Green Talk® » checks

TD Bank Offers $1 Off Maintenance Fees To Go Paperless

Anna@Green Talk — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 19:02:11 +0000

TD Bank Offers $1 off Monthly Maintenance for Paperless Statements

It seems every time you blink, banks are charging you for this or that. Pretty soon they will charge you for walking in the door. Or perhaps they upping their maintenance fees or increasing balancing requirements. So, I found TD Bank’s online offer to reduce your maintenance fee by $1 for going paperless unusual. (This offer starts April, 2011.) I just wasn’t use to a bank offering anything.

TD Bank $1 Off Maintenance Statement

Oddly, this offer isn’t overtly on the site when you log in. I found it on my “see new changes to the account section.” Why not make the statement an eye catcher when you log on? Do you think it is odd that it is buried on the site? Seems like a half-hearted apology?

The funniest thing is they do highlight on the log on page their “net zero building construction.” As I read the article on how TD Bank is becoming greener, it still didn’t say anything about the $1 per month maintenance fee reduction. Marketing Issue? Hmmm.

Join the Conversation

Now here is my other questions.

What about the person who doesn’t have any maintenance fees? What does she or he get for being a green cub/girl scout?
Should they give more since I can’t imagine how much money they are saving for not sending out the bank statements? Profit sharing? (How naive am I?)
Is it confusing? Is it a one-time reduction? (Update: As long as you go paperless and have maintenance fees, you get the $1 a month.)
Would you be inclined to go paperless given their offer?
Does your bank offer cash back for going paperless or do they put you in time out and charge you for paper?
Why do you think the bank hasn’t highlighted the $1 maintenance fee deduction of good green behavior? I couldn’t find an article about it at all.
Should we be glad and not look a gift horse in the month? It’s bank. They only give you lollipops and free pens.

Some of you are so quiet out there and just don’t want to give me any comments. So, I devised the next best thing. Yep. A poll. It is on the right hand side of the blog.

So, go over and click away and I will report in a later post about the outcome. You can choose one or more answers.

On a side note, I tweeted with the social media crew over at TD Bank and awaiting for someone to contact me. I will update the article as I learn more.

Tell me what you think. You know I am all ears.

Update: 3/10/2011.

TD’s media department is fabulous, and I heard from them in a matter of days addressing my concerns. Jimmy Hernandez, Media Relations Officer at the Bank sent me the following email:

“Hello Anna,

We are making this discount offer during a time when most banks are actually adding fees for paper statements. We believe this is a very competitive offer and it’s another way for TD Bank to continue working on its green initiatives. So far, TD Bank has opened 17 stores and offices targeting LEED certification and as you’re already aware, we are constructing the first net-zero energy bank in the U.S.

This discount is part of our effort to perform daily operations in a manner that reduces our environmental impact and we realize our customers can help us do so. For example, TD Bank and it’s parent company, TD Bank Group, are participating in paper manufacturer Boise Inc.’s Closed Loop System, which is a paper recycling program that guarantees at least 1,500 metric tons of paper from TD’s operations in the U.S. and Canada is diverted from land fills and used in the production of recycled office paper. TD then purchases the recycled paper for use in its operations – hence the closed loop system. With this discount in place, it also allows us to further get our customers to think in ways they can go green and join us in our efforts.

The discount will begin in April for customers who have enrolled in online statements only and the discount will be applied every month as long as a customer remains enrolled in the program.

To answer your question about ways customers can find out about this discount: I should let you know that just yesterday, Wednesday, March 9, TD Bank rolled out its new set of personal checking accounts. Almost all of the bank’s new checking accounts include this $1 discount. Because these products just rolled out yesterday, we’re still in the process of adding this information throughout our Web site, including our green page. The bank is also rolling out a marketing campaign that will highlight this important feature of our new checking products.”

I indicated to him that I didn’t think it was fair that the bank only gave this discount to people with maintenance fees. I asked if I could send my comment to the appropriate source and he promised to do this for me. TD stands to save a lot of money on encouraging their depositors to go paperless, and can surely pay everyone. Let’s see if anything happens with my suggestion.

In addition, I continued to encourage that they make this discount known on their online log on page. If you want people to go paperless, make sure they know about it. Right now it looks like lukewarm gesture. Again, let’s see what happens. I think that TD Bank is moving in the right direction. Next, they have to put in daylighting systems so their lights are not on all the time. (Yes, I told him this too.) I will keep you posted.

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Can You Help the Earth By Writing a Check?

