Banking and debit/credit cards
Banks
There are a lot of banks on the south and west sides of campus. If you're currently banking with a large institution, chances are they'll have a Berkeley branch. (Look below for locations of on-campus ATM machines.)

CUBS (Credit Union for Berkeley Students) is a student-run financial institution created for students, by students. CUBS offers everything available at a commercial bank except that it is not-for-profit, which means that members enjoy higher dividends from checking and savings accounts, and lower interest rates on loans. Best of all, CUBS is the only financial institution on the Berkeley campus. Checking accounts, Visa cards, loans-you name it, they have it! Internships are also available (cubsonline.org; Lower Sproul Plaza, next to STA Travel; 510/883-0517).

CUBS is a branch of Cooperative Center Federal Credit Union      (coopfcu.org; 2001 Ashby Avenue; 510/845-6428).

Cal 1 Card Debit Account
When you add money to your Cal 1 Card debit account, your Cal 1 Card (student ID card) can be used as your residence hall's laundry and vending card. In addition, with money on your Cal 1 Card you can make purchases at over 20 local stores merchant. Visit the website to get more information on the merchants and their locations (cal1card.berkeley.edu; 110 Cesar Chavez Student Center; cal1card@berkeley.edu; 510/643-6839).

Credit cards
If you have yet to established credit, the Cal Student Store sponsors a variety of programs designed to give you credit. Representatives from banks and card issuers can assist you in filling out an application from their tables outside the Cal Student Store (Bancroft entrance; calstudentstore.com; 510/642-9000).

The credit card blues
Credit cards are great for emergencies and for items you can pay off within the free grace period, but many students end up with large balances that take years to pay off. Credit cards might come with hidden fees and charges that run up the cost of what you owe. Be aware of grace periods, annual fees, APRs, closure fees, and fixed versus variable interest rates.

Campus ATM locations
Bank of America (4)
Golden Bear Café (front of Cesar Chavez Student Center)
Jimmy Fifo Café Restaurant (Haas School of Business)
Pat Brown's Grill (Genetics and Plant Biology Building)
Terrace Café (top of Bechtel Engineering Center)

USE Credit Union (1)
RSF (lobby, near snack bar)

Cal State 9 Credit Union (2)
MLK Jr. Student Union (entrance of the textbook store)
Moffitt Undergraduate Library (main floor, east of main entrance)

US Bank (2)
International House (in the cafe)
MLK Student Union

Washington Mutual (1)
MLK Jr. Student Union (inside the Bear's Lair)