's pretty easy to drive OTR and never have cash since you can buy almost everything from everywhere with a credit card or debit card. BTW, it's pretty unsafe to use debit cards as it's like walking around with a signed blank check in your pocket. Be disciplined enough to use credit cards and just pay the full bill every month. It's a LOT safer to use credit cards unless you can't control your spending. Debit cards are highly dangerous, they put your whole bank account at risk. On a credit card you are "playing with the house's money" even if some hacker puts a thousand dollar bogus charge on my account, I don't have to pay it and the stolen money is from the credit card company, not my account.

Charles Schwab and some other brokerage companies will reimburse all ATM fees. Many credit unions will reimburse all ATM fees.

I don't understand why there is ever a need to make cash deposits while OTR. None of the ATMs I've seen in truck stops will accept cash deposits. I don't think the ATMs at my local bank take cash deposits. In 30 years of truck driving, I don't remember ever being given cash, other than change when I pay for something with cash. One nationwide solution nationwide is to get a Bluebird card, IIRC, from Walmart. Walmart will accept cash at Customer Service to be placed on the Bluebird card. I think Bluebird is an American Express card used by Walmart customers.

Years ago I always started a week with $100 cash in my pocket, paid by credit card for anything less than $10 and hardly ever need more than $100 to get through a week. In the last 5 years, I just use my credit card for every purchase, no matter how small, and $100 in cash can last me months. About the only cash transaction I regularly used was leaving a tip for the truck stop shower cleaner.

 

I drive, use debit card for fuel, deliver load, money direct deposited, i drive, use debit card for fuel, deliver load, money direct deposited....ad nauseum.

I rarely keep or need cash. I keep my business debit, personal debit, and one CC with a high limit JIC.

 

Connexus Credit Union in Wisconsin is very good for travelers.

 

It's been 10 years since I retired. I had my pay split. I can't remember now what the percentages was. I think it was a 75/25 Direct Deposit/ EFS card. I used my debit card to pay for things like meals and honestly kept very little cash in my wallet. If the balance on my EFS card got too large I could transfer it to my bank for I think a buck 50. I hardly ever used an ATM. I did however keep a large amount of cash tucked inside my briefcase inside a bank deposit bag. I never really was worried about losing it, because I rarely took my eyes off it.

 

Ummmmm. All you need is a business debit and credit card from any bank.

I don't know of anyone that deposits a check(s) every week.

Nationwide, large bank, is better in case you need to do something more exotic away from home.

 

Most credit unions are part of a national "co-op" credit union network that mutually waives ATM fees and allows most other "normal" banking transactions at member credit unions across the country. The network has 40% more branches than Wells Fargo, for example. Almost all banks and credit unions now do the "remote deposit" thing where you deposit check by taking a picture front and back.