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lindysalsagal

(20,444 posts)
Sat Apr 6, 2013, 04:16 PM Apr 2013

Good/bad banking experience? I'm shopping banks

Please help me out.

Leaving HSBC because of their incompetence.
There is so much information out there.

I was thinking Chase until I read they're under cyber attack from terrorists or something.

People's is nearby but they got caught with exposed client info.

Can't use Wells fargo: It's my mortgage.

Leaning towards webster. Any help here?????

35 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Good/bad banking experience? I'm shopping banks (Original Post) lindysalsagal Apr 2013 OP
two words: Credit Union... hlthe2b Apr 2013 #1
+1! arcane1 Apr 2013 #3
Two more words: Here here! Iwillnevergiveup Apr 2013 #14
I greatly prefer credit unions Major Nikon Apr 2013 #16
30 year credit unioner here. I couldn't agree more. magical thyme Apr 2013 #19
+100 LiberalEsto Apr 2013 #24
Yep. nt LWolf Apr 2013 #27
Stay away from the Money Center banks - Moondog Apr 2013 #2
I hear you: Websters is regional. Credit unions are difficult. lindysalsagal Apr 2013 #4
maybe a local Savings Bank? hedgehog Apr 2013 #7
credit unions are not difficult RILib Apr 2013 #17
Same here. And my credit union has longer drive-thru and lobby hours than the local banks. hobbit709 Apr 2013 #18
I'm sure there are bad credit unions as well as good ones. mysuzuki2 Apr 2013 #28
I finally did find a full service credit union: Most have terrible hours lindysalsagal Apr 2013 #31
My B of A experience has been nothing but pleasant.... Sekhmets Daughter Apr 2013 #5
This message was self-deleted by its author Moondog Apr 2013 #9
Glad you're ok, but no B of A for me. lindysalsagal Apr 2013 #10
Same here. I have only had pleasant experiences with BoA. RebelOne Apr 2013 #29
I was impressed with how quickly they acted Sekhmets Daughter Apr 2013 #30
My local bank is 100% managed and staffed by women. In_The_Wind Apr 2013 #8
I'd love to find a bankk like that. Bertha Venation Apr 2013 #21
Key Bank ~ Saugerties, New York! In_The_Wind Apr 2013 #23
Oh, well. Bertha Venation Apr 2013 #25
Key can't be the only female managed and staffed bank. In_The_Wind Apr 2013 #26
BB&T, elleng Apr 2013 #6
SECU. for moral reasons. fuck the dumb. Tuesday Afternoon Apr 2013 #11
TD Ameritrade Turbineguy Apr 2013 #12
I've heard that. But I don't trade stocks. I think the more money lindysalsagal Apr 2013 #13
For checking or savings? I have different banks for each. Honeycombe8 Apr 2013 #15
How about USAA? I think the banking part is open to non-military sammytko Apr 2013 #20
USAA lets me deposit checks via my phone. Robb Apr 2013 #33
Ditto to Credit Unions.....why even bother with banks. eom a kennedy Apr 2013 #22
credit union n/t MrsBrady Apr 2013 #32
credit union irisblue Apr 2013 #34
Others have said it; Dyedinthewoolliberal Apr 2013 #35

Iwillnevergiveup

(9,298 posts)
14. Two more words: Here here!
Sun Apr 7, 2013, 12:35 AM
Apr 2013

Credit unions or small regionals are the way to go. Live people at the other end of the phone.

Major Nikon

(36,814 posts)
16. I greatly prefer credit unions
Sun Apr 7, 2013, 01:41 AM
Apr 2013

Banks weren't too bad when they were small and operated more like credit unions, but even if you can find a good small local bank, chances are they will be gobbled up by one of the mega banks eventually.

 

magical thyme

(14,881 posts)
19. 30 year credit unioner here. I couldn't agree more.
Sun Apr 7, 2013, 08:34 AM
Apr 2013

I did open a local bank account when I moved to Maine, until last summer. They got bought by a slightly larger bank, who started doing their best Chase/BOA/asshole impression. And then was surprised to find my account closed. Never. Again.

If there's no credit union nearby, try putting your moolah under your mattress. It'll be safer there than in a bank, and the interest will be better too.

 

LiberalEsto

(22,845 posts)
24. +100
Sun Apr 7, 2013, 10:21 AM
Apr 2013

I switched to a credit union several years ago, thanks to the information and encouragement of folks here at DU.

What a difference it's made! My credit union considers me and other members shareholders, and we are treated far better than the victims of banksters. The one I found accepts anyone who lives, works or attends school in my county. I found it through NCUA, the National Credit Union Administration:

http://www.ncua.gov/DataApps/ResearchCU/Pages/default.aspx

I do nearly all my banking online, but they have good hours and excellent service.


Moondog

(4,833 posts)
2. Stay away from the Money Center banks -
Sat Apr 6, 2013, 04:19 PM
Apr 2013

Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Chase, Citi, etc etc.

They really don't want small accounts, they'll treat you poorly and nickel and dime you to death on fees.

Go with a small regional if you want a bank, or a credit union. I use both because they tend to be good at different things.

lindysalsagal

(20,444 posts)
4. I hear you: Websters is regional. Credit unions are difficult.
Sat Apr 6, 2013, 04:23 PM
Apr 2013

That's why I'm leaning there.

The credit unions offer no services, horrible hours and locations. Just really hard to live with. I'm already in a credit union but I only save my summer school money there and they mail me a check once a year. But I still need a checking account and some help when traveling.

I just got an amex card, so, that's a lot of what I need to quit HSBC.

