CHICAGO (8/25/15)--It’s the time of the year when college students are in search of the best deals on checking and savings accounts as they return to campus. Bill Hampel, CUNA chief economist and chief policy officer, advised college students to seek the best values at local credit unions in Monday's Chicago Tribune.

Students must be a member to hold an account with a credit union, and “we're pretty sure that just about anybody can find two or three credit unions nearby that they can join," Hampel told the Chicago Tribune.

Students can find a credit union at asmarterchoice.org.

There’s good reason to find a credit union to join. According to Bankrate, 72% of the 50 largest credit unions still offer free checking accounts.

“Banks, meanwhile, often require direct deposit or a minimum balance to avoid a monthly maintenance charge or other fees,” the Tribune article said.