On the eve a national roll out of its Kasasa-brandedchecking accounts, BancVue reported that the accounts have brought $55 million toover 306,000 account holders at credit unions and community banksnationwide.

The free checking accounts and other associated services aremeant to help credit unions and community banks better compete withnational banks.

The accounts come with a free debit card, no monthly servicefee, online banking, and ATM fee refunds nationwide, all onaccounts that do not have a monthly minimum balance.

The accounts can also carry different rewards and innovations,such as allowing digital music downloads from iTunes or Amazon.comor a higher interest savings account that regularly collects theinterest and returned ATM fees from a paired savings account.

“Kasasa is unlike anything I've ever experienced at a bank,”said Mike Malone, a Kasasa account holder at Farmers Citizens Bankin Ohio. “It's the first time I haven't felt like I was just anumber. I'm actually being paid for keeping my money with a bankand I feel great supporting my local community. It's a totalwin-win for me.”

“When consumers invest their money in a local bank or creditunion, those deposits stay in the community,” said Gabe Krajicek,CEO of BancVue. “They become a loan to a small business or aneighbor. This whole notion of communities taking care ofcommunities is the very essence of what has made America sosuccessful. Everybody wins.”