Deck the Halls with Checking Account Perks

It’s important to have an everyday spending account you can depend on to make holiday shopping convenient and simple – but the right checking account goes beyond the basics. Take stock of your current account’s features and see if it stacks up to the options available to you through General Electric Credit Union (GECU). Membership is open to all of those who live or work in the Tri-State, so don’t wait for Santa’s sleigh to make the switch! Experience for yourself why our checking accounts are the gift that keeps on giving. 

5 GECU checking account perks that’ll make you feel merry   

1. Better cash access 

GECU checking accountholders can quickly access cash through our network of nearly 100,000 ATMs nationwide.¹ You can even snag some green while you shop at popular retailers like: 

• Target
• Kroger
• Speedway
• Sunoco
• Costco
• CVS Pharmacy
• Walgreens
• Rite Aid

The holidays are a busy time of the year. We make it easy to access cash while you run errands, whether that’s purchasing ingredients for a holiday meal or buying toys for the kiddos. 

2. Robust digital services  

Our Online Banking and top-rated mobile app² make it simple to transfer funds, check your balance, and much more – all from your fingertips, 24/7/365. Plus, failed package delivery scams can jeopardize your accounts. Periodically checking your transaction history and eStatements for unauthorized transactions will help you quickly spot and report instances of holiday scams and fraud. 

Both digital banking options give you access to Money Management, too! Set a budget for holiday spending, set up and track goals for the New Year, and review your spending habits all through one intuitive dashboard. 

Your checking account should also give you the power to choose how, when, where, and to who you can transfer funds or make purchases. 

• Digital wallets. Add your GECU debit card (and credit cards!) to the digital wallet of your choice for secure, seamless payments in-store, online, or in-app. This gives you an extra layer of protection, as Apple Pay®, Google Pay™, or Samsung Pay™ encrypt the data it sends to merchants. Even if the merchant falls victim to a data breech, your information is safe. 
• Zelle®. Zelle® is a fast, safe and easy way to send money to friends, family and other people you know and trust, wherever they bank.³ Whether you’re paying rent, gifting money, or splitting the cost of a bill, Zelle® has you covered.
• Card Controls. You may not have control over the weather this winter, but you do have control over your debit card! Turn your debit card On/Off, set spend limits, restrict purchases from select merchants, and much more with Card Controls. 

3. No hidden fees

Nothing spoils the holidays like unexpected fees. Our Simply Free Checking⁴ account has no minimum balance requirements and no monthly maintenance fee, while our Choice⁵ and Amplified High-Yield⁶ checking accounts – both interest-earning options – have no minimum balance and no monthly maintenance fee for accountholders who maintain a daily balance of $500 or more.   

Accountholders can also select from one of our overdraft solutions to keep “oops” moments from souring festivities. While there are also options with fees involved,⁷ Overdraft Protection Transfers⁸ are a free option that transfers money from a savings account to a checking account to cover you for the amount you went over. This keeps your account out of the red and ensures you can still complete your purchase. 

4. An early pay day 

All GECU checking accounts come with Early Pay⁹ and get their ACH deposits – including pay checks – up to two days early! This is especially beneficial during the holiday season when large purchases may leave you short on cash at the end of the month. Looking ahead to tax time, you can even opt to receive your tax refund early when you set up direct deposit!

5. Automatic savings

Enroll in our Round-Up¹⁰ program to put saving on autopilot. We’ll round up your holiday purchases to the nearest dollar and deposit the difference into the GECU account of your choice. Plus, we match your rounded up funds by 5%, up to $350 a year. That’s free cash – our gift to boost your saving efforts! 

Ready to make the switch to a checking account that gives you more than the competition? Review your options online or with the help of a GECU team member. Then, open your account online in minutes. From GECU, happy holidays!