WSU Selects U.S. Bank to Provide CougarCard Financial Services

PULLMAN, Wash. – Washington State University has chosen U.S. Bank to provide banking services through its CougarCard, a multi-use university identification card issued to all students, faculty and staff. 

The CougarCard serves as the university’s official campus identification card and also entitles the more than 22,000 WSU student, faculty and staff members holding the cards to a variety of services and conveniences, including access to the student recreation center, purchases at vending machines, residence dinning accounts, Cougar CASH, athletic events, and selected residence halls, campus buildings and offices.

 Under the agreement with U.S. Bank, CougarCard holders may now also choose to open an account at U.S. Bank, allowing the CougarCard to double as their ATM card both on and off campus and as a debit card that can be used to make PIN-based purchases off-campus.

The agreement also entitles CougarCard holders to take advantage of a variety of optional U.S. Bank financial products and services, including checking accounts with no minimum balance and no monthly maintenance fee.

The CougarCard Center and WSU Business Services issued a request for proposals from financial institutions interested in providing enhanced financial services through the CougarCard at the request of leaders of Associated Students of WSU. Undergraduate and graduate student leaders and professional staff from Business Services, Purchasing, the CougarCard Center, Information Technology Services, Administrative Services and regional campuses of WSU participated in the selection process that led to the agreement with U.S. Bank.

Use of the enhanced financial services provided for under the agreement is optional. CougarCard holders are not required to open a U. S. Bank account or to link their U.S. Bank account to their CougarCard.
 
“We are pleased to add banking functionality to the CougarCard,” said Craig Howard, interim director of Administrative Services Information Systems at WSU. “The CougarCard provides an increasing array of functionality to the students, faculty and staff of WSU and makes everyday life on campus safer and more convenient.”

Under the agreement, WSU is entitled to an annual royalty payment from U.S.Bank based upon the percentage of students, staff and faculty opting to link new or existing U.S. Bank checking accounts to their CougarCard.