The Blugold card has long been the official identification for students and is used for a variety of different services, such as meal plans, resources at the campus library and access to athletic events.

Soon, students will have another option: a debit account.

Beginning Sept. 19 through Sept. 30, U.S. Bank representatives will distribute new Blugold cards for every student on campus except freshmen, who already have received them.

Within a year, those with U.S. Bank will have the option to use their new card as a debit card.

The card will work at any ATM machine in the world and between 60 and 70 percent of all other locations, said Angela Ralston, partnership manager for the campus banking branch of U.S. Bank.

The bank will be offering a Visa debit card for students, which will be donned with a picture of campus, to work at all other places.

The money received at the ATM machines using the Blugold card will come out of a checking account, not the student’s Blugold account.

Ralston credited the students, specifically Student Senate, with bringing this new option to campus.

“What brought U.S. Bank to the campus was the students,” Ralston said. “We’re just really excited to be a part of this campus.”

Student Senate President Aaron Olson said the past two Senate presidents, Adrian Klenz and Chad Wade, had worked hard and sat in on “100 percent of the meetings between potential banks and the university,” helping explain the students’ position.

“Students were involved at every nook and cranny,” Olson said. “We tried to pick a student-friendly bank and also one with ATMs on campus.”

U.S. Bank has five ATM machines on campus, which will charge no fees on Blugold card transactions, Ralston said.

Olson said the new cards will help students in other ways, such as aiding study abroad students and helping students begin banking relationships.

He added it is much easier to open a checking account than it was in the past.

“Look how it was four years ago,” Olson said. “As students arrived on campus and wanted to open a checking account, with most banks you needed at least $200 to start it.

“Now, you arrive on campus the first day, fill out a few forms, put a little money in and you can spend that money anywhere in the world.”

Though the convenience factor may be sound appealing, senior Crystal Richardson said it could have its drawbacks.

“It could be a good idea for some people, but for me, I would probably spend more money than usual,” she said.

Eau Claire is the 24th school to become partners with U.S. Bank, a list that also includes UW-Oshkosh and UW-Stevens Point.

Olson praised U.S. Bank for its efforts in bringing the new option to campus.

“U.S. Bank has been very professional and very student-oriented, and I think we made the right decision,” he said. “From what I’ve seen, this is going to be a great thing.”