Banking question for current students

<p>PNC obviously has a nice contract going with Pitt. Is it confusing for students to have Meal Plan/DiningDollars/Panther Funds/Debit card all on one card? Obviously it's easier to carry just one card but is it difficult to keep track of what comes out of each "pot"? This is especially relevant to those from out of town who don't have access to PNC at home. Can anyone share a situation that they would recommend or NOT recommend handling student finances at PITT? THANKS in advance.</p>

<p>Being OOS we are trying to figure out what to do for my D. I think we just lucked out. I just found out that our local bank, National City Bank, has just started "an across state lines" banking where my D can keep her account here and use it there. She can go into a NCB in Pittsburgh and do all her banking just as if she were at home. Plus her accounts are linked up to my accounts so I can transfer money if she needs extra. </p>

<p>I was afraid to have Dining Dollars and Panther Funds and Debit card all on one card. Others who have been going to Pitt recommend that you don't put your debit card on your Panther card. Just get a separate debit card from PNC. There was an old thread on banking at Pitt. You still might be able to find it and get some pointers. They said that they didn't really use a debit card too often since most of them had Panther Funds on the Pitt card so they used that when they went out to eat or needed something from the drug store. </p>

<p>I bet you could even get away with not having a debit card at all if you keep enough Panther Funds on your Pitt card. I believe there is a way parents can transfer funds to it online. Someone with experience can comment on this better than I can. Don't know if this is of any help, but would like to hear comments from people already attending Pitt.</p>