Who do YOU bank with and why? --switching banks, looking for suggestion

ryano

ryano

Active member
so i have a checking and savings account with wells fargo at the moment. and i'm thinking about changing banks all together, or at least opening a strictly only savings account that i wont touch unless i'm dying type of thing.

any suggestions on whom to do either or with?

does anyone use credit unions? pros? cons?
 
where do you live? bank locations should be something to consider. for me its 1st national, mainly because they're everywhere in CO.
 
oh good point. i live out in California..

the big ones out here are Chase, W.F., and Bank of America
 
the nation wide banks are all the same, shitty. Don't change unless you have to, it'll negatively effect your credit.
 
I have BoA and they have been good to me. I have 2 accounts with them actually (1 campus edge, and one regular checking). They are used for opposites though, the campus edge one is my personal spending and the regular checking is for college funds.

 
one cool thing with chase is you can use their app to take a picture of your check and deposit right into your account. if you move your checking account over then you could use it.

how serious are you about putting a grand or so into a cd/savings account though? i used to have a savings and honestly didnt wanna fuck with the fee's cause I don't have enough money to put away and not touch anyway. but if you've got the cash to save, then do it. just look at rates, talk to someone that knows more about banking
 
i go with independent bank (michigan) because that's where my parents started me an account when i was younger

i guess i've never banked elsewhere, but they've always been good to me
 
i have two banks
wells fargo-place where parents give me money
bank of america-place where i put the money my parents give me so they think i spent it

 
I bank with TD bank, but it really all depends on whos closest/most convenient
 
For sure, most of the times they offer you really great things and are way more personal/friendly/helpful because it is a small organization rather than a faceless bureaucracy. If you are a student and your collge has, go with a university credit union. They are by far the best.
 
bank of america is sick for me atleast. you cna deposit checks and money straight into the atm;s which is sick cuz u dont need the bank to be open to deposit shit... and keep the change is the shit... for example.. pay 3.59 for something the 41 cents to make 4 dollars goes into your savings. it helps a ton and doesn't make a big difference. helps me save atleast.

dont know the minimum balance. cant remember what mine is but i bet if you looked into it you could find out easily
 
lol, so you are excited they put your money into a savings that gives no return so they can use it to invest? You could just save $5 a month yourself in a piggy bank :) (just having a little fun, I used to have BoA too)

I will post as someone who has had a few different banks, personal checking and savings and a business account. First, I would avoid the largest five banks, especially Bank of America. BoA had the highest customer dissatisfaction of any corporation in 2011. Right behind them was Time Warner Cable. Wells Fargo, BoA, Chase, etc, are all too big and impersonal. Their online features are nice, but their credit hawking of college and high school students is disgusting and their mortgage department is incompetent and overworked. Just don't do it. If you would like a practical example: they can take up to 10 days to clear a check over $1,000. Ridiculous. They also have other ridiculous fees. Chase just started trying to issue 1099s for airline miles and other benefits. Amazing.

If you go with big, you get impersonal and fee-filled banking. If you go tiny you get lack of convenience. However, I usually am happy to sacrifice a little convenience and have to plan a bit for people knowing my name and being happy to sort out any problems should they arise. I do think local credit unions are the way to go. They offer great services and rates while delivering personal service.

I bet there are lots of really great people who work at BoA, Chase and others, but they have lost their soul and dividends and stock share prices have exceeded the importance of competence and customer care. Would you go sit at a bar if the bartender shorted you on liquor in your drinks, was rude and ignored you? Neither should you give your money to bank that just tries to figure out more ways to make money off you with no return.

 
I have a great free account. With B of A and there are locations everywhere. They don't charge me 2ndr ATM fees, no fees on any transaction besides out of bank wire. Their ATMs are also everywhere and they can take direct checks. Their mobile and online banking are better than everyone's beside Chase
 
threads for my girlfriend. She has suntrust and they blow.

I have BofA and they have been good to me so far. Free checking with direct deposit. Convenient and no problems so far.
 
If you can get into a credit union, DO IT!

They are a ton better than any sort of major banking, and have a lot better investment/loan rates. Along with this, its member ran, and eveyone knows whats going on in regard to bank affairs.

Problem being is that Credit Unions are generally tied to an occupation, such as teaching, or navy, and you have to have some sort of connection to get in.
 
Chase are alright - best of a bad bunch. Banking in america is still in the fucking stoneage though - Checks don't even exist in the UK anymore - but if i want to move money from my business account, to personal accounts i still have to write a stupid paper check to myself because of the audit trail it creates.

But i've never had a problem with checks clearing - i've written VERY large checks (20-30k etc) and the money is available instantly. You have to go online and verify the check tho (which is a good thing considering the ridiculous amount of fraud still having checks causes!).

Chase's online features and ease of use for banking and moving money around - paying people and bills etc is the best of the lot.... really good interface, no stupid log in nonesense either (unlike HSBC).

I would never get a mortgage or loan through these banks tho - i use them simply for holding money, receiving money from salaries etc and for moving money around and having bills paid.

I'm a member of BP's credit union which is awesome - great rates etc for loans and mortgages etc. If anyone in your family works for a big company, they'll probably have their own CU that you will be able to join as family... CU's available to the general public are not really anything special though.

 
Savings/Checking- Wells Fargo...good national bank, I do most of my banking with them

Savings- Washington Trust, Ive had it since like 5th grade and now it just has money sitting to keep the account
 
If you're looking for something regional and secure you can't go wrong with a credit union, just as it's been said above. If you do a lot of travelling around the world for work or something and need access to funds in different places, HSBC is good, and JP Morgan/Chase. Not BofA though
 
thanks for the info.

i will probably keep the wells fargo one for my direct deposit, paying bills, debit card and such. and and keep around a grand in that savings for rainy day/minor emergencies.

and for my serious savings account, i will probably go to a credit union, because i will most likely be putting around a grand in there to start with. and from what you guys say, they give better interest rates, etc.

i dont have a ton of money right now, so i'm not thinking about investments of any sorts at the moment.. maybe once my serious savings account is a decent amount, i will look into it.
 
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