De Anza College students will have an alternative to Higher One when it comes to banking and financial services on campus. The Foothill-De Anza Board of Trustees approved U.S. Bank’s plan to open a mini-branch in the campus bookstore at their meeting on Monday Oct. 7.
“This will probably be a really good solution for some of the students, particularly those who are having problems with Higher One,” said Letha Jeanpierre, vice president of finance and educational resources. “It will give students more options for ATMs, not just the two that are put here on campus.”
U.S. Bank’s website lists several perks in its current student checking account. The bank does not have a monthly fee as long as a student signs up for paperless statements; there is no minimum balance; students get four free non- U.S. Bank ATM transactions per month and through the U.S. Bank smartphone app students can take care of almost any type of bank transaction.
“I think it’s a really great idea because when I’m in class all day and I have to run to the bank, I can just stop at the one here instead of rushing and trying to make it to the one out of school before it closes,” said Jean Diaz, 25, business major.
Construction is set to start in February 2014 with an opening day in early March, said Kelly Swanson, De Anza bookstore director. The full service bank branch will be located in the middle of the bookstore and the bank will also provide an annual Bookstore Scholarship of $2,000 to help students.
