<p>Does anyone know if LU students typically have checking accounts at LU (is there some sort of credit union, for example?), in a local Appleton bank, or do they just use checking accounts from their home towns?</p>
<p>There are banks within walking distance. I believe there may be tables set up by the banks during Welcome Week. Also, students have an account set up by LU for monies paid and owed. It is all online and through the student's name.</p>
<p>LU does not have general banking for students. There's Viking Gold, but that can only be used at the school store, The Grill, the coffeehouse, on select vending machines and for laundry. It doesn't work everywhere like a debit card does.</p>
<p>There are quite a few banks within walking distance of Lawrence. USBank is on Durkee Street, about a block and a half from Colman (and they have free checking for students). There's a Chase Bank on College, maybe five or six blocks from the west end of campus. Do a search for banks in Appleton and you'll get a lot of results. My parents picked one that we also have in our hometown, so in case of an emergency or something they have an easy way to get money to me.</p>
<p>Last year the North Shore bank offered a $100 bonus for kids with a work study who got direct deposit with a new checking account. The branch is right across College Avenue only a block or two from campus.</p>
<p>Don't get North Shore! Stick with a big bank like Chase, US Bank or Wells Fargo all of which are a close walk from campus.</p>
<p>My gf had an account with North Shore and they always treated her like a child or something whereas when she switched to Wells Fargo they treated her like an adult.</p>
<p>Also, what's the point of a small town bank when a national bank means more ATMs around the country to withdraw from without fees.</p>