Awww Banks!

blessed81 · March 2015

Who do you all bank with?

pros of your bank?

cons of you bank?

Bank of America is driving me insane!

hoffse · March 2015

I do direct deposit and bill pay with Wells Fargo. It's easy because they're less than a block from my office (and H's office for that matter), so visiting during business hours is simple for us when there's a check we need to deposit in person.

They kind of annoy me though because every time I walk in, they now try to sell me their credit card. I guess our transactions finally reached a critical mass to flag us for "new products." They also keep trying to get me to let a banker call to "discuss special options." I find that annoying as well.

Otherwise, H and I like them. The convenience of having them so close outweighs the irritating things.

For retirement and investments, we use Fidelity. Again, they have a branch where we live so on the rare occasions we need to go in person, it's easy. We also find their people very knowledgeable and helpful.

als1982 · March 2015

We are at a regional bank with most if not all of its locations being in KS and MO. We like the proximity of the nearest branch being close to our home. There's also an ATM in my office building. The only con is that their savings accounts don't make the interest rate offered at credit unions. That's the only thing that could make me switch!

SmrBrd2012 · March 2015

H and I bank with a local branch and also Santander.

We use the local because they offer a reasonable interest rate on our checking account. H opened a Santander one for us because they deposit $20 into our checking account each month as long as we have a direct deposit going in and pay at least 2 bills per month. Gotta love free money!

No particular cons other than that I don't really like to use "big banks."

hortons0510 · March 2015

We use a credit union from our hometown. We liked the locations and easy access to get in the bank and drive thru. We also like getting reward points when we use our card. It's a free checking account so we aren't charged if we go under a certain amount.

The con is we have moved and that credit union doesn't exist where we now live. We can't go in and talk face to face with anyone at our bank unless we would when we are home to visit.

We are able to take up to $200 cash out when we go grocery shopping and can deposit checks through their mobile bank. It has not caused us any problems so we are going to keep this bank unless we absolutely have to change.

dragonstarjk · March 2015

We bank at a regional bank. I work there, but we both banked there long before I ever started working there.

I like it because they are very community-minded and participate and/or make donations to tons of groups and causes. They have an amazing reputation. That's important to me.

Also, I like that it is a smaller bank because I feel like they take more time to figure out what is best for their specific customers, rather than having a 'one size fits all' approach across the entire country.

When it comes to their products specifically, I love the online banking/mobile banking interface. Also, no charge for things such as cashing a check drawn on this bank or for using a debit card (I've heard about banks charging for lots of random things that my bank does not charge for). Rate-wise, they are all pretty comparable in town, except WF. Wells Fargo has a terrible reputation in town for their rates and their service. I think that's probably because before Wells Fargo bought out a competing local bank, almost all of the banks in town are local. This town isn't a huge fan of large corporations or national chains 'taking over' so I think a lot of people are just anti-WF.

I have my Roth IRA through Vanguard; we offer them where I work, but the interest rate is ridiculous.

dragonstarjk · March 2015

They kind of annoy me though because every time I walk in, they now try to sell me their credit card.

@Hoffse--unfortunately, Wells Fargo typically includes credit card sales in employee reviews. While most banks use credit card sales to give incentives for employees, WF makes it a requirement of the job to reach certain sales numbers. At least, that's how it is at the WF where I live. They are notorious for being the most aggressive card pushers.

simplyelise · March 2015

We use a regional, mid-west bank. Honestly, it was just the place my parents banked at and the place where I got my first account when I was 15.

DH was at a statewide bank (where his mom also works) and we just decided since I had to change so many things after the wedding to change my name, he would change his bank to mine.

I've got no real attachment to it, but there's no fees and it's reasonably convenient. But I don't ever actually go inside the bank. To this day, I've only ever deposited a check at the atm, never with a teller.

vlagrl29 · March 2015

we just switched to community america last June and love them. 4% interest savings on the first $1500 and they give you money back based on how much money you keep with them. I also love their online banking. You can name your accounts such as - joint checking, savings, vacation fund, home fund, etc. It's easier to remember than numbers.

I would never go with bank of america. They royally pissed me off many years ago when they wouldn't let me have access to my first H's funds when he passed away even though I had a letter from my attorney saying I could do it.

vlagrl29 · March 2015

als1982 said:
We are at a regional bank with most if not all of its locations being in KS and MO. We like the proximity of the nearest branch being close to our home. There's also an ATM in my office building. The only con is that their savings accounts don't make the interest rate offered at credit unions. That's the only thing that could make me switch!

that's why we switched. we were with commerce bank and the interest is horrible.

hoffse · March 2015

dragonstarjk said:
They kind of annoy me though because every time I walk in, they now try to sell me their credit card.
@Hoffse--unfortunately, Wells Fargo typically includes credit card sales in employee reviews. While most banks use credit card sales to give incentives for employees, WF makes it a requirement of the job to reach certain sales numbers. At least, that's how it is at the WF where I live. They are notorious for being the most aggressive card pushers.

