Do You Love Your Bank?

ROFL... ACTUALLY...

I love and adore my bank. And... they're USAA. I was going to say, if there's ANY way you can get with them (dependent of anyone, govt employee/military yourself or anyone in your family), to get with them. Since you're eligible, you're golden.

I do 98.3 percent of my banking (and insurance, and etc.) online, but whenever I need to talk to a real person; Bam. Polite, helpful, amazing staff on the other end every single time I've called save one. I've had them for 15 years, averaging a couple calls a month, so that's saying something. My parents have had them for over 30 years.

If you have a USAA credit card, you can just SCAN OR TAKE A PHOTO of the check, and bang. It's deposited. We don't, so we just deposit into Wells Fargo, and transfer the cash. USAA INSTANTLY transfers it (no waiting period). We also have a LOT of accounts through them.

Checking
Deposits
Mortgage and Bills
His
Mine
Joint
Kiddo's
Kiddo's school

Savings
His
Mine
Joint
Kiddo's
Kiddo's school
House
Travel
OSF (oh "shoot" fund for things like car repairs, bday presents, new dishwasher, parking ticket... the things that crop up month after month that aren't "in the budget")

The accounts are all on the same page, and all linked. So money gets deposited into the account we designate purely for that, and then we spread it out where we want it. Keeps things very simple/streamlined.

We've had other accounts through other banks, and NONE have been as simple/easy/straightforward/use anywhere/great customer service as USAA

Love, love, love USAA

2 moms found this helpful

i say look into a credit union. i love mine, MUCH better than a bank. they are more accomodating, don't have as many fees, AND (here, at least), you can use ANY credit union atm (not just theirs) and there are no fees. there are other great things i'm just not thinking of. and i do online bill pay, banking, etc...it's great.

2 moms found this helpful

Have you looked into a credit union? That is what we have and I have never found better service or rates with any bank.

2 moms found this helpful

I have USAA and I LOVE them. Because they don't have a branch (I can't even imagine going to a branch - ugh!) their technology goes above and beyond. You can make a deposit through your phone or scanner. You can't get better than that!

They refund atm fees and their customer service is exceptional. I use all of their services - mortgage, insurance, credit card, car loans. A friend once tried to give me an estimate on insurance because she was starting her own business. When I told her I had USAA she flat out said she couldn't do better than them.

2 moms found this helpful

I love Corporate America Credit Union - and they have a branch right in Crystal Lake. Free Checking and low or no fees on most everything.

1 mom found this helpful

I really would recommend a credit union or local bank. You might only be there for a little while, but I think it's totally worth it. The service is so much better, the people are nicer, the fees are lower, if you have a problem they will actually talk to you and help you with it. With those large banks like Chase and Bank of America you can often have a lot of trouble rectifying a problem.

1 mom found this helpful

LOVE USAA...I don't care that there is no local branch, I don't need one!! I have a local credit union for cashing checks and quick things- but I would only ever recommend USAA to someone.

1 mom found this helpful

We are an MBD family. Typically smaller branches more of a small town feel.

1 mom found this helpful

I finally do have a bank I love. After 15 years with 5/3, I left unhappy for numerous reasons. Then went to Chase because they gave me that $150, and I only stayed 6 months. They were a nightmare. I then went with PNC Bank, and they're wonderful! I have yet to have a single issue with them.

1 mom found this helpful

go with a credit union. many work together even though they are seperate. we belong to Gynisys CU but its only up in MI but we moved down to IN and use 3 rivers CU as our hub but still have ou accts with Gynisys. we love our CU we only have to have $5 in our savings to keep it open, we have mor than that of course and no charge for debit cards. and no other fees to have an acct.

1 mom found this helpful

We own our company and we use both BOA and Chase.

We also have personal accounts with BOA.

I have no issues with either. We have no fees and won't have fees with either. It depends on the type of account you have. We have 6 business and personal accounts with BOA and 3 business with Chase.

If you are smaller financially, yes, fees will take over. A credit union might be better.

The larger banks deal well with businesses ( our experience) and the regular customers who don't carry the larger monies do pay more in the long run.

We are relatively new to Chase and live the perks we have there.

Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful

I have a credit union and USAA. They just built one in San Diego so that's convenient, but never had a problem when I didn't visit the building.

1 mom found this helpful

We have been with Chase for almost 13 years and have been very satisfied. Make sure you know the details of the offer and meet the requirements.
I like the online banking and we have free overdraft protection as well as cards that give cash back.

1 mom found this helpful

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Does that answer your question? Have Old National now (it sucks!). We had TCF up in MN and loved them - open 7 days a week.

Really look at the fine print of the Chase offer. I don't think they give you the $150 up front, but over time. And they have a $9.95 fee or something monthly. That adds up over time for way more than $150. It's been awhile since I read it.

