Hi, I'm Kristen Christian & I started Bank Transfer Day. AMA!

Switching to a local credit union is among one of the best decisions I've made in my adult life.

I'm so glad to hear that! How has membership changed your life?

For one, I'm treated like a human being when I go to my branch instead of a nuisance.
They have hours that let me get banking done around my schedule (They're open until 7 pm weekdays)

I ACTUALLY get INTEREST on my savings account. No shit. Seriously. It's basically banking from the 90s, except... well, I'm profiting myself.

That's great! If your credit union participates in shared branching, have you had a chance to check it out? I've found it a lot more convenient... even banking with a credit union 4 hours away from where I live.

I don't believe they do.

As a member-owner, you can ask them to! It's made banking so much easier for me.

I'll certainly look into it. Thanks for the tip!

You're welcome!

Just pick a credit union with branches all over the country. Both Veridian and Collins Community have branches all over Iowa, I assume they're nationwide as well. John Deere is pretty much only in Waterloo / Cedar Falls, I assume that's who you went with?

My credit union has a limited number of branches. I like that their focus is specifically on the community that made me the woman I am today. Yet... I can bank anywhere in the country & even have no issues traveling outside of the US because my credit union participates in shared branching.

Cool story broah

Shared branching is pretty cool, huh?

What were some of the greatest challenges you faced when setting up Bank Transfer Day? Did any of the banks retaliate against you personally?

The time commitment that was required that first month was a huge challenge. I ended up putting my life completely on hold to give the campaign the effort it deserved. There have been a handful of banking executives who have tried to discredit me, but they haven't gotten very far. There was one side effect I didn't expect— the FBI has apparently added my name to the Selectee List. I can still travel, but I'm scanned, patted, swabbed, searched & interrogated every time I fly.

That is sickening to hear

Meh. I try to keep a sense of humor about it. All you can do.

Think of it as a pre-flight massage.

Haha. Next time they pat me down I'm going to mention that I have a kink in my neck that I'd love for them to work on.

Well you annoyed the big players in the world, its a shame they have to use such tactics rather than making there companies better.

Sadly, I think a sense of entitlement may be preventing these corporations from taking a hard look at how they could be more appealing to the average person.

They are not entitled to anything, people can vote with their money! But you are right though.

The sooner bankers realize that no one is entitled to anything he or she doesn't earn, the sooner they may be able to salvage their organizations' public image. Companies must be mindful of how their actions impact communities if they hope to receive patronage from this new civic-minded generation of consumers.

People are getting more savvy with there money. And people wont stand for any crap these days! I am from the UK and have just found one in my city that i am interested in. Thanks for doing this IAma! I didnt even knew they existed.

Glad to hear from an international supporter! If you're in the UK, you may be interested in Cooperative Trust. I've been following their work since Bank Transfer Day, and it's really impressive! James Marshall, the leader of this fantastic group is based in London.

"... people can vote with their money!"

How dare you!

You are now subscribed to lifelong mandatory TSA searches.

In fairness, it was a bit more complex. The hacker group Anonymous claimed credit for Bank Transfer Day... effectively saying I was a member of Anonymous, which I'm not. I understood being initially investigated & even being put on the list. It bothers me that they haven't figured out yet that I'm not a risk.

I think Anonymous should claim credit for various Senators' re-elections then. Or maybe claim connections to certain bank directors. Why not? After all, anyone can claim to be part of anonymous. In the end what really happened was this:

An unknown person made wild claims that he or she was in anonymous. Then that person then made claims that they helped you or otherwise "liked" you. Maybe they just "believe in what you are doing".

... and you don't think a bank could have been behind that? With such paltry criteria for proof, I could frame you.

Question: If anonymous decides to officially endorse Ben & Jerry's ice cream, and ask that all of its members buy Ben & Jerry's ... Will the government start clamping down on the directors of B&J? It sounds like a silly question, but I think it touches on a serious idea.

Note that this "Ben & Jerry's" endorsement wouldn't be the most crazy thing that ever happened. Word on the street is that the Church of Scientology compelled its members to see the Scientology promoting movie "Battlefield Earth", to boost it's weekend figures (to no avail, BTW) - if people can endorse a box office dog like that, why not B&J?

So my question: Would the government do this if you were the head of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream, and Anonymous endorsed ice cream?

