Industry Pages Network  More than a business search engine, it's "The Resource for Industry" sm
Check Cashing Industry - "We're Not a Check Casher" or are they?
 
 
    Sign Up Login  
 
     

PUBLISH TODAY
Publishing your article, how to, event coverage, or other industry specific items of interest has never been easier than with CLMman.

With CLMman you can publish your works in just a few minutes and have them exposed to the audience that really wants to read it today!

Register Today!

CLMman 
Airline Industry
Appliance Industry
Audio Industry
Aviation Industry
Beer Industry
Bicycle Industry
Check Cashing Industry
Consumer Electronics Industry
Convenience Store Industry
Cosmetics Industry
Food & Beverage Industry
Golfing Industry
Grocery Industry
Import Export Industry
Jewelry Industry
Loan Industry
Maritime & Shipbuilding Industry
Motorcycle Industry
Oil and Energy Industry
Personal Watercraft Industry
Pharmaceuticals Industry
Racing Industry
Real Estate Industry
Soda Industry
Tobacco Industry
Transportation Industry
Video Industry



 

"We're Not a Check Casher" or are they?

Column Rating: General

Published: Sep 8, 2002, 1:48pm

A "Did You Know" column by B2
Series:
[ Discuss this column ]

 

"We're Not a Check Casher" or are they?

With all the hoopla, legislative discussion, heated debates and consumer protection group lobbying efforts surrounding the check cashing industry efforts for stabilization of fees relative to the cashing of a check big banks slid in new fees that would make a check casher blush without any discussion, debate or consumer protection groups.

As of the end of August 2002, Bank of America, representing 22 states and over 4000 locations, implemented a new policy and fee for non-bank customer check cashing. This new policy requires a $5.00 fee for any check cashed for non-bank customers. While the idea of charging a fee for non-bank customers is not new there is a spin on this new policy that makes it very unique. Even if you go to the branch that the check is drawn on and where the signature card is located the $5.00 fee applies.

Who does this new policy effect? Everybody that is not a Bank of America account holder. So if you are part of the "UnBanked" or a Wells Fargo, US Bank or other Bank account holder you will be charged $5.00 for cashing a check. Even if your check is for $10.00, you will still be charged $5.00 to cash it even if you are at the branch of origin.

Using the following comparison you will see how parity in fees charged by a licensed California check casher and the new Bank of America non-bank customer fee is reached only after exceeding the $200.00 check size. As well you can see the new fee by Bank of America does not meet with legal check cashing fee standards till the $200.00 mark and that this fee even exceeds the maximum allowable fee for personal check cashing until the $50.00 mark.

           
Bank of America          
Check Amount Fee Net Cost as % Checks Yearly Yearly Fee Yearly Net
$10.00 $5.00 $5.00 50.00% $260.00 $130.00 $130.00
$20.00 $5.00 $15.00 25.00% $520.00 $130.00 $390.00
$30.00 $5.00 $25.00 16.67% $780.00 $130.00 $650.00
$40.00 $5.00 $35.00 12.50% $1,040.00 $130.00 $910.00
$50.00 $5.00 $45.00 10.00% $1,300.00 $130.00 $1,170.00
$60.00 $5.00 $55.00 8.33% $1,560.00 $130.00 $1,430.00
$70.00 $5.00 $65.00 7.14% $1,820.00 $130.00 $1,690.00
$80.00 $5.00 $75.00 6.25% $2,080.00 $130.00 $1,950.00
$90.00 $5.00 $85.00 5.56% $2,340.00 $130.00 $2,210.00
$100.00 $5.00 $95.00 5.00% $2,600.00 $130.00 $2,470.00
$150.00 $5.00 $145.00 3.33% $3,900.00 $130.00 $3,770.00
$200.00 $5.00 $195.00 2.50% $5,200.00 $130.00 $5,070.00
$250.00 $5.00 $245.00 2.00% $6,500.00 $130.00 $6,370.00
$300.00 $5.00 $295.00 1.67% $7,800.00 $130.00 $7,670.00
           
Check Cashing Outlet        
Check Amount Fee Net Cost as % Checks Yearly Yearly Fee Yearly Net
$10.00 3.00% $9.70 3.00% $260.00 $7.80 $252.20
$20.00 3.00% $19.40 3.00% $520.00 $15.60 $504.40
$30.00 3.00% $29.10 3.00% $780.00 $23.40 $756.60
$40.00 3.00% $38.80 3.00% $1,040.00 $31.20 $1,008.80
$50.00 3.00% $48.50 3.00% $1,300.00 $39.00 $1,261.00
$60.00 3.00% $58.20 3.00% $1,560.00 $46.80 $1,513.20
$70.00 3.00% $67.90 3.00% $1,820.00 $54.60 $1,765.40
$80.00 3.00% $77.60 3.00% $2,080.00 $62.40 $2,017.60
$90.00 3.00% $87.30 3.00% $2,340.00 $70.20 $2,269.80
$100.00 3.00% $97.00 3.00% $2,600.00 $78.00 $2,522.00
$150.00 3.00% $145.50 3.00% $3,900.00 $117.00 $3,783.00
$200.00 3.00% $194.00 3.00% $5,200.00 $156.00 $5,044.00
$250.00 3.00% $242.50 3.00% $6,500.00 $195.00 $6,305.00
$300.00 3.00% $291.00 3.00% $7,800.00 $234.00 $7,566.00
  Exceeds 10% maximum
  Exceeds 3% maximum
  Based on 1 check cashed every 2 weeks
   

 

When asked about this charge for non-bank customers the statement was clear and without misunderstanding "We are not a check casher". Based upon the lack of parity between the industry sectors this is true. Because if they were they would be charging fees that could result in a fine or imprisonment of a check casher, specifically the owners of a check cashing outlet.

But on the other hand, is not a bank a check casher?

  Check
Bank Casher
Cash Checks YES YES
Charge a Fee YES YES
ID Casher YES YES
Confirm Writer YES YES
Confirm Funds YES YES
Return Fee YES YES
Fingerprint Most Most

Maybe the real question is:

Q. When is a check casher not a check casher?
A. When it is a bank!


copyrighted materials - Do Not Duplicate without expressed written permission from B2


View All Columns by B2
Visit B2 website
[ Discuss this column ]

Visit the Check Cashing Industry Forum



Please Read: USE POLICY
The opinions and or comments contained in columns appearing in CLMman are the opinions of the writer of the column and not necessarily the opinion of Industry Pages, Inc. Industry Pages, Inc. does not support or endorse in any way the comments or opinions contained within a submitted column and in no way can be held liable for its contents.
By using CLMman you agree to indemnify Industry Pages, Inc., its vendors, partners, employees and associates from any issue arising from its use.

The articles themselves are owned and are the copyright of the writer of the article. The writer of the article has provided Industry Pages Inc. expressed written permission to have the articles available on the Industry Pages Network, CLMman and the CLMman Column Webfeed. Any use of the articles outside the CLMman system requires written permission from the writer of the article itself.

If you have any comments about this column please feel free to express your opinion in the Forums.

Article © Copyright Sep 8, 2002 B2
CLMman © Copyright 1998 - 2004 Industry Pages, Inc.

Top of Page

Check Cashing Industry
Latest Columns
Blurring the Lines Between Check Cashing and Banks
The Unbanked and Underbanked; A Process of Growth for Banks, Credit Unions and CUSO’s.
Check Cashing - Federally Regulated, State Regulated or Unregulated?
Online Payday Loans: An Insiders Look from the Outside
Why Check Cashers?
"We're Not a Check Casher" or are they?