Question

Spencer plans to open a checking account with her $1,400 tax refund check. He believes he can maintain a $500 minimum balance to avoid the monthly maintenance fee. Also, he estimates that she will write 10 checks per month and will use other banks' ATMs as many as 15 times per month. Which bank should Spencer choose?Spencer plans to open a checking account wi Sean wants to open a bank account with $275. Sean will auto deposit his pay checks into the account and estimates he will write 20 checks per month and use his ATM card only at the home bank. Sean believes he can maintain $200 balance in his account. Which bank should Sean choose?Matthew, a student, has $500 to deposit in a new checking account, but Matthew knows he will not be able to maintain a minimum balance. He will not use an ATM card, but will write a large number of checks. Matthew is trying to choose between the unlimited check writing offered by South Trust Bank and the low per check fee offered by Sun Coast Bank. How many checks would Matthew have to write each month for the account at South Trust Bank to be the better option?

Answer 1

Spencer: should use the South Trust Credit Union (cost per month $18.71)

• $500 minimum balance: 0 ; 0 ; 0 ; 0
• 10 checks per month: 0 ; 3 ; 0 ; 5
• other banks' ATMs 15 times per month: 18.71 ; 18.75 ; 22 ; 18.75

Sean: should use the Sun Coast Bank (cost per month $10)

• +/- $275 minimum balance: 13 ; 0 ; 6 ; 0
• 20 checks per month: 0 ; 13 ; 8 ; 10
• other banks' ATMs 0 times per month: 0 ; 0 ; 0 ; 0

Matthew: should use the South Trust Credit Union (cost per month $13), even though we are not given the exact amount of checks, the other banks charge large sums for writing checks, while this bank does not charge any amount.

• $0 minimum balance: 13 ; 7 ; 6 ; 12
• A lot checks per month, let's say 50: 0 ; 43 ; 38 ; 25
• other banks' ATMs 0 times per month: 0 ; 0 ; 0 ; 0