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NAFCU urged consumers to check out the value of credit unions in a comment to a New York Times op-ed on the ways consumers are avoiding the high costs of banks.

The op-ed, which published Wednesday, titled "Are Banks Too Expensive to Use," highlighted some of the costs associated with banks that consumers often run into. "The average monthly service fee on checking accounts [at banks] increased 25 percent in one year alone, from 2010 to 2011. Only 39 percent of noninterest-bearing checking accounts were free in 2011, down from 76 percent in 2009. And the average overdraft fee is now $32.74," author Lisa Servon found.

NAFCU responded in a comment to that piece that urges consumers to look to credit unions first to meet their financial services' needs. "While many banks are raising fees on a regular basis, credit unions are not," NAFCU commented. "In fact, NAFCU's research team found that 72.7 percent – or 4,676 – of all credit unions … offer free checking accounts."

In the article's more than 300 comments, other consumers eagerly supported credit unions as well. Other comments included:

• "Two words. Credit. Union. They're nonprofit so they're not looking to soak their customers. My credit union treats me like gold."
• "I would also advocate using a credit union. It has been my experience that credit unions are a good deal for ‘meat and potatoes' savings, checking, and loans."
• "The article ignores the alternative to banks - credit unions. These are usually available to most people in many communities. My checking account is free, my bank transfers and payment by computer is free, and i {sic] am treated as a valued customer. My savings account can be as low as I wish without penalty. I also have free overdraft protection. Credit unions offer many services, including home loans and auto loans."