If the answer is "yes", then we see conclusive proof of a government looking for any excuse to just put everyone on a "watch list".

If the answer is "no", then they are after you because of banks - and some random person making wild claims that they are with Anonymous is just the excuse they are giving.

Anonymous put out a video claiming that they were behind Bank Transfer Day. When I went on various news channels to set the record straight, Anonymous apologized & indicated that an operative had assumed I "must be one of theirs" because of the combination of my weird name & being an attractive young woman. (Because pretty girls never have good ideas, right?) So, there you have it... every group has someone who seriously needs to think before he/she speaks, including Anonymous.

What's it like having your first name and last name being remarkably similar?

It's actually pretty awesome! People don't seem to easily forget it, telemarketers struggle to pronounce it, and people randomly sing Night Ranger at me.

Is that your married name? Or did your parents choose that combination for you?

Please read back through the comments to any of the 100 times I answered this before. Thanks! :)

For those new to this like myself, Where does one start in respect to finding a Credit union? Any gotcha's or tips we should know about when signing up? are there hidden benefits that we should be aware of ? how about pitfalls we should avoid ?

Thank you for doing this. Thank you for making a difference .

The best place to find credit unions is A Smarter Choice. Once you find credit unions in your area, you can begin asking the important questions. Most consumers seem to care most about: shared branching, online banking, mobile banking, remote check deposit, interest rates on loans & lines of credit. In addition to all of that, I asked my credit union how they would use the profit from my banking business to benefit the community I grew up in.

Thank you for answering this (again) I wanted it in the main Thread so everyone can see the answer. I am reviewing my options now. I am very excited to move to a Credit union and take my money away from these greedy banks.

You're very welcome! Let me know if you need anything else.

What do you think the biggest misconceptions about credit unions are?

When I talk up my credit union, I think the biggest questions people have are, "How do you make deposits without ATMS?" and "Are they FDIC insured?"

I was really surprised that my CU has phones open until after 9PM, I could do mobile banking (including mobile check deposit) and 12 of my ATM fees per month are waived. I'm still not sure how to answer the insurance question, though.

I think the name "credit union" might confuse some consumers, but a lot of people know what a "financial co-operative" is. With 1/3 of Americans being a member of one sort of co-operative or another, I'd be happy to see a more united front across the co-operative movement to mutually spread awareness about the benefits of the co-operative business model. I'd also love to see a national level marketing campaign.

What do you think about the Big Bank's lobbying Congress to remove the non-profit tax exemption from credit unions? If passed, this will crush the credit union's ability to compete against the banks. Check out http://www.donttaxmycreditunion.org/

I've been very supportive of the "#DontTaxMyCU" campaign. I think bankers must have a big brass pair to try for something like this. At the end of the day, our votes put candidates in office; no amount of campaign contributions can do that. They might have money, but 1/3 of all Americans are members of a co-operative... and that number's growing every single day.

Agh! This makes me so angry!

Good! Channel that anger into action.

Big bank employee checking in.

Keep doing what you do. I really do work for the devil.

Thanks for stopping by & having a sense of humor. If you ever feel like leaving the dark side... CU Insight posts about credit union jobs.

YAY for credit unions! I used to be the marketing manager for a big single-seg credit union. Loved our members, and loved the credit union philosophy even more. Question for you... how do you feel about the idea that credit unions are starting to act more like 'banks' and the ABA's lobby to start taxing credit unions?

In which ways do you feel credit unions are beginning to act more like banks? The efforts to eliminate the tax exemption status are ridiculous, at best. I see it as a last minute (and incredibly desperate) attempt to strong arm consumers into banking with them. If Senate allows this, there will be a lot of lawmakers out of work next election.

The credit union I worked at didn't, but some in our area are being accused of it by having wide open charters, fees that are like a bank's, eliminating member givebacks, marketing like a bank... I'm talking top 10 CUs. Part of my responsibility at my CU was to help in the lobbying efforts with local politicians--letter writing in support of CUs, league lobbying, CUPAC activities. I'm not optimistic that one day the ABA will succeed in getting some sort of taxation passed. I interviewed at a regional bank recently, and it was a fun sparring match with the CEO over taxation.

The credit union I'm a member of expanded their charter from exclusively serving an Air Force base to serving multiple counties. There are some small fees involved, but I know the money's going to local schoolchildren instead of the CEO's pocket. I strongly recommend that consumers not support any business whose actions they don't support.

