JACKSONVILLE, Fla.—For Lynette Hipsher, staying on top of her finances means having something in hand—literally. Living with a traumatic brain injury that affects her short-term memory, Hipsher depends on printed billing statements to stay organized.
So, when her monthly expenses began creeping higher due to paper statement fees from multiple companies—including her own credit union, VyStar—Hipsher felt like she was being punished for her medical condition, Action News Jax said.
“It’s horrible. It’s expensive,” she told Action News Jax, explaining how paper statement charges from VyStar, Dillard’s, and other retailers were adding up to as much as $15 to $20 a month.
But when she reached out to VyStar Credit Union, the credit union agreed to waive the fees going forward, Action News Jax noted.
In a statement to CUToday.info, the $14-billion VyStar said it already has a policy of waiving paper statement fees for members age 60 and older and for anyone with a disability.
“Members under 60 who need paper statements due to a disability or personal need can contact us, and we will reimburse the fee,” the credit union said.
Hipsher, who also works as a Certified Nursing Assistant, said she hopes her story pushes more companies to follow suit and stop charging customers with disabilities for essential access to financial information, Action News Jax said.