I wanna change banks

[JLTD]

Originally Posted By: kpatter
I have been with Chase for my checking account for 15 years.. They have always gladly accepted money for deposits but it is just so difficult to get a loan with them sometimes and they are now going to start charging me 12.00/month for my checking account. I understand credit unions etc. and may look into them.

I am tired of just being a number with the huge banks. I am 55 and dont qualify for senior rates yet..


What do you guys think? Where do you bank?


Check out Charles Schwab Bank, Discover Bank, or Ally Bank. All have free, no cost checking and I believe free checks as well. Plus, their checking accounts pay interest on your balance. No sense these days staying with Hugebank that both charges you fees for nothing, makes your life difficult and helped cause the 2008 crash.

Credit Unions are great values also, you'll have to look around in your area to see which ones you qualify for.

 

[Nick1994]

I asked a similar question on here a little over a year ago (I was also with Chase). Everyone said go to a credit union. I was a little worried about the convenience factor, but I haven't had a single issue. They have an app that allows me to make mobile check deposits and everything else. I'm very happy with them.

 

[Lyman]

I bank with both Chase and a Credit union. Chase gives me free checking as long as I have auto deposit set up.
I am only with them as I was with Washington Mutual when they were absorbed.

 

[TinyVoices]

I bank with wells Fargo and my checking is free as long as you meet 2 of the 3 following conditions. Minimum balance, direct deposit, enrolling in their program that transfers one dollar from your checking to savings when you make a purchase from your checking. Works for me.

 

[daves87rs]

I have both the big bank and credit union.

Wanna guess which one is getting more of my business?

 

[Stevie]

Woodforest Bank in Texas. If 55, free checking, free money orders, and cashier checks. They have lots of branches in Walmart's that are open even Sundays and are open till 9pm most nights. Very convenient. I really like them. That's where I do my checking even though I have USAA also.

 

[zrxkawboy]

I use both a local credit union and Ally Bank. They each have their strong points.

 

[Cujet]

I switched from Wells Fargo, for exactly the reasons you describe. Much happier with my local bank.

 

[opus1]

I have an account with Chase that I've never had a problem with, and, in fact, they have been very accommodating when I've needed them to be.

In the past I've been dinged with "inactivity fees" because I didn't make a deposit or withdrawal on my savings account within a three-month period. I've been charged an access fee for using my account at a branch that's part of the network but not owned by the institution that had my account. And I've had a letter sent to me suggesting I take my business elsewhere because I was only using the institution for a savings account (which had a decent amount of money on deposit, not just the bare minimum to avoid fees) and didn't have any loans. All of these were done to me by my friendly, local credit union. So they are not the be-all/end-all either.

I have had the best experience with a smaller, local bank. But, as always, YMMV.

 

[JHZR2]

The question is why $12/mo?

Our commercial bank has a fee like that if you go below $100 in the account in a month. But how difficult is it to keep $100 in the account? Answer: not very.

If they started charging $12 for a substantially larger balance requirement, or just in general, Id jump too.

There are lots of small commercial banks that may have enough branches around nearby. CUs are worth a good look too.

 

[Garak]

OT, but you guys are lucky there. The TD bank, a Canadian bank, requires something like a $1200 balance for free banking here. In the States, the TD has the $100 limit figure you quoted, too. For whatever reason, the banks up here don't show a lot of fear over competition from credit unions. Running a business account up here at a bank versus a credit union is a nightmare.

 

[Spector]

Originally Posted By: kpatter
I wish I could join USAA.. I have no military ties in my family tho... Any way around this?


They require membership for insurance. As to credit cards and banking I do not believe they require military service. I have had a credit card with them for 15 + years and no military service.

Call them, nothing to lose

 

[CincyDavid]

I bank with PNC Bank, they've been OK to deal with. I am doing more and more with online banking and the only time I go to a branch is to get check register books for my wife since she refuses to use an app...she likes to use pencil on paper to keep track of things.

Recently set up a cash management/brokerage account with Merrill Lynch and a high yield savings account with Marcus by Goldman Sachs...all done online, no muss, no fuss.

Brick and mortar banks are almost irrelevant to me, online and phone apps seem to work just fine.