It's Monday Morning - Have You Fired Your Banker Yet?

I've been bank-free for 17 years, having switched to a credit union in 1994. They can be annoying at times (the new ATMs don't have the features I liked best in the old ATMs) but the free checking, free debit cards and plain savings with interest more than make up for it.

Lisa Derrick at Firedoglake:

Money-movers, who advocate changing from large corporate banks to credit unions or small local banks, are calling to make November 5 a nationwide Bank Transfer Day.

Together we can ensure that these banking institutions will ALWAYS remember the 5th of November!!

• Open an account with a Credit Union
• Transfer your funds to the new account (online or in person) by 11/05
• Follow your bank’s procedures to close your account

To find a credit union near you: Find a credit union.com

Wire transfers cost $35, can take three to five days to clear, and require an existing account in which the funds will land. A better plan may be to simply go to the bank and close your account in person, ask for cash or a bank check, trot over to a credit union and open an account. 11/5/11 is a Saturday so make sure your bank is open that day! Most credit unions are closed on Saturdays. Don’t forget to change any automatic bill pays, etc to your new account–and don’t forget where you hid the cash or bank check over the weekend!

Have a little fun with it: Ask to speak to a bank officer (this clusterfuck is not the fault of the poorly-paid tellers) and tell her - politely! - why you are moving your money. Recommend she do the same.