Students should use caution when considering credit cards - WSFA.com: News Weather and Sports for Montgomery, AL.

Credit card company Higher One agrees to repay nearly $11-million to college students.

According to the FDIC, the company illegally charged multiple overdraft fees for a single account to nearly 60,000 students.

Officials at UNA talked about the trouble students can get into if they're not careful when it comes to credit cards.

"The average college student leaves a university with an average of about $23- to $28,000 worth of debt and that's usually from student loans and other costs associated with college that number," said David Shields, vice president of student affairs at UNA.

Officials said that number can increase significantly if students aren't careful about their credit cards.

"They can leave college with a credit score that would prevent them from buying a car, may even prevent them from getting a job if a particular employer does a credit background," said Shields.

Shields encourages students to have financial discussions with their parents.

"It's very, very easy for college students to slip into financial difficulties. For many of them it's their first time to manage their own money," he said.

Shields said it's extremely important for students to understand the fine print before signing up for anything that could potentially harm their financial health.

"Here at UNA we do not partner with any credit card companies for that reason because it's very easy for students to look at those things and think, 'Oh well, the university endorses this particular product,' when in fact, that may not be the case," said Shields. "Maintaining a good financial health begins immediately when you begin college."

UNA has also partnered with a local bank which provides students with advice and guidance to financial questions.

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