There seems like there could be some rumors going around. Why havne't we seen one single thing about this online?
Free ATM might mean just that they won't charge you, but the other ATM will have a charge. I know Everbank and even USAA are 100% world wild free ATM and even if the other bank charges you, they will reimberse you up to 9 dollars for everbank.

I do have an account with Wamu already and I use it just for my local needs, but their customer service is really bad. Go to Better Business Bureu and check them out http://www.bbb.org/ they don't even respond to half of their complaints and they really don't care. I don't like BOA, but at least BOA tries to resolve issues.
I only use WaMu for my local needs and I don't keep too much money with them. I always check bbb.org before doign business with most people and WaMu really did shock me that they could care less if someone complained about them.

California Branch manager said "eh?" when I asked about this Friday night

awesome! I do a lot of option arm mortgages for clients through WAMU, now I can tell my clients the upside of having a checking account with them too! thanks op!

Went into local branch today, opened up the new checking account no problems. This is in CA. Not sure why others are having problems, maybe each branch is getting wrong infomation, or they are rolling this out at different times depending on city or state? You do need to convert existing checking accounts to the new kind, they won't convert it for you.

Here's the fine print:

WaMU Free Checking Account - Terms and Conditions

The benefits described in this document are not available with Free Checking accounts opened prior to March 11, 2006.

Rate Information:
This is a non-interest bearing account.

Minimum Balance Requirements:
Except as noted below, the minimum deposit to open this account is the amount of any check printing charges. If no check printing charges will be assessed, the minimum opening deposit is $1.00. The minimum deposit to open this account when you apply through our Internet site is set forth in the Statement of Fees applicable to your account.

Limitations:
This account is intended for personal, family or household purposes and cannot be used for business/commercial uses. If this account is being used for business/commercial purposes, we reserve the right to change the account to a business checking type account.

Special Features:
The following benefits are included with the WaMu Free Checking account at no charge(or will be charged and refunded as noted below):
1) Select check styles, as determinded by us from time to time at our discretion, when ordered through Washington Mutual (other styles available at regular prices)

2) Domestic and foreign outgoing wire transfers - limited to the Wire Transfer fee normally assessed by Washington Mutual ("the Bank") for domestic and foreign outgoing wire transfers. Intermediary and beneficiary banks may also assess a fee, which will not be waived nor paid by us. The Bank sets foreign currency exchange rates at its discretion and such may be greater than the rate charged to the Bank.

3) Domestic and Internationl ATM withdraws - limited to ATM Transaction fees normally assessed by Washington Mutual for using Domestic or International non-Washington Mutual ATM for a cash withdraw transaction. For international transactions, the exchange rate between the transaction currency and U.S. currency is selected by the processor of the transaction and increased by a set amount or percentage of the transaction determinded by the processor. A foreign transaction and currency exchange fees and surcharges will not be reimbursed by us.

4) One (1) Overdraft Charge or Non-Sufficient Funds Charge per Anniversary Year (see "Anniversary Year/Anniversary Date" below). The refund or waiver does not apply to the Overdraft Transfer Fee or Overdraft Advance Fee, or any finance charges incurred in connection with any line of credit. Any refunded or waived fee will not count toward the five (5) per day charge limit set forth in the Statement of Fees. If this benefit is not used in one year, it may be carried over into a subsquent Anniversary Year. The refund or waiver is not available if the account is no longer a WaMU Free Checking account or if this account is closed by you or us, for any reason (including fraud against the account), even if another account of the same type is established. We may, but are not required to, offer this benefit if any account holder or signer has, or has had within the last year as of the account opening date, another WaMU Free Checking account.

5) A Washington Mutual Gold Debit Mastercard;

6) On your Anniversary Date, you will earn and receive a reward, based on the conditions set forth below:

* Your WaMu Free Checking account is linked as the primary account to your consumer ATM or Gold Debit Mastercard; if your WaMu Free Checking account is linked as the primary account to any other type of card, at our option, we may but are not required to, allow you to participate in this account benefit.

*$0.03 will accumulate for each of the follow types of transactions initiated and processed using your elgible Card:

*Point of Sale (POS) purchase transactions, with or without Cash Back, using a Personal Identification Number (PIN);

*Signature-based POS POS purchase transactions;

*Recurring payment transactions with external merchants; and

*Online, mail order, and telephone POS purchase transactions.

NOTE: without limiting the foregoing, ATM transactions do no qualify for this benefit.

*The maximum amount which may accumulate (accrue) is $250.00 per WaMu Free Checking account per Anniversary Year, with no carryover.

*The amount accumulated (accrued) as set forth above will be earned if your WaMu Free Checking account is open and in good standing on the Anniversary Date of the account opening (see "Anniversary Year/Anniversary Date" below).

*When earned, the amount will be rewarded and paid via direct deposit to the WaMu Free Checking account, on the checking account's Anniversary Date (or the following Business Day if the Anniversary Date falls on a non-Business Day).

END


there's a few more fine print, but basically describes the definition of Anniversary Year, if you close the account you don't get benefits, and that you can also participate in WaMoola for Schools instead of the rewards feature

AbbaZabba said:now... does anyone know if eBay will cancel your account for paying .01 at a time?

$1.00 minimum for paying eBay fees. Do you mean PayPal?

DPG said:You have to do 8,333 transactions to get the max $250 per year.

I'll send $20 to the first person who can do this.

Mathematically speaking you need 8334 transactions to get the full $250

no free incoming wires!

wardemon said:just got my account converted today

i though some person said it was pushed back to monday.

are there anymore specifics (fine print) on what OP said..?

do you get to send free international wires?

This new free checking account looks nice. I called Washington Mutual customer service at 3:16 pm Saturday (after their branches closed) and she said I would have to come into a branch on Monday to convert over my existing free checking account. The account's special features look attractive.

I don't know if any of you noticed but a couple weeks ago Washington Mutual quietly raised their overdraft fee from $20 something to $25. Citibank and HSBC still get the prize for overdraft fee charges of $30 a pop.

I have been with Washington Mutual for at least 6 years now and have NEVER had a problem...a truly free checking account.