No question here, just support and solidarity. I participated in the first Bank Transfer day as a part of my local Occupy encampment, and switching to a local credit union has been a decision I've only been happier for doing! Thank you for your organizing efforts!

Thank you! It's been amazing to see how this simple & direct action was appreciated by so many people. There are a lot of things Americans disagree on, but I think the vast majority of us believe that our communities need & deserve our support.

Very cool AMA Kristen, I just had one yesterday on student lending. My question for you, how do you see Credit Union consolidations affecting the overall industry over the next year? Some smaller CU's are folding with their business being picked up by larger neighboring institutions that run "better" programs.

Thanks, Ken! I think it's going to be both an interesting & challenging time for credit unions over the next decade. There's a lot of pressure to prevent credit unions from fully serving the American people. I'm grateful that there are programs like SoFi to help alleviate the burden students may feel from loans.

Funny you mention that, the CU's have been running a student loan consolidation through the cuGrad program

You know SoFi is Morgan Stanley right?

I met Ian Brady from SoFi at the G8 Summit Innovation Conference. He assured me that the lending was coordinated through donations by alumni, but I will definitely dig further into this.

Very innovative group there, I will send you some info. Also, check your FB for some info I just sent on our Google Hangout series, very exciting interviews planned.

Awesome! Will do.

No question from me, just some support! I work for a growing credit union in the Midwest. I've worked on the front line as a teller and member service rep, but for the past three years I've been blessed to work in business lending. My favorite part about the credit union is how we focus on finding good products and services that improve your life/financial health. We don't have sales quotas. We take the time to look at our members and their situation and find solutions that work for them and us. I've had coworkers come from big banks and it takes awhile to get them to calm down. They almost suffer from bank PTSD.

It took me a while to get used to being a member, but now... I can't imagine ever going back!

I've been a member of a credit union for a few years now, and while I would recommend it to anyone, the big banks do have their advantages.

I also have a Chase account that I use when I'm at school due to how many ATMs they have, how convenient their ATMs are, their mobile banking apps, and their generally very good customer service (free replacement debit cards, helpful tellers, etc). During hurricane Sandy, Chase had generators running at their branches and lifted restrictions on loans and waived overdraft fees to help people. My credit union also did some things to help out, but many of their branches were without power. I actually wrote myself a couple checks from my credit union and into my Chase account at access my money. In fact the only thing I don't like about Chase are how many things you can get fees for (using other ATMs, minimum balance, have to pay for first order of checks, etc).

I have all my paychecks direct deposited into my credit union, as they don't charge me to use out of bank ATMs, I get interest on my checking/savings accounts, and they don't charge me other BS fees. However customer service hasn't always been great and the ATMs they have don't compare to those of the big banks.

As a member-owner you have a say in how your credit union does business. If having access to shared branching, mobile banking & remote deposit would enable you to exclusively use their services... you should definitely tell them!

I haven't banked with an evil big bank since I was in high school . . . and I'm not young anymore. ;-)

That's great! Have any of your family or friends made the switch because of your recommendation?

Have a "big bank" contacted you and try to change your mind on your cause?

I think most bankers were smart enough to know I wasn't going to change my mind or back down. The CEO of a "big bank" did call to apologize for the online behavior of one of his executives. This was after I'd emailed screenshots of the posts and proof of the person's employment to the CEO & members of major media.

Just wanted to stop by and say hi Kristen. Bank Transfer Day is an awesome concept, There is something in it for all, regardless of political affiliation. And that the person behind it all, is one special human being who cares!

Other than that.. you inspired me to join Reddit today!

Hi! Thank you! You're too kind. I think a lot of people care, but just aren't sure what they can actually do to impact positive chance. I'm glad you joined reddit too! It's a great community full of thoughtful people sharing fantastic ideas.

Is your middle name Cristian

No. No, it's not.

Why was this removed? has it been moved?

I'm not sure why reddit has removed the text for other users. It's still viewable on my screen. Trying to contact moderators now.

Well when you get it figured out please let me know.

Real quick, I currently have Chase, I hate them and get charged on an average of $40 in fees just to bank . How do I find a credit union to move my money to ? I am Queens , NYC

Looks like they've sorted it. Phew!

I've found that the best resource for finding a credit union in America is A Smarter Choice. If you'd like, you can also comment on the Facebook wall & I'd be glad to ask for personal recommendations from other supporters.

