Your Friendly Neighborhood Credit Union

Areader asks how you can avoid playing the overdraft protection shell game with banks. Credit unions may be a solution. They are similar to banks, but they have some unique characteristics -- they're not for profit organizations owned by depositors (or "members").

Credit unions, like all of us, still have bills to pay. They may charge overdraft fees and they may even shuffle your bounced checks around to maximize fees. However, you've got a decent chance of finding a friendlier fee schedule at your credit union. Keep in mind that some banks are friendly as well -- it just depends on the institution, and you have to ask them to find out.

Further reading:

• Fast Facts About Credit Unions
• How to Open a CU Account - 3 Easy Steps
How to Find a Credit Union (That You can Join)