Huh, that's interesting.

Well, I don't have to go in there often. Most checks I can deposit with their mobile app. Once in awhile they won't go through, and that's when I have to go in person.

Wulfgar · March 2015

MW and I use two regional banks, Firstmerit and PNC. Our PNC account is because we got a loan to do housing work and to get a lower interest rate I had to open an account. I use this account only for paying off the loan and to withdraw cash twice a month for our envelope system.

Firstmerit is more complicated since we have joint and individual accounts there for various things.

I love my Firstmerit account since they just came out with a new checking/ savings account system that all of our checking accounts meet so we get interest on our checking balances and they refund all ATM fees at other ATMs.

So far we haven't had any issues or complaints about Firstmerit especially since they have a 24 hour grace and do deposits first then withdrawals. In the past they would wave overdraft fees if there was a good reason such as once they did the withdrawal first than the deposit. MW once had a debit double charged that caused her to go into the red that they took care of for her. Both of these were years ago.

jessica490 · March 2015

We have Bank of America as well. We don't mind it and can find locations basically anywhere which is important to us. We also like the fact that there are no checking/savings fees (this is the one reason we left Webster Bank because they decided to charge for checking)

I hate that they nag me about a credit card app every time I have to use a teller. My H has a cc card there already so WTF do we need 2 for when I'm on his.

What don't you like about it?

jtmh2012 · March 2015

We used to have a Bank of America account. Won't touch them every again after I had an issue with someone telling me I couldn't do something and then another telling me I could after it was too late.

Our primary accounts are at Navy Federal. It's a credit union. We also have some online accounts at Barclay's online bank due to the higher interest rates.

short+sassy · March 2015

@hoffse and @jessica490, I worked as a teller for Wells Fargo in high school. They weren't super hardcore...yet...with forcing tellers to do sales. Though it was certainly very encouraged. But that was back in the 90s when banks were starting to move their focus from customer service to sales.

Then I worked at BofA in college. I was a teller and, on the performance reviews, sales were weighted MORE HEAVILY than customer service skills. I think sales was 60%, customer service was 25%, and cash handling was 10% (there was a 4th category for the remaining 5%, but I forget what that was). I might have the ratios a bit off, but it was something like that.

For both companies, a good 90-95% of their tellers were part-time (under 20 hours) so they didn't have to offer any benefits, including medical. Which, of course, leads to a very transient workforce.

Granted, all that was a long time ago, but I doubt things have changed much...especially for the sales focus.

Heck, I belong to two credit unions. One local, the other Navy Federal. The local one always hits me up to open a savings account or Christmas Club and Navy Federal always hits me up to open a credit card.

short+sassy · March 2015

Now my b**ch at Whitney. I opened my checking account with them because it was free and I have my mortgage with them. Only to have them merge with Hancock three months later and then suddenly my checking account had a $7/month service charge. With no free options. I kept meaning to switch again, but I hate that stuff and it is such a hassle.

Then they forced my hand. My car was totaled in January 2013, I found my next car out of state...loved it, was very excited. The deal, including down payment and financing, was ironed out and my contract was overnighted to me. I needed to send it back with a cashier's check for my down payment.

Part of what I was using for my down payment, was an $1800 escrow refund check that I had received from Whitney's Escrow/Mortgage Dept. (whatever they call it). I gave the check to the teller to cash, along with my other funds, to have a cashier's check prepared.

He tells me they have to put a 5-day hold on it. I'm like, "What!?! The check is from you all. It's a Whitney account. That makes no sense." He then points out the check is actually drawn off of BofA.

Despite being furious, I start LMAO. I mean, seriously? Whitney doesn't even bank with ITSELF?

At any rate, I still got my car. But had to put part of my down payment on a credit card and then pay myself back after the check cleared. And as soon as that check cleared, I closed my account.

blondie42107 · March 2015

We use a "local" bank popular in our area/state and a "local" credit union.

We love our credit union most. Amazing rates, great online banking setup, love being able to do mobile check deposits! We rarely have to actually go to the bank.

Mustard76 · March 2015

We bank at two large institutions. I work at one of the two, so convenience is a non-issue. We banked at BofA for a very short period of time when we moved from the Midwest to the Southwest. It was only out of necessity, as they were the only bank in both regions. Never again, our experience was terrible.

HoneyBee973 · March 2015

We currently bank with TD Bank. They are only on the east coast, Main to Florida. Their hours during the week are 7:30 a.m. till 7 pm, they are open 7 days a week with shorter hours on weekends. I have been banking with them since I was in college, and picked them because they had low minimum balance etc. Their fees seem lower than other banks. Never had a problem with them.

brij2006 · March 2015

We use 2 local banks. One is a credit union, and the other is a bank for farmers. I like that they're personable and aren't commercialized. The only con is that they aren't as quick to have technology options. They just got mobile banking a year ago.

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