You are super awesome , Thank you. I am looking into the A Smarter Choice now. if needed I have your Facebook added already and will post there (Facebook is how I found out about the AMA )

Glad to hear it! Please don't hesitate to ask if you need any help finding the perfect credit union for you.

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You know... my credit union is the first company to ever get my name right on the first try. The first time I walked into one of the branches, the branch manager spotted me and came rushing out to give me a hug even though we'd never been properly introduced. Whenever I call in I always get a live salesperson & they usually recognize me by voice. I've never felt so appreciated by any company I've done business with!

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That evangelism is so common amongst co-operative members, but relatively unheard of in any other sector! Kind of makes you feel all warm & fuzzy.

How did the experience of orchestrating BTD change you personally?

I hardly recognize the person I was two years ago! I've found myself becoming more & more aware of how the simple choices I make can have a significant impact. Being in the public eye has made me appreciate every ounce of privacy I still have. Overall, I feel as if I've found my calling... to promote co-operation both as a business model & a way of life.

Thanks! You're a hero to many of us in the CU movement because you made something happen when so many had tried and failed before. Keep up the awesome work that you're doing for not only CUs but coops across the world!

Thank you!

Do you own or have the rights to "Bank Transfer Day?" Who owns or has rights to "Move Your Money?" CUNA owns "Everyday is Bank Transfer Day," but those other pieces?

Relatedly, who maintains the Bank Transfer Day social media outlets (e.g. twitter, facebook)?

Although I originated the name "Bank Transfer Day" and "Every day is Bank Transfer Day," a credit union league filed for copyright of the latter phrase without my knowledge or permission. I asked that it be turned over to CUNA so that it might be used for a national level campaign, but that never happened. I've never filed for copyright because I wanted this movement to belong to every person who supported it. Attorneys have advised that should anyone else attempt to copyright, there's adequate proof of origination. There are a couple of volunteers help curate content. They've asked to remain nameless due to the threats I've received for my involvement. I remain personally active in the social media channels as well.

Glad to hear your decision to not go the IP route. Do you have plans to formalize any sort of organizational structure?

Not in the financial sector. I see access to data as a service Americans desperately need but co-operatives currently can't provide so I'm putting together a steering committee to start a national-level telecommunications co-operative. Anyone who's interested in joining the steering committee can send me a private message via Facebook.

I'm involved in an attempt to mutualize our fiber-based municipal telecom in my hometown. Are you talking about that sort of telecom, or is the aim more at the wireless market?

Sort of similar. There are a handful of region-based telecommunications co-ops, but I'd like to see one on the national level to compete with the "big guys." I really like the Phone Co-op's model, and they've been kind enough to offer guidance.

Hi Kristen. As you know my company did a lot of quantitative & qualitative research on the impact of Bank Transfer Day. One conclusion reached by both research methods was that many people (even the unhappier ones) ultimately stay with a large bank because the mobile or other technology is simply more advanced there. In your work with credit unions or community banks, what do you advise them about meeting the needs of people-and especially younger people-who want the convenience of advanced digital 'banking' methods?

Technology is going to play a huge role in acquiring & keeping members. I recommend that credit unions take advantage of the services many of their great vendor companies offer to provide resources like shared branching, mobile banking, remote check deposit to members. With a completely branchless model, I think PSECU is a great example of the banking model of the future.

You are more powerful than sarah kerrigan?

Quite possibly. If only there was a way to know for sure...

The Banksters are pissed off and their lobbyists are trying to get credit unions' not-for-profit tax status removed. Tell your state and federal legislators to protect local credit unions.

Doesn't it remind you just a bit of a toddler whose thrown themselves on the floor to kick & scream until they get their way?

Why use a bank? They are all scum in the end. Use cash or bitcoin as much as possible.

A credit union isn't a bank, but rather a not-for-profit member-owned financial co-operative... so each is only as "scummy" as its members.

They still have employees to pay, CEO's still take huge salaries. They are just slightly different than a normal bank.

I'm confused. Are you advocating that people not be compensated for their time & labor? The difference between the salaries of CEOs at banks & credit unions is staggering! Check out this CUTimes article.

No. I am just stating that they are profit driven, just like regular banks. They have to be otherwise no one would use them because they have to make customers money. Also, you are acting trollish. I am automatically wrong for not agreeing with you? Fuck your 'Bank Transfer Day'. I'll be laughing all of the way to the bank!