Anna@Green Talk — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 06:50:13 +0000

Photo courtesy of Message!Products.com

Writing checks is second nature to us today, but is there some way writing a check can help the Earth? Sure, you could write a check to your favorite environmental charity, but do you know that you could use a check that is made of environmentally friendly materials? Or, use a check that helps reduce landfill waste, and in some cases gives a donation at the same time to a worthy charity? Well, you are in luck because four companies offer checks made out of recycled materials. Out of those four companies, purchases from two of those companies benefits certain charities. Check writing never seemed so eco-friendly!

The Check Gallery

Check Gallery prints their checks using soy based ink on recycled 24lb MICR bond paper with 20% post-consumer fiber.

“With The Check Gallery, everyone can relax and feel good about their purchases. Not only do we use the latest innovations in recycling, we create attractive products that cost much less than the bank’s. It’s this kind of commitment that makes The Check Gallery America’s leading earth-friendly check company,” according to their website.

Check Gallery checks are produced using assorted different themes ranging from scenic America to ladybugs checks. The cost for one part checks is $21.90 for 2 boxes containing 300 checks. Two part checks for the same amount costs $29.90. For first time buyers, the cost of the first box of 150 costs $9.95 and the second box is $.49.

Classic Checks

Classic Checks’ designs benefit important causes such as the humane society, breast cancer awareness, and the defenders of wildlife.

“Our environmentally-friendly outreach begins with our recycled products. We manufacture our checks in an ecologically safe manner at our full-scale manufacturing facility in Maryland. Our checks are printed on 24 lb. recycled MICR paper with 20% post-consumer fiber, the highest possible using today’s technology. Additionally, our checks are printed with vegetable-based inks, free of toxic solvents and residues. So purchasing our checks helps reduce landfill waste,” according to their website.

The first 150 checks (one box) cost $13.95 for one part checks and $17.95 for wallet duplicates. If you order 2 boxes, one part checks cost $27.90 and wallet duplicates costs $35.90. For first time buyers, the first 150 checks cost $12.95 for one part checks and $13.95 for duplicate wallets. They can be ordered through their website or The Check Gallery.

Message! Products

“Since 1985 Message!Products® has been dedicated to helping nonprofit organizations raise money and spread their important messages. The program was designed with the needs of nonprofits in mind: a need for excellence, low maintenance, and exceptional service. Our mission has not changed. Message!Products® now works with over 100 non-profit organizations, producing checks and related products that reflect the identity and integrity of the representative organization. The checks are printed on recycled paper (20% post-consumer) with soy-based inks. Our products are environmentally unique, utilizing recycled fibers, soy and hemp,” according to their website.

They welcome nonprofits to join their program by filling out the Company’s online questionnaire, and offer checks that benefit animal, social, environmental, and varying other organizations.

“We have contracts with all the organizations for whom we print checks. Because we are printing their checks, we must have their permission to reproduce their organization’s copyrighted logos. In exchange for the right to reproduce the logo, we give a percentage of each sale to the organization. Royalties are based on the sales price of each product, and vary with type of product and the details of each licensing agreement. The average royalty is 10%. Check with an individual organization to determine its exact royalty amount.”

I chose the Jane Evershed Children Defense League checks when I ordered my checks. “Jane Evershed is an internationally renowned artist who has been painting professionally since 1980. Born in England and raised in South Africa, Jane’s art expresses what she saw and experienced in the seventies and eighties during the apartheid years.” They are colorfully and beautifully designed and purchasing these checks benefit the children defense league.

One box cost $14.95 for one part checks and $17.95 for two part checks.They have a special introductory offer for first time buyers of 2 boxes at the cost of $20.90 for one part checks and $22.90 for two part checks.

In addition, they also offer a hemp checkbook cover if your old vinyl one is falling apart for $14.95.

Checks Unlimited

Checks listed under the “Recycled” section by Checks Unlimited are printed on recycled paper. They offer three different styles in nature designs. Within each design, you can chose from four different styles. If you order 2 boxes, the cost is $21.99 for one part and $27.99 for two part checks. If you order 4 boxes, the cost is $36.80 for one part and $45.80 for two part checks.

Just think of all the good you will be doing if you order any of the checks above. Every time you pen your “John Hannock” on a check and give it to someone, you have helped the Earth by reducing the amount of waste and toxic materials going into our landfills. Perhaps, your purchase helped out a charity that you favor. Unfortunately, helping the Earth in this situation does not help your declining bank balance for each check you write. But hey, it will make you smile knowing you did something to help Mother Earth. Similar Posts: