Payment Method

When you are ready to get a bank account just go to a bank near your home, with some money to deposit, and ask to open a checking account.

You should not need a check. The bank can provide a printout of your account that gives your account and routing numbers. Just ask them about setting up direct deposit at work and they should provide it.
Then you simply get on the kiosk at any Swift terminal and set up the direct deposit. (That is one of the things you can't do on the internet, you have to be at a terminal kiosk.)

The fees are similar to using any ATM machine with a debit card.
The machine will charge a fee, usually $1.50 - $4.95 - depending on where you're at.
Your bank will charge an additional fee if the ATM machine is not in their network. 2 bucks is what I pay.
I've never been real clear on if Comdata charges anything for a withdrawal, but it might be $1.

Keep in mind that not all places or machines will accept your Comdata card like they would any other debit card.
You can usually use it to withdraw cash, but you could not go into most stores and simply make a purchase.
I think it works at Wal-Mart's, though.

One more fee you should be aware of.
If you take a cash advance from Swift they load it onto your Comdata card, and there is an additional $5.00 fee for the advance.
So if you need a $100 advance, you would submit the request for $105 (to cover the ATM fee) - and they will deduct $110 from your next paycheck.
That is also the maximum amount per week that you can get an advance for. (and considering how much it is costing, it should be your minimum amount as well)

 

$1 on ATM withdrawals, in addition to the ATM fee ... no charge on POS or Comchecks.

 

I still prefer the money to go to my bank over the comdata myself and when im near a bank atm I pull extra cash out to keep on hand for certain things but I hardly ever have the use for cash.

 

They say your first 2 checks will go on comdata but I did not find that to be the case. I signed up for direct deposit as soon as I got my driver code and my first check went to my bank account. My plane ticket reimbursements were also on the first check contrary to what they said (which was great).