I would never tell a person they were wrong for choosing to live in a way that makes them happy. Although there's no one right way of doing things, credit unions are the best option for 96 million Americans & counting.

Wow. You sound like you are trying to do a commercial.

That's a great idea! We should do a commercial to reach even more people.

Quick! Say your name 5 times fast!

Okay, but only if you join a credit union. Bribery.

I'm 21 and have no clue what a credit union is! =D

Check out this awesome video explaining the differences between banks & credit unions: CLICK HERE

Thank you for starting this!

Thank you for supporting it! I certainly couldn't have reached so many people without the help of each & every supporter.

How mad are you that you parents named you Kristen Christian?

Oh, and it's more than a little satisfying to overhear a FOX reporter practice your name over & over. MUAHAHAHAHA.

Not at all. Besides being memorable, it's a great way to screen telemarketers... they can never pronounce it.

Haha, it is very unique! I like it :-)

Me too. :)

I've followed you guys since your inception in 2011, and the progress made has been impressive.

When I was with Occupy San Jose in October and November, our main site was near several credit unions. Despite only being an idea for a month, they opened for extended hours on the 5th of November and one of them had bought a large custom sign to drape from the awning.

It's heartening.

That's really awesome! I don't suppose you have a photo of the sign. I'd love to see it.

I have a friend who is thinking about switching from a Credit Union over to Chase because "they're more convenient" with regard to locations and teller hours. What can I do to sway her back to responsible banking?

It sounds to me like maybe she didn't choose a credit union that suits her needs. There's a credit union out there for every single person. I bet she'd be happy as a lark if she joins one with shared branching, online/mobile banking & remote check deposit. If she'd like help finding such a credit union, I'm always glad to point consumers in the right direction. Either of you is welcome to send me a private message on Facebook for personalized help.

Your parents gave you a silly name. Either that or you married someone that made your name silly.

My folks have an odd sense of humor, but I've grown to love my silly name.

2 years ago I saw your Bank transfer day Facebook page and it encouraged me to abandon my crumby BofA account and join a credit union. Huge thanks!

No, thank you! Without the support of so many folks, the Facebook event could never have turned into a full-blown movement. I'm so glad to hear you're still happy with your choice!

Would you rather put your money in 100 piggy bank sized credit unions, or one credit union sized piggy bank

I'd gladly help 100 credit unions invest in their communities... no matter how small the credit union might be. Now... how are we going to find employees small enough to fit inside?

What is this? A credit union for ants?...

Hey, even insects deserve equal access to affordable financial services! Haha.

Some argue that there is no escaping shadow banking. How much impact does moving retail account money into credit unions make on the shadow banking industry?

I can't give you a definitive answer, but I will say that I started the campaign with no expectations & a belief that every dollar can make a difference on the local level so I've already far surpassed my own desires for the results of BTD. Every little bit helps.

I used your organization in the advocacy section of my thesis, "Financial Speak: Unmasking the Criminal Discourse of Wall Street." Your work is a big part of the consciousness raising effort needed in finance. Thank you.

That's really awesome! How was it received?

How do you feel about regional banks -- specifically (if you know of it) Umpqua bank in the Pacific NW?

While some smaller banks do invest in their communities in amazing ways, I'm still wary of for-profit banks for a couple of reasons. First, I want to have a say in how my financial institution is run. Unless I'm a shareholder at a bank, I have no say. Secondly, a corporate bank can buy out a community bank without customers even being informed. I believe wholeheartedly that co-operatives are the best option for consumers.

Why do you have two first names?

I guess my parents love me so much that they had to name me twice. :)

Do I still celebrate Bank Transfer Day if I dont pay any fees to bank? What day is Bank Transfer Day anyway?

It wasn't so much the fees themselves that set me into motion, but the principle behind them. To me, the policy was symptomatic of an overall problem within for-profit banking structures. Bank Transfer Day began as a Facebook event & quickly became the largest consumer migration in American history. You can learn more about it on Wikipedia or Facebook.

That is awesome! We just had a very bad experience with Chase bank. Even though we have banked with them for years, they tried to make it impossible just to get my 13 year old daughter a teenage checking account. They were so incredibly rude that we have just started the process to transfer our money to a credit union. Keep up the good work!

