Each of my family members have had an Appalachian State University block A Bank of America debit card for several years now. I just found out that BOA was discontinuing this card. Does anyone know why they are doing this? The current issued block A cards are good until they expire and will be replaced by another non-ASU card upon expiration. I love pulling this card out and someone asking me about the university. Thanks!!!

Probably because BBT is the official bank of ASU

At least I will have my card for almost 3 more years. They just replaced mine a couple of months ago and extended the expiration date. I'm sad to see it go though.

Rekdiver wrote:Probably because BBT is the official bank of ASU

I have a BOA card, also. It will expire in a couple of years.

ASU puts "on-campus banking services" up for bid periodically. Sometimes student center banking and campus ATM services change as a result of the bidding. That's how the BOA contract is expiring. BBT had the account several years ago; and lost it in a bid situation. It's a see-saw thing. I remember when the NC State Employees Credit Union lost campus ATM sites because of bids. There was a big student & faculty meltdown over that--but the bid was upheld and SECU had to remove their ATMs.

The Alumni Association is engaged with the banking sector. I simply don't know if it's bound to the general university bids or not, but I suspect it is.

Thanks for the information. I really appreciate it.

I just opened a BofA account last week and was very excited then they said they had collegiate themed cards but App was not among the offerings. Bummer. They told me it was schools they "partnered" with. Oh well, I'll have to settle for my App license tag.

asu66 wrote:

Rekdiver wrote:Probably because BBT is the official bank of ASU

I have a BOA card, also. It will expire in a couple of years.

ASU puts "on-campus banking services" up for bid periodically. Sometimes student center banking and campus ATM services change as a result of the bidding. That's how the BOA contract is expiring. BBT had the account several years ago; and lost it in a bid situation. It's a see-saw thing. I remember when the NC State Employees Credit Union lost campus ATM sites because of bids. There was a big student & faculty meltdown over that--but the bid was upheld and SECU had to remove their ATMs.

The Alumni Association is engaged with the banking sector. I simply don't know if it's bound to the general university bids or not, but I suspect it is.

I wish Appalachian could do something with SECU without the bid process seeing as App produces so many state employees. I get the business side of it, just wishful posting.

I had the Appalachian Card (as seen on the Alumni Website). It was replaced in January by B of A and the App design is no longer available.

ASUMountaineer wrote:

asu66 wrote:

Rekdiver wrote:Probably because BBT is the official bank of ASU

I have a BOA card, also. It will expire in a couple of years.

ASU puts "on-campus banking services" up for bid periodically. Sometimes student center banking and campus ATM services change as a result of the bidding. That's how the BOA contract is expiring. BBT had the account several years ago; and lost it in a bid situation. It's a see-saw thing. I remember when the NC State Employees Credit Union lost campus ATM sites because of bids. There was a big student & faculty meltdown over that--but the bid was upheld and SECU had to remove their ATMs.

The Alumni Association is engaged with the banking sector. I simply don't know if it's bound to the general university bids or not, but I suspect it is.

I wish Appalachian could do something with SECU without the bid process seeing as App produces so many state employees. I get the business side of it, just wishful posting.

I have wondered (wished) the same thing. Andrew Peacock's dad is a high-ranking official with SECU. Ditto for Jerry Harmon. I believe we also have SECU folks on the Yosef advisory board. I'm guessing one factor in this is that SECU, as a non-profit, does not advertise its product.

AppGrad78 wrote:

ASUMountaineer wrote:

asu66 wrote:

Rekdiver wrote:Probably because BBT is the official bank of ASU

I have a BOA card, also. It will expire in a couple of years.

ASU puts "on-campus banking services" up for bid periodically. Sometimes student center banking and campus ATM services change as a result of the bidding. That's how the BOA contract is expiring. BBT had the account several years ago; and lost it in a bid situation. It's a see-saw thing. I remember when the NC State Employees Credit Union lost campus ATM sites because of bids. There was a big student & faculty meltdown over that--but the bid was upheld and SECU had to remove their ATMs.

The Alumni Association is engaged with the banking sector. I simply don't know if it's bound to the general university bids or not, but I suspect it is.

I wish Appalachian could do something with SECU without the bid process seeing as App produces so many state employees. I get the business side of it, just wishful posting.

I have wondered (wished) the same thing. Andrew Peacock's dad is a high-ranking official with SECU. Ditto for Jerry Harmon. I believe we also have SECU folks on the Yosef advisory board. I'm guessing one factor in this is that SECU, as a non-profit, does not advertise its product.[/quote]

Bingo. Will never happen.

Personnally, I closed all my accounts at BOA after they made a local group along a 4th of July parade route remove the row of small American flags they had placed at the roadside in front of a BOA.

IGgreer wrote:

AppGrad78 wrote: I have wondered (wished) the same thing. Andrew Peacock's dad is a high-ranking official with SECU. Ditto for Jerry Harmon. I believe we also have SECU folks on the Yosef advisory board. I'm guessing one factor in this is that SECU, as a non-profit, does not advertise its product.[/quote]

Bingo. Will never happen.

I don't know but I would think the bid would have higher value if it's exclusive.

Non-profits do all kinds of advertising and I've worked with the SECU on a few minor things before but most of their target market knows of them or can be contacted at work, etc.

Non-profits definitely advertise, but with SECU being exclusive to state employees and their families, any advertisement that reaches those that aren't eligible for membership would be in violation of SECU's charter.

As the 2nd largest credit union in the US, SECU does ok by just using word of mouth.

If you can't live without the "A" on your card, Capital One lets you upload any picture to your card. I think BoA may have gave money on purchases to the school also (don't know for sure, I don't use BoA) but you could do the same with a "Cash Back" card and donate the funds on your own to Yosef.