How to Avoid Dormant Account Fees for Credit Unions?

[minski]

For those of you who have multiple credit union memberships, how do you avoid inactive account/dormant account fees? Specifically for:

Alliant - just paid off auto loan with them

PenFed - have inactive credit card with $5000 PLOC @Anonymous.25%

Bethpage FCU - have decent, low rates; have $15,000 PLOC @ 9.20%; most local CU to me

I also have Premier Members but am thinking of closing it to consolidate my cash into limited accounts. Any reason why I shouldn't?

I plan on keeping the following active:

Evansville Teachers FCU - planning on making it my main checking

NavyFed - have infrequently used credit card, $15,000 CLOC @ 13.9%, the 3+% APY EZ CD (and therefore, active checking)

Signature - have credit card which may or may not get use, may use their High Interest Checking (they decreased the APY from 3% to 2%; hence, my move to ETFCU)

AOD - have active credit card; considering the Kasasa Cash Checking with Savings

DCU - have $1000+ in the Savings

SDFCU - have semi-active credit card and am transferring my rewards to the savings there

[cashorcharge]

I'm going to guess that the "fees" are not tied to a specific amount and instead the posting of a transaction.  Why not just buy something, make a transaction and then pay the next day as long as it's not around a statement and you're trying to maintain zero?  It doesn't have to be enourmous...buy a tank of gas and use the PLOC to cover it then may it back.

Admittedly, takes some keeping up on, using accounts, waiting to process and make a payment but in my case, the continuous usage has helped in the aging of these accounts that see little use and of course, the aging helps my score.

[KLEXH25]

Do they all have fees? I generally try to learn the rules and requirements before opening an account to see if it's worth it. The credit cards, you can put a small recurring fee on each to keep active. Usually the checking accounts are the ones that might have some sort of deposit requirement or debit spend. Some savings (& checking) have a minimum balance requirement. Not familiar with PLOCS. 

[minski]

Yes. Credit unions generally have a dormant account fee. My PenFed has been inactive for about a year or more and so far no fee assessed; however, I am wondering how long that will last, or whether the fact that I have 2 loan products means I am not as likely to be assessed an inactive/dormant account fee just like NavyFed.

[Kforce]

One needs to find the rules for each CU

I have a couple of old, old CU accounts, put 10$ in checking, move following month to savings then transfer out following month, ( once a year ) .  Have about $20 just sitting in account.

Alive for 30+ years.

[Anonymous]

Most CUs waive fees if you have credit with them but I also have heard they won't charge you the dormant fee on the share savings if all you have in there is your share. It's worth contacting them to find out though. 

It's pretty easy to transfer money in and back out again to keep an account from going dormant which is what I do with all of them but SSFCU hasn't seen any activity on my savings account and only a few dollars on my credit card in 2 1/2 years with no dormancy fee. I tend to forget that one even exists honestly lol.