ATMs key in student bank strategies

When moving to State College, one thing students often don't think about is where they'll do their banking. Some students prefer to maintain accounts in their hometowns while others like the convenience of local accounts.

ATMs can also be a deciding factor in where students choose to bank, students said.

"I don't have an account here because I can use the ATMs," said Kim Holub (freshman-communications). "It is easier to keep my account at home."

- Andrea Anderson (junior-secondary math education)

"It's too much trouble (to have an account in State College) when I'm only here nine months out of the year," said Teresa Zavitsky (senior-nutrition).

However, other students open local bank accounts to avoid running into problems when writing checks with an out-of-town address.

"It's convenient (to have a local account)," said Andrea Anderson (junior-secondary math education). "I don't have to ask friends to write me checks anymore to pay my bills."

Large regional banks can also be advantages to students who do a lot of traveling.

CoreStates Bank locations are very convenient for students during instances such as spring break, said Melissa Sible, teller at the 2200 S. Atherton St. branch.

Sible added that all Walt Disney World ATMs are within CoreStates' regional ATM area.

However, even with a surplus of ATMs in the State College area, many students dislike having to use specific ATMs to avoid surcharges.

- Teresa Zavitsky (senior-nutrition)

Some area banks, such as Northwest Savings Bank, do not have surcharges on their ATM transactions.

Because most area banks attach fees to use ATMs other than their own, some students search for ATMs such as Northwest's in order to avoid the surcharges.

"I know where ATMs are located with no surcharge," Zavitsky said.

Convenience is another factor many students consider in a bank.

Spence Garvin, manager of the Northwest Savings Bank, 1524 W. College Ave., said the majority of the business at its Beaver Avenue location is from University students.

Although Northwest has fewer downtown offices than other area banks, Garvin said that ATMs and debit cards lessen the need for banking at a branch.