I'm so sorry to hear that! Having my own checking account at a young age helped teach me fiscal responsibility. I hope your new credit union is making the process easier!

Yes, So far Wings Financial is nicer and making our lives easier all the way around!

I'm glad to hear! Hope you're sharing the good news with your family, friends & neighbors. Personal recommendations were at the core of Bank Transfer Day's success.

You don't honestly believe you've changed anything, right?

I don't believe that I singlehandedly changed anything. I believe that working together millions of Americans changed a few things. First, their transfers allowed credit unions to continue offering responsible loans with low interest rates to small business owners. Second, these loans combined with how many employees were hired by credit unions, Americans saw the unemployment rate drop. Finally, we illustrated that if a girl with a laptop and $10 can reach millions of Americans then campaign funding is no longer as vital to a candidate as it might have been in previous elections.

Did you change your name for the publicity value, or are your parents totally unaware?

If I was going to pick a "stage name," do you honestly think I'd choose this?

I hate to be the one to do this, but do people ever get confused by your very similar first and last names?

Constantly! I worked out a system when I was younger that usually alleviates confusion. When I don't feel like torturing someone with my tongue twister of a name I'll give it as, "K-R-I-S-T-E-N Christian, like the religion."

You are a wonderful person Kristen! When is the next bank transfer day?

Thank you! I like to think that everyone is wonderful in their own way. I feel so very blessed to have this experience, but due to the violence perpetuated by groups that supported the first deadline goal, I won't be coordinating another event like the first Bank Transfer Day. I do plan to continue commemorating the original date both publicly & personally. Last year I spent November 5th speaking for Credit Union Legislative Action Committee before returning to the privacy of my hotel room to read letters & posts from supporters. It really is so touching how so many of you take the time to reach out & encourage me along the way. Something like this is too much for one person to take on alone. I really couldn't have done it without each & every single person who lent their time & talent.

I think Credit Unions generally offer better service and value for your money than For-Profit institutions. However, the lower fees do lead to lower fringe benefits than other institutions offer. For instance, some Credit Card companies now offer rewards cards that make deposits into Roth IRA Brokerage accounts, and debit cards with round-up options on the debit side that make managing accounts easier. I also see Credit Unions have less of a 'Thirsty' culture. They aren't as likely to suggest things that will benefit you in the long run. I just don't see the effort at cultivating relationships most people need over time. However, if you are looking for an institution that is a solid financial move and aren't concerned with thrills the benefits of a Credit Union vastly outweigh their drawbacks.

In all fairness, there are some innovative credit unions out there that offer all of the same fringe benefits a bank does... and more. The credit union I'm a member of is quite small, but definitely packs a punch.

I've currently worked for a CU for 3 years and I would just like to say thank you for your hard work. Honestly, I feel like my job is too easy sometimes because comparative to other financial institutions we cannot be beat.

Thanks for stopping by! It's my pleasure to lend my voice to the co-operative movement. Across all sectors, you're investing in your communities in truly incredible ways.

I wish that there were better options for those of us who do actually need a multinational option. I'm not thrilled about being with HSBC, but I have a mortgage and tenants in one country and I live and work in another.

They treat me well, but HSBC is a scuzzy company.

There are a few credit unions with fantastic international options. Even my smaller credit union meets my needs when I'm abroad. Many of my clients are abroad as well. If you want something badly enough, you find a way to make it work.

I work for a big bank and keep some of my personal finances at well regarded CU. Mostly because it is close to home.

Frankly, on a day to day level they are functionally identical.

Credit unions offer most of the same services corporate banks offer, but there are some important fundamental differences. Credit unions are owned by members; banks are owned by shareholders. Credit union profits are given to members or put to use in the community; bank profits are given to shareholders. Credit union members are owners & have a vote on how the credit union operates; shareholders vote on how the bank operates.

I know the difference. Just saying, on a day to day it's largely identical.

In the services offered, but not necessarily how each business is operated.

NEFCU 2.5% interest on checking account.
Credit Unions are the best

They really, really are. How long have you been a member?

millions....ok

In July 2012 American Banker reported that 5.6 million Americans had changed the way they banked since Bank Transfer Day. I haven't been able to find impartial statistics for how many people have in the year since so your guess would be as good as mine.

---

EDIT: I should've specified that the 5.6 million was for less than a year. The typical annual average is something like 50,000.