 

RILib

(862 posts)
17. credit unions are not difficult
Sun Apr 7, 2013, 08:17 AM
Apr 2013

Look harder -

My credit union has free checking accounts, money market funds, CDs, savings accounts, makes car and home loans. Has credit cards. You can deposit checks via their website and they also have direct deposit.

Is a member of a credit union organization so that customers can do transactions via the member credit unions and use ATMs just about anywhere.

Offers higher rates on savings and lower rates on loans than banks.

Most credit unions are like this, although not all belong to a credit union organization as described above.

I have no idea where you got your ideas about credit unions, from some big bank, perhaps?

mysuzuki2

(3,521 posts)
28. I'm sure there are bad credit unions as well as good ones.
Sun Apr 7, 2013, 12:05 PM
Apr 2013

I have never had a bad experience with a CU but I'm sure there are those that have. I belong to the U of Wisconsin CU in Milwaukee and they are great! Full service outfit. I have a car loan credit card, savings and checking. Their atms and branches are convenient for me. In even a modeate sized urban area there should be severl CU's to choose from.

lindysalsagal

(20,444 posts)
31. I finally did find a full service credit union: Most have terrible hours
Mon Apr 8, 2013, 10:52 PM
Apr 2013

But I just tripped across one very close to home that's just opened state of the art atms, so I went over there today and they work just like a bank, and their drive-through is open until 5.

Safe deposit boxes and everything.

It seems that the banking scandals have sent alot of dough their way and they've been buying up smaller unions, and re-investing.

Turns out my girlfriend's union was bought out by this one and they take great care of her.

I was really impressed with the branch manager, so, as soon as I can get a settlement with hsbc, I'm in.

Got 1.75% checking if you do all of your shopping with their debit, so, I'm in.

Yessss! Mutual Security credit union, here I come. Goodbye HSBC.

Sekhmets Daughter

(7,515 posts)
5. My B of A experience has been nothing but pleasant....
Sat Apr 6, 2013, 04:28 PM
Apr 2013

I was reluctant to open an account with B of A, preferring credit unions or local banks myself. However, for reasons not important to the discussion, I did. I have two direct deposits each month, opened the account online, and have had no fees of any type assessed in the 3 years of doing business with them.

A few months ago I received an email alert, that a site on which I had stored my debit card had been hacked...the account was closed immediately. A quick trip to the bank and I was issued a temporary card, that contained my new permanent number so there was no chance of mix up at a future time...I pay all my bills online...

There is the added convenience of incredible availability...

FWIW

Response to Sekhmets Daughter (Reply #5)

lindysalsagal

(20,444 posts)
10. Glad you're ok, but no B of A for me.
Sat Apr 6, 2013, 04:58 PM
Apr 2013

I know someone who's squatting in his own house, mortgaged through bofa, way too high for him to pay. They've lost the title (chopped it up so many times, it's lost,) and so now bofa pays the taxes and can't force him t leave, so he lives there without spending a penny.

It's insane and I won't go there. Plus, they were the mortgage scandal.

RebelOne

(30,947 posts)
29. Same here. I have only had pleasant experiences with BoA.
Sun Apr 7, 2013, 05:21 PM
Apr 2013

Any problems I have had with my accounts have been solved quickly.

Sekhmets Daughter

(7,515 posts)
30. I was impressed with how quickly they acted
Sun Apr 7, 2013, 05:28 PM
Apr 2013

when the hacking occurred on that other site. I went through and used a credit card for those very few sites where I want to have the info stored.

In_The_Wind

(72,300 posts)
8. My local bank is 100% managed and staffed by women.
Sat Apr 6, 2013, 04:34 PM
Apr 2013

All of the banks you've mentioned I kicked to the curb years ago.

In_The_Wind

(72,300 posts)
26. Key can't be the only female managed and staffed bank.
Sun Apr 7, 2013, 10:45 AM
Apr 2013

Call around, ask questions. You'll find one locally if they exist in Maryland.

lindysalsagal

(20,444 posts)
13. I've heard that. But I don't trade stocks. I think the more money
Sat Apr 6, 2013, 05:55 PM
Apr 2013

you're willing to throw around the better you get listened to. Unfortunately, I don't throw mine at all.

Honeycombe8

(37,648 posts)
15. For checking or savings? I have different banks for each.
Sun Apr 7, 2013, 12:38 AM
Apr 2013

Checking...I choose a brick & mortar in my area. It happens to be Comerica. Bill pay, no service fees, etc. The usual.

Savings....I used to bank at INGdirect.com, but it was just bought by CapitalOne. It's fine. Decent interest rate. But I transferred to allybank.com, where interest rate is slightly better and is rated high on customer satisfaction.

Savings - you can't beat the online banks. Their expenses are lower.

sammytko

(2,480 posts)
20. How about USAA? I think the banking part is open to non-military
Sun Apr 7, 2013, 09:35 AM
Apr 2013

It is internet only - not too many branches around, but I haven't found that too difficult to deal with.

But I still bank at a local bank that is currently a Well Fargo. I like to have a local presence.

Robb

(39,665 posts)
33. USAA lets me deposit checks via my phone.
Mon Apr 8, 2013, 11:04 PM
Apr 2013

Between that and the "use whatever ATM you want and we'll credit your account for the fees" feature, I ran out of reasons to have a local branch.

irisblue

(32,829 posts)
34. credit union
Tue Apr 9, 2013, 09:49 AM
Apr 2013

Chase is run by Jamie Diemon, massive gigantic thief. One part of early acquisitions of Chase was based in here in Columbus, if they could have charged for air in the lobby, they would have. Also, locally, some divisions have been forcing employees to train their offshore replacements. Don't give money to crooks.

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