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My First National Bank Free Checking Experience

One of the biggest keys to our success of paying off $100,000 of student loan debt was planning out each dollar of income, and automating that plan. We had all of our student loan payments automated, along with our paychecks electronically deposited, and our credit card payments scheduled. Automating payments allowed us to make big strides in our goals, with minimal time and effort.
 
During that time, we struggled with the bank I had been using, and the inability to utilize a smartphone tool for our checking account. One of the keys to paying off our student loans was working between 5-8 different jobs during that time, which is also when our photography business took off. Between our photo clients, our local sales of wedding products, and side jobs....we were being paid with anywhere from 5-20 paper checks each week. The trips to the bank were starting to get on my nerves, and that's when we started to look at new banks. 

Eventually, we landed on First National Bank. When searching, we had the requirement that the checking account be 100% free. No gimmicks, no small print...just free. What I found in First National Bank was not only that their checking accounts were free, but they gave me free checks whenever I ran out! Score!

As with many Millennials, we LOVE to travel. On our most recent trips to Australia, New Zealand, and our "babymoon" to Europe, we had no problems being able to use ATMs abroad. In the past with our last bank, even though we had alerted the bank to our upcoming travel, the bank had still flagged our account and turned off our ability to withdraw money. When you're traveling, that is the last thing you want to happen!  
 
All of this and more is why we chose to bank with First National Bank. Why pay for a checking account when you can get First National Free Checking for free! If you're learning to be a financially responsible adult, cutting back on unnecessary expenses is the first step. Use the extra money you save to put towards your student loans, save for your first home, or perhaps travel the world! 

Disclosure:  Although I became a First National Bank customer long before being contacted to write about my experience, this post was sponsored by First National Bank of Omaha. All statements made above are an accurate accounting of my experience with First National Bank.  Member FDIC


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