credit unions

Americans are growing even more distrustful of their financial institutions. The latest figures from the quarterly Chicago Booth/Kellogg School Financial Trust Index showed that only 23% of those surveyed said they trust the country's financial systems, down from 25% in June.

Many of us have our bank accounts running almost on autopilot: Paychecks go in and bills get paid automatically, and any details we need to deal with are handled easily online. But these conveniences come at a price -- they make it too much trouble to leave a bank, even when its fees get outrageous.

Big Wall Street banks haven't been winning many fans lately with their new fees and constant search for loopholes in the Obama administration's consumer protection laws. Bank of America's new fees on debit cards could be the last straw for some. The alternative many Americans are turning to -- credit unions.

Overdraft fees are like a movie monster that just won't die. No amount of public outrage or regulation can slay the beast. But the banks aren't the only ones casting overdrafts in financial sequels: Truth is, consumers keep breathing life into the overdraft dragon.

You might assume that free checking is one of those banking benefits on the way out, but that's not the case: More than a third of checking accounts charge no monthly service fee. But that doesn't mean that banks don't expect to profit from your checking business. Here are the fees that make "free" a highly inappropriate designation -- and how you can avoid them.

Americans' overall trust in the nation's financial system has dropped from 26% to 20%, a level that matches the lows recorded during the heart of the financial crisis in late 2008, according to the latest results from the Chicago Booth/Kellogg School Financial Trust Index.

Americans aren't thrilled with the way the nation's biggest banks have been piling on the fees lately, and it seems they're looking for an alternative. According to new research from the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, 51% of respondents to a recent online poll said they would shop for...

Credit unions, which as a group weathered the financial crisis better than banks, have been expanding their range of products and offerings recently. Today, credit unions offer much more than just ordinary deposit accounts and loans. A growing number are rolling out student and small business...

Many readers -- as well as a number of financial experts -- have suggested joining a credit union as an alternative to consumers concerned about the rising fees and diminished perks at many big banks. For instance, 38 of the 50 largest credit unions in the country still offer free checking. It's...

You're not imagining it: Banks, especially big ones, have been overhauling their offerings and piling on the fees lately. And while some banks have started dishing out goodies like coffee and danish, don't be distracted by the tasty treats -- they're just there so you won't notice just how crazy...