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"We're Not a Check Casher" or are they? |
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Column
Rating: General |
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Published: Sep 8, 2002, 1:48pm |
"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.
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Bank of America |
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Check Amount |
Fee |
Net |
Cost as % |
Checks Yearly |
Yearly Fee |
Yearly Net |
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$10.00 |
$5.00 |
$5.00 |
50.00% |
$260.00 |
$130.00 |
$130.00 |
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$20.00 |
$5.00 |
$15.00 |
25.00% |
$520.00 |
$130.00 |
$390.00 |
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$30.00 |
$5.00 |
$25.00 |
16.67% |
$780.00 |
$130.00 |
$650.00 |
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$40.00 |
$5.00 |
$35.00 |
12.50% |
$1,040.00 |
$130.00 |
$910.00 |
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$50.00 |
$5.00 |
$45.00 |
10.00% |
$1,300.00 |
$130.00 |
$1,170.00 |
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$60.00 |
$5.00 |
$55.00 |
8.33% |
$1,560.00 |
$130.00 |
$1,430.00 |
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$70.00 |
$5.00 |
$65.00 |
7.14% |
$1,820.00 |
$130.00 |
$1,690.00 |
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$80.00 |
$5.00 |
$75.00 |
6.25% |
$2,080.00 |
$130.00 |
$1,950.00 |
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$90.00 |
$5.00 |
$85.00 |
5.56% |
$2,340.00 |
$130.00 |
$2,210.00 |
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$100.00 |
$5.00 |
$95.00 |
5.00% |
$2,600.00 |
$130.00 |
$2,470.00 |
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$150.00 |
$5.00 |
$145.00 |
3.33% |
$3,900.00 |
$130.00 |
$3,770.00 |
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$200.00 |
$5.00 |
$195.00 |
2.50% |
$5,200.00 |
$130.00 |
$5,070.00 |
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$250.00 |
$5.00 |
$245.00 |
2.00% |
$6,500.00 |
$130.00 |
$6,370.00 |
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$300.00 |
$5.00 |
$295.00 |
1.67% |
$7,800.00 |
$130.00 |
$7,670.00 |
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Check Cashing Outlet |
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Check Amount |
Fee |
Net |
Cost as % |
Checks Yearly |
Yearly Fee |
Yearly Net |
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$10.00 |
3.00% |
$9.70 |
3.00% |
$260.00 |
$7.80 |
$252.20 |
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$20.00 |
3.00% |
$19.40 |
3.00% |
$520.00 |
$15.60 |
$504.40 |
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$30.00 |
3.00% |
$29.10 |
3.00% |
$780.00 |
$23.40 |
$756.60 |
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$40.00 |
3.00% |
$38.80 |
3.00% |
$1,040.00 |
$31.20 |
$1,008.80 |
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$50.00 |
3.00% |
$48.50 |
3.00% |
$1,300.00 |
$39.00 |
$1,261.00 |
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$60.00 |
3.00% |
$58.20 |
3.00% |
$1,560.00 |
$46.80 |
$1,513.20 |
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$70.00 |
3.00% |
$67.90 |
3.00% |
$1,820.00 |
$54.60 |
$1,765.40 |
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$80.00 |
3.00% |
$77.60 |
3.00% |
$2,080.00 |
$62.40 |
$2,017.60 |
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$90.00 |
3.00% |
$87.30 |
3.00% |
$2,340.00 |
$70.20 |
$2,269.80 |
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$100.00 |
3.00% |
$97.00 |
3.00% |
$2,600.00 |
$78.00 |
$2,522.00 |
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$150.00 |
3.00% |
$145.50 |
3.00% |
$3,900.00 |
$117.00 |
$3,783.00 |
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$200.00 |
3.00% |
$194.00 |
3.00% |
$5,200.00 |
$156.00 |
$5,044.00 |
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$250.00 |
3.00% |
$242.50 |
3.00% |
$6,500.00 |
$195.00 |
$6,305.00 |
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$300.00 |
3.00% |
$291.00 |
3.00% |
$7,800.00 |
$234.00 |
$7,566.00 |
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Exceeds 10% maximum |
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Exceeds 3% maximum |
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Based on 1 check cashed every 2 weeks |
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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?
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Check |
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Bank |
Casher |
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Cash Checks |
YES |
YES |
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Charge a Fee |
YES |
YES |
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ID Casher |
YES |
YES |
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Confirm Writer |
YES |
YES |
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Confirm Funds |
YES |
YES |
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Return Fee |
YES |
YES |
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Fingerprint |
Most |
Most |
Maybe the real question is:
Q. When is a check casher not a check casher?
A. When it is a bank!
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