IN THEIR CARS
CAN SPEND THE NIGHT.
>> YOU HAVE YOUR AUTO SHOP, YOU
HAVE YOUR GROCERY STORE,
PHARMACY.
>> AND NOW A BANK, YES, IT'S A
REVAMPED SERVICE.
YOU COULD GET THE NEXT TIME YOU
HEAD TO A WAL-MART.
GIANT RETAIL THERE WILL ACCEPT
YOUR DIRECT DEPOSIT AND LOAD IT
TO A DEBIT CARD.
10NEWS CONSUMER REPORTER LOOKED
INTO WHETHER THE FEES REALLY DO
BEAT THE BIG BANKS.
>>> JOSHUA GONZALEZ CAME OUT OF
THIS WAL-MART WITH A CART FULL
OF GROCERIES.
>> GOT SOME VEGETABLES, SOME OF
THE VEGAN ITEMS, FRUITS,
WATERS.
>> THIS TIME, HE PAID WITH FOOD
STAMPS AND A COUPLE PART-TIME
JOBS.
>> A LITTLE OVER $120.
>> GONZALEZ PUTS HIS MONEY IN A
CREDIT UNION.
HE USED TO HAVE A WAL-MART
MONEY CARD, WHICH THE RETAIL
GIANT UPGRADED.
IT'S A PRELOADED VISA OR
MASTERCARD.
PEOPLE CAN LOAD IT UP WITH
THEIR DIRECT DEPOSIT FOR FREE,
AND CHECKS PRINTED TO PAY THE
RENT.
>> WHENEVER THE BANK SHUTS DOWN
AROUND 5:00 OR 6:00 ON THE
WEEKEND, YOU CAN BE LIKE OH
WAIT, I CAN STILL GO TO WAL-
MART.
>> BUT THE QUESTION IS, DO THE
FEES AND THE FINE PRINT CANCEL
OUT THE CONVENIENCE?
>> WAL-MART CHARGES $5 A MONTH
IF YOU HAVE LESS THAN $1,000 IN
YOUR ACCOUNT.
THAT'S ABOUT HALF OF WHAT THE
BIG BANKS CHARGE AND THEY
GENERALLY REQUIRE $1500 TO
WAIVE A FEE.
BUT WAL-MART DOES CHARGE YOU TO
DEPOSIT YOUR CASH INTO YOUR
ACCOUNT AT ONE OF ITS
REGISTERS.
OTHER CHARGES LIKE USING A
NONWAL-MART ATM ARE ABOUT EQUAL
TO THE BIG BANKS.
GONZALEZ SAYS THE FEES CAN ADD
UP.
>> YOU ARE TRYING TO PURCHASE
SOMETHING AND $3 SHY, BECAUSE
THE SERVICE FEE.
>> JOHN HORNE, 10NEWS.
>> AND A WAL-MART SPOKESWOMAN
SAYS THE MONEY CARD COMES INTO
A FEATURE TO SAVE MONEY.
ON 10NEWS.COM.
WE POSTED INFORMATION ON SOME
OF THE HIGHEST PREPAID DEBIT
