Closed my US Bank checking account today, and felt a little bad about it

[eridani]

Naturally they want you to talk to one of the assistant managers about why. The one I got took it very personally, though I tried to make the issue about banking institutions, the meltdown, and why a credit union bound by law to operate only in my state on a non-profit basis would be a better values fit for me. I tried to make it plain that there was nothing at all wrong with the branch employees.

I've already had savings accounts in three credit unions, but resisted changing my checking account out of inertia, because we'd had the account for 30 years, going through a couple of changes of ownership, and because US Bank was not actually one of the worst offenders in the mortgage meltdown. Gradually the interest dropped off and was eliminated, and there was a $2.00 fee for bank statements with check images--not all that bad compared to crap other banks have pulled.

But there is no way they could match a no minimum balance interest bearing checking account though. Six percent on the first $500, and 0.15% on the remaining balance.

She was almost in tears when she handed me the cashier's check, and I'm pretty sure she is going to get crap for losing an account. Guess this is just one of the hazards of being a bleeding heart liberal.

[orpupilofnature57]

1. It's Not your " bleeding heart " their whole

agenda is to make all business void of Human contact ,making easier to execute the necessary measures to appease their god ,Profit. Landmarks torn down to make way for Tax base , outsourcing to foreign countries ,elevating xenophobia and alienating customers from service and visa verse.

[pinboy3niner]

2. I wouldn't worry too much about the asst. mgr. getting in trouble

I hear, and I'm sure she probably already knows, that the credit unions are hiring.

[eridani]

3. Well, that cheers me up

She'd probably do well at BECU.

[Sherman A1]

4. I have been with them for years as you stated

through several changes of ownership (in fact more than several) and they seem to be okay, I may move my savings (from another institution) to a credit union, but for now the checking account is grandfathered in as a free account and the bank branch is about 90 seconds from my front door, so there is the cost of fuel involved as well.

[geckosfeet]

5. Yeah. The BOA rep that tried to stop me pulled the same crap.

But it comes down to service and cost. Also as you mention, the political and economic landscape.

We need to send them the message. And the one you sent was the right one.

[GoCubsGo]

7. The rep at the local BOA was just plain snotty to me.

Probably because I hardly had any money in the account. She was all sugar and smiles when I walked in, but the attitude change was blatant when I told her why I was there. I was polite, and pointed out that I was closing my account because I was sick of being dinged fifteen bucks a month for not having X amount of money in the account. That wasn't the deal we had when I opened it. I strongly suspect, given her attitude, that I was, by no means, the first person to come in and close my account over those fees.

That was not my primary account. I have been a credit union member for years. I hope to remain that way in the future, if at all possible.

[GeorgeGist]

6. Either my time stamp is whacked ...

or US Bank opens early where you live.

[uncle ray]

10. i am up until 3 am or later.

the east coast is waking up "tomorrow" as some of us are still awake "today".

[Cleita]

8. Good for you and you did not make a bad decision.

As people start switching to credit unions, they will expand and start hiring. Those former bank workers will find employment. It's the CEOs and Boards of Directors that will be out of work. But don't worry about them either. With all the millions they have siphoned from their institutions they will still be able to afford their country club lifestyles.

[eridani]

11. Thinking of the woman employed by a credit union is helpful

People like her were not the culprits in the financial meltdown.

[liam_laddie]

9. Support local credit unions!

No need to feel badly about pulling accounts out of Big Banks to support local enterprises like credit unions. The more we the people do this, the possibility increases, however slightly, that Banks et al will revise their behavior and policies. At least we can hope.
Convincing the bought-and-paid-for crooks in all levels of government to act ethically and morally, with The Common Good as a guiding principle, should be the goal.
First step is to reinstate Glass-Steagall. That will be a bitter war, pitting the 99% vs. the 1%, but there seems no alternative. The current lords-and-serfs trend line bodes nothing but a tragic demise for the idealistic goals of the Early Founders. Who could imagine that a fascist, militaristic state might follow that daring experiment in organizing a society, the representative democratic republic? What a missed opportunity to make our planet a better place for ALL living things, human and otherwise. RIP, USA. Ya coulda been a contenda...