Talker's Checking
Talker’s Checking is a proprietary banking product that offers free cell phones, free monthly voice minutes or free monthly texts and data to create new low cost, low attrition deposits at WCI affiliated financial institutions. Customers who open a Talker’s Checking account with direct deposit are issued a free cell phone and a level of free voice or free text and data service each month. Talker’s Checking accounts have no minimum balance requirement and receive customary account items such as complimentary checks, debit/ATM cards, online banking and bill pay.
Cell phone charges in excess of initial free levels are charged to the depositor’s account at highly competitive rates. The handsets are equipped with text (SMS) banking technology that allows customers to monitor account balances/minutes, recent transactions/calls, receive bank account alerts, and avail themselves to no-hold customer service via their cell phone. Accounts can be opened directly at an affiliated bank branch or online through the WCI banking portal that gives consumers direct access to additional tools to help them set-up and utilize the free mobile banking service.
Talker's Checking Offer
After customers have signed up for the free online checking account and their direct deposit information is confirmed, cell phone services commence.
Customers receive the following:
- Free phone (Blackberry Curve)
- Ongoing choice of free voice (up to 1000 minutes per month) or free data (up to 1000 texts and 30 mb of data per month)
- Standard free voicemail, caller ID, call waiting.
Payments for surplus cell phone usage are debited directly to the consumer's account on a periodic basis (consumers opt in to these set-offs to be eligible for the phone/service offer). Customers have the option to access their account statements online for free, or they can elect to receive a combined banking and wireless paper statement for a small monthly fee. The direct deposit accounts can be opened online, over the telephone, at a bank branch, or by payroll services.
Talker's Checking vs. Traditional Checking
|
|
Talker's Checking |
Traditional Checking |
| Free Checks |
YES |
YES |
| ATM/Debit Card |
YES |
YES |
| Free Online Banking |
YES |
YES |
| Free Online Account Statements |
YES |
YES |
| Free Cell Phone |
YES |
NO |
| Free Voice or Free Data |
YES |
NO |
| Competitive Cellular Data Plan |
YES |
NO |
| Competitive Cellular Content Plan |
YES |
NO |
| Free Voicemail, Caller ID and Call Waiting
|
YES |
NO |
| Phone "Nearfield" Enabled |
YES |
NO |
| High Quality Nationwide Cellular Network |
YES |
NO |