Of those, only about 610,000 cited Bank Transfer Day as a reason.

people change banks, all the time. sometimes they move to another bank, that you would still disapprove of. sometimes they open multiple accounts at the same bank, or amongst other banks you disapprove of.

While the transfer numbers are larger than normal, about three times the transfer volume of a similar period the previous year, Bank Transfer Day was generally considered unsuccessful ("success" being measured by people actually transferring banks).

If you're able to reach more people with $10 and a laptop, by all means please do.

If its any consolation, I use a Credit Union(Amplify).

I've heard a lot of positive things about Amplify.

I thought to point out that when supporters asked me what they should say when they closed accounts, I told them it was an opportunity to tell the banks exactly what they'd done to lose the person's business. I thought the feedback might help banks change the way they do business.

I have huge commitments with a bank which include a mortgage for over a hundred thousand dollars. Can a credit union take on that kind of debt or is it just where you deposit money to get around banking service charges?

Credit unions offer all of the same services that traditional banks offer. The main differences the average consumer would notice is reduced interest on loans, higher interest on checking/savings, profits from your banking business are put to work in your community and as a member-owner you have a vote in how the institution does business. On the back end that a consumer may not notice, CEOs are typically paid far less and front line staff are paid more than for-profit counterparts. If you have huge account balances or business loans, it could be tricky, but I can put you in touch with your state's league & ask them to help you find a credit union to suit your needs. Just let me know.

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Speak to your credit union about their energy usage. Start with the branch manager. If he/she doesn't listen, go up the chain of command until someone does. On the off chance no one listens, take it to the next board meeting. You're part owner of your credit union. Speak up.

When you first created the Facebook event, the location of the event was listed as "Occupy Wall Street." How important do you think the Occupy movement (which was peaking in October/November 2011) was to the success of Bank Transfer Day?

It's a common misconception that the Facebook event page had listed the location as "Occupy Wall Street." The best answer I can think of is that there were several factions of OWS that created secondary event pages that people may have seen. While I appreciated the support that was received from various groups across the political spectrum, I wish that leaders of groups like OWS hadn't chosen to cause disruption & break laws in the name of Bank Transfer Day.

Do you have a financial background?

If you had a $100,000 in cash and your house was paid for, how would you invest that money?

I don't have a background in finance. It seems to me that the three most important services for the next several decades will be food, finance & data access. We're blessed to have great credit unions & food co-operatives, but lack a national-level mobile phone co-operative. I would use the $100,000 to fund such an endeavor.

I don't think you have much of a concept of how little a dent 100k would make on a project like that...

I don't think you realize how far I'm capable of stretching a dollar. The entire Bank Transfer Day campaign was run on $10. :)

Hi Kristen,

Do you think that the "Big" banks are starting to get the message, that the power lies with the people, or are they still on a path that is not good for most Americans long term?

TRANSLATION: Do they really not give a crap about the average Joe and Jane 6-pack working hard for a living and still scraping by?

https://www.facebook.com/TheOpinionLine

I think "big banks" have heard the message, but I don't think they're ready to admit that their business practices led to the largest consumer shift in American history. Instead of improving the business model, bankers are pressuring Senate to eliminate the tax exemption status of credit unions.

Too hard to get a checking account at a credit Union, Yet I managed to get one at BOA. ..just sayin

(credit score is high 500's)

When I joined a credit union, I applied online & followed up with an email containing a scanned copy of my passport & a bill with my address for proof of identity & residence. The process took no more than 30 minutes total. It was MUCH more complicated when I signed up for my account with BofA years ago.

Try a local bank or an online institution. I am sure if you actually went in and talked to the CU or local bank they would set you up with an account if you had money in hand.

A lot of credit unions even allow potential members to apply online.

Credit union banking is the best. We switched our personal and several business accounts two years ago. The folks at the credit union are always friendly, and have been very good about taking care of us.

That's awesome! What's your favorite part of being a member?

Why did your parents pick a first name so similar to your last?

When I was adopted at a young age, my birth name had been "Cristin." My folks decided that the best option would be to change the spelling of my first name to minimize confusion & allow me to keep a part of where I'd come from. Nearly 30 years later, I think they made the right choice. I've come to really love my strange little name.

I am very pleased with your response as most people would ignore such a question but I don't know anything about banking and I was curious. Enjoy your weekend!

If someone takes the time to ask a question, surely I can take time to respond. Have a great weekend too!