Hi Everyone. Well, after 15 years the RV-Dreams Community Forum is coming to an end. Since it began in August 2005, we've had 58 Million page views, 124,000 posts, and we've spent about $15,000 to keep this valuable resource for RVers free and open. But since we are now off the road and have settled down for the next chapter of our lives, we are taking the Forum down effective June 30, 2021. It has been a tough decision, but it is now time.


We want to thank all of our members for their participation and input over the years, and we want to especially thank those that have acted as Moderators for us during our amazing journey living and traveling in our RV and growing the RV-Dreams Family. We will be forever proud to have been founders of this Forum and to have been supported by such a wonderful community. Thank you all!!

Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
Post Info TOPIC: Financial Services on the Road


RV-Dreams Community Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 4
Date:
Financial Services on the Road


My wife and I will begin Full Timing in about 6 months.  We plan to initially travel throught the western US and on up through Canada and into Alaska in the summer.  Our plan is to avoid the big cities and stick to the lesser travelled roads.  

How do we handle any financial needs that may come up?  I'm thinking of situations where we may need to use a bank (especially like getting cash).  We will have the usual credit cards as a primary source of purchasing things, but how do you get cash without getting billed for ATM  or check cashing fees.  Any suggestions?



__________________
Rod Sitzman


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 1426
Date:

Use a National Bank(Wells Fargo etc) Some financial institutions refund you any ATM fees.

__________________

RVing probably not a reality any more.It was a good time while it lasted.



RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 3721
Date:

As Racerguy said, "some financial institutions refund you any ATM fees". We have bank accounts with Etradebank and it does. Also you can get cash back at places like Wal-Mart if you use a debit card. If you are not getting reimbursed for fees then take out as much cash as you can at once, $500 if possible, since the fee is the same for $20 as $500.
Watch your credit cards in Canada. If you can do a short test trip then use each card at least once and see what extra fees come on your statement, if any. Citiback (AT&T Universal) charged us a higher exchange rate and charged us fees for Canadian usage. American Express was better, but not taken everywhere. Capital One was great, so we use it as much as possible in Canada and any online purchase from other countries (like Hong Kong eyeglasses, which are an amazing deal). Getting cash in Canada can sometimes be tricky, not all ATMs support the US ATM networks.
We use $100 or less in cash most months, instead using on credit cards we pay off every month. With the points we get gift cards for restaurants, Amazon and Wal-Mart instead of airline miles. I do mean credit cards, we have more than one we use regularly and we track the various deals on points to maximize them.

__________________

Bill Joyce,
40' 2004 Dutch Star DP towing an AWD 2020 Ford Escape Hybrid
Journal at http://www.sacnoth.com
Full-timing since July 2003



RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 679
Date:

Definitely seek out a financial institution that keeps the fees for ATM use free or reasonable. They area many choices out there - ING, Ally, Everbank, USAA, Charles Schwabb.

Also look for a bank with easy online management, and in particular - we love banking & deposits by smartphone.

We recently did a pretty detailed blog post about banking as a nomad, which has a lot more ideas and things to consider:

http://www.technomadia.com/2012/08/chapter-10-nomadic-money-banking-finances-taxes/

 

 - Cherie



__________________

Cherie (and Chris) / Our blog: Technomadia.com

Full time since 2006 as Gen-X 'technomads' (technology enabled nomads)

RV Mobile Internet Resource Center (unbiased information by RVers for RVers)

zephyr_pixel.jpgRV: 1961 GM 4106 Bus

Toad: 2009 MINI Cooper



RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 5398
Date:

Rod,

Welcome to the RV Dreams forums.  You have definitely found one of the best sites for your research.  We all welcome your questions and comments as we all tend to learn along with each of the other members.

If you are a veteran, look into USAA.  While they used to be only for officers, they've since opened up membership to all veterans.  I haven't begun using their financial services yet, but several on the forums have given them good reviews.  They will initially "charge" an ATM fee but will later refund that fee back.  Plus, if I understand the others right, most all the transactions done with them do not require any face-to-face transactions.

Terry



__________________

Terry and Jo

2010 Mobile Suites 38TKSB3
2008 Ford F450
2019 Ford Expedition Max as Tag-along or Scout

Our photos on Smugmug



RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 1107
Date:

In addition to what others have said, check out Alliant Credit Union. All electronic, including check deposits via smartphone. Easy to work with, loan to fulltimers, and the rates are good.

We have been fulltimers for over 12 years and have NEVER set foot into a physical bank or financial institution. It is easy to bank on the road these days. We use Merrill Lynch and Alliant.

__________________

Jack & Danielle Mayer
PLEASE USE EMAIL TO COMMUNICATE

http://www.jackdanmayer.com,
2009 Volvo 780 HDT, 2015 New Horizons 45'Custom 5th, smart car
New Horizons Ambassadors - Let us help you build your dream RV.....



RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 313
Date:

we use Bank of America and Merrill Lynch - traveled east and west - no problems

__________________

RV fulltimer class of 2011 - March!
On the Road to Retirement...zeetraveler.blogspot.com

Page 1 of 1  sorted by
 
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.

Tweet this page Post to Digg Post to Del.icio.us