Best Banks

[C.Arden]

I'm looking for a new bank and I'm not sure who to go with. I'm looking for something with no fees. This will be my personal account and I'm a SAHM so I won't have direct deposit or anything. We currently live in NJ, but we're probably going to be moving out of state in the next year or so, so I'm mainly looking at the big banks with locations all over so hopefully I'll be able to keep this account when we move. Any suggestions? Any to avoid?

[Drummer's Wife]

I'm happy with Bank of America. But they don't have locations everywhere.

Any chance you are a USAA member? They have checking/savings accounts, that seem pretty great (I need to sign up for one, myself).

[Ola_]

Do you know where you'll be moving to? If so, I'd try to find out if there's a credit union that serves both areas.

[MichaelsSahm]

We have USAA and they are the best bank in my opinion!!!

We had bad expiriences with Wellsfargo!

[zebra15]

IMO look for a credit union. Also take into consideration where you could be moving too and see whats available in that new location as well.

[sunnysandiegan]

We are members of Navy Federal Credit Union and they are everywhere I have lived. My uncle was in the Navy and that is how I got my account way back when, but the criteria isn't just Navy. It is a great credit union! My uncle who was once in the Navy now works for the credit union. I forget what he does exactly, but he travels frequently in his job and he loves it.

[WorldsBestMom]

Credit unions are good. As for finding a reputable Bank that does not charge you any fees that is very unlikely. Good legitimate banks have to charge a little fee in order to survive but over charging there customers is a no no.

[ArtsyMomma]

I'm really happy with my local credit union. I've only had miserable experiences with banks. I don't think I'd go back to a bank at this point.

[maryeliz]

Like ArtsyMomma I love my credit union and I don't think I would go back to a regular bank. I had a terrible experience with WaMu in which they were both incompetent and rude. I switched to a credit union through my employer and they are great. I made a mistake on a stop check form at my credit union and they just put it through again with the mistake corrected and didn't charge me additional money-I can't imagine a big bank doing that.

The only problem I've heard about my credit union is that there are fewer free ATM than with a major bank. This hasn't been a problem for me, but is something to be aware of.

[EricaDoula]

I have Navy Federal Credit Union because my husband was in the Navy. I love them! They are always so helpful and they have great customer service.

[Denvergirlie]

I currently bank with Chase (JP Morgan), but they are one of those "big banks". I am getting ready to change thou, but with direct deposit my checking account is free.
I would also consider things like ATM locations. For me it's important, as I do pull cash from time to time and also have random expense checks I need to deposit as well. I almost never go to an actual teller, but also ask if your new bank/ credit union will have teller fees....
Personally, I will be changing to a local bank or credit union but plan on researching how balanced the banks liabilities are. A lot of local banks loaned a lot of money to commercial real estate and some of those banks will not survive in the next little bit as the CRE market is getting ready to crash.

Another thing to consider, did your new "bank" get TARP funds in the bailout? (Chase did, which is why I'll be moving my money.)

[naupakamama]

We absolutely love love love USAA. They are always so friendly, and no fees for anything. They even repay ATM fees of other banks, up to 10 per month. And when we needed a large sum of cash (buying a private used car), they simply gave us a one day authorization on our ATM to take out much more. When we accidentally overdrew the account, they took a cash advance to cover it off of our USAA credit card with no fee at all. I just needed to pay the credit card immediately so that it did not draw interest. I think I ended up paying 17 cents in finance charge on that mistake - totally different than in a big bank.

For a while any one could open a USAA bank account but I had heard through the grapevine that they changed that. IDK.

[ArtsyMomma]

Originally Posted by maryeliz

Like ArtsyMomma I love my credit union and I don't think I would go back to a regular bank. I had a terrible experience with WaMu in which they were both incompetent and rude. I switched to a credit union through my employer and they are great. I made a mistake on a stop check form at my credit union and they just put it through again with the mistake corrected and didn't charge me additional money-I can't imagine a big bank doing that.

The only problem I've heard about my credit union is that there are fewer free ATM than with a major bank. This hasn't been a problem for me, but is something to be aware of.

Our credit union doesn't charge any fees for the ATM's. They don't charge you to use other financial institutions ATMs and they don't charge non-members for using their ATMs. In our area, there are plenty of CU ATMs available - but I think it's the primary financial institution in our area (not sure though)

[zinemama]

We left a big bank for a credit union and have been very happy. Not only with the service, but knowing our money is doing a lot of good locally.

[jeca]

Another vote for USAA. I have not had a single complaint about them since we started with them in 1999.

[KatWrangler]

We are with a regional bank. I would like to move our money to a Credit Union.

I have big problems with the Big Banks like B0A.

[Smocked]

well, we have union bank and haven't had any problems except for bad costumer service a few times. I had always used credit unions, but when we moved here we didn't qualify for the ones here because we weren't teachers or farmers

[jen in co]

We love USAA!!!