1 mom found this helpful

Everyone I know absolutely hates Bank of America. My employer had them and we switched.

You may want to consider going with a credit union.

I'm currently with People's and I've had no problems. They have hours that fit our schedule. I like their online bill paying system and the ease of transferring money from my savings to my checking account. Best of all, I have a plan with no fees.

1 mom found this helpful

I love my experience with Chase. Never had a problem with them - but all I do is basic checking & savings. As of right now it is free checking as long as you have direct deposit. I've never had trouble with electronic banking, customer service face to face, or if a vendor messes up a debit/credit card transaction Chase has had the $ back in my account very quickly.

But, if they start charging fees like BoA and some of the other banks -- I'll drop them like a bad habit! :-)

1 mom found this helpful

I've worked for a bank and I now do foreclosure mitigations and I would never bank with a large nationwide bank ever again. I have been a USAA member for 35 years and since they have changed their policies recently I have been having terrible times with even them...(thought they would be wonderful forever!) Big banks have no real investment in you. Now that they make more money borrowing money from the government in order to invest money in government bonds, all they are interested in is charging fees to keep their customer base going strong. It's an awful mess we're in.

An example: One of the large banks, that will go nameless, is foreclosing on a disabled woman who just lost her husband. They have been in the house close to 20 years and his insurance supposedly paid off the balance on their home. It was short $6500.00. She is on disability and now in the process of being evicted. She has an attorney but evictions move faster than lawsuits. Do you think anyone even knows her name? If the right hand knew what the left hand was doing it might stop...

Visit a local bank...I bet the second time you go in there, they will know your name and ask about your kids...by name. You can pick up the phone and ask a human a question and they recognize your voice. If you make a mistake in your check book they might even WAVE a bad check fee...or even SEVERAL. My checking account has no fees...I even get ATM fees from OTHER banks refunded to me. They are hungry for your business and they appreciate you.

I just reread what I wrote and it sounded a little aggitated...probably because this is a hot button with me. Good luck to you!

M.

1 mom found this helpful

We've been quite happy with our local credit union. We kept banking there even after we moved 3 hours away. The great thing is that when you bank with a credit union they are usually affiliated with other CU's that allow you to use their ATM's etc for free. They even allowed us to use a different credit union to access cashiers checks etc. I feel good about it cause it serves our community.

1 mom found this helpful

One more vote for USAA!! No brick and mortar has never been a problem for us in the last 10+ yrs. We make deposits with our phones! (You can also do it by mail.) I love that I don't have to go to an actual building to do my banking. It's all done right @ my computer or on my phone. I also love when I go to an ATM -any ATM - and it asks me to accept their fee... Yup! No problem. I don't even look at what the fee is. USAA refunds it to me. I've had many experiences where someone (car salesman, mortgage broker, insurance agent, etc.) have wanted to give me a quote. I tell them I am with USAA an they immediately back off. They know they can't compete. That, alone, is a huge endorsement. They have also been consistently given the highest ranking by Consumer Reports for customer service. I honestly don't know why anyone (who's eligible) would choose any other bank/insurance company. Applying for a mortgage or car loan is as easy as a phone call. Maybe a little TOO easy - LOL. You mentioned a possible move - USAA moves with you.

1 mom found this helpful

We use Wells Fargo... We were actually with Wachovia who was bought by Wells Fargo. I really can't say anything good or bad about the bank. I am just too lazy to go through the trouble of opening up a new account and changing my direct deposit etc....

1 mom found this helpful

We left Bank of America because they screwed us on our HELOC (after they bought out Countrywide). WE have our mortgage and a checking with a small town bank and another account in a credit union and we love it. WE get to speak to actual people on the phone when we call and they are providing jobs in our community. Both the bank and the credit union do public service projects in our community. I also love that our credit union allows our children to learn financial responsibility by having free savings accounts that come with kid-friendly savings incentives. I have Wells Fargo stock I inherited and I STILL will not bank with them.

1 mom found this helpful

I love our local Chase and now that they are in grocery stores too, well, it makes it even better. The local people are SO nice here. :D I usually just deposit through the ATM but every now & then, need something only a human can do.

1 mom found this helpful

I'm coming in a little late on this one & you've already made your decision but I I have to vote USAA. We've been with them for a number of years now & love it! It can get annoying to not have a brick & mortar building on the very occassional times I've needed one but it's not that big of a deal. The customer service is fantastic & since we do about 99% of our banking online it works for us.

1 mom found this helpful

We love USAA. Not having a "brick and mortor" bldg has not been a problem and their pluses far out-weigh that single negative.

Good luck.
~C.

1 mom found this helpful

i loooooooove usaa. they are much much more helpful than any in person could ever be...the most polite...don't charge for debit card, and you can deposit at a ups store. omg, the best lol

1 mom found this helpful