Bank On Baton Rouge is a coalition of the Office of the Mayor, financial institutions, and community partners. The goal is to increase access to the banking and financial mainstream for citizens of Baton Rouge.
They can help you easily open a bank account, and also offer financial education classes to help you make the most of your money.
The National Endowment for Financial Education is a non-profit that aims to educate and prepare Americans to successfully face financial challenges throughout all stages of life.
The Women’s Institute for Financial Education (WIFE.org) is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing financial education to women in their quest for financial independence.
Provides concise summaries of the day in market trading and economic news, plus a directory of personal finance websites and tools for investment research.
How do I choose a bank or credit union?
Compare the services and fees at a few banks and credit unions. Go to the website or visit in person. Find out what the fee is if you:
have a checking account
use a debit card
get cash from ATMs at other banks
have less money in your account than the bank requires
spend more money than you have in your account
Compare the answers. Find the bank or credit union that meets your needs.
How do I avoid fees on my account?
Stay above the required "minimum balance." That is the amount of money the bank requires you to keep in your account. If you cannot meet the requirements, you might choose a different account or choose another bank.
Use your bank's ATM to get cash. If you go to an ATM from another bank, you might have to pay fees- to your bank and to the other bank.
Spend only the money that you have. Some accounts will let you use your debit card even after your checking account is empty. Spending more money than you have is called "overdrawing" your account. It always means you will pay big fees.
Write down the money you spend or take out of the bank. The subtract what you spend or withdraw from the balance, or the amount of money in your account. That will show how much money you have left to spend.
