7 banks that are still awesome

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Tweak155

Tweak155

Lifer
Sep 23, 2003
11,449
264
126
I haven't had any issues with chase, is there a reason it didn't
make the list?
 
mb

mb

Lifer
Jun 27, 2004
10,233
2
71
I use Alliant for my savings. I like them. Good customer service. I also have some money with Capital One but I may close it since they dropped their rates so low. My checking and Amex is still with BofA and I can't see any reason to leave them.

I've used ING in the past but their rates aren't that competitive anymore.
 
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B

bignateyk

Lifer
Apr 22, 2002
11,288
7
0
I'll stick with my local bank that gives me 3% on first 20K for rewards checking. It used to be 4.5% until last year they finally lowered it.
 
misle

misle

Diamond Member
Nov 30, 2000
3,371
0
76
Yeah, I have an ING savings account. I opened it when it was 5%. Now it pretty much sucks.
 
BrokenVisage

BrokenVisage

Lifer
Jan 29, 2005
24,771
14
81
There can only be 4.

ZIhwM.jpg
 
zinfamous

zinfamous

No Lifer
Jul 12, 2006
111,857
31,346
146
mb said:
I've used ING in the past but their rates aren't that competitive anymore.
Click to expand...

Yep, I still have primary savings and CDs with ING, but the rate has dropped to garbage over the last 2 years. It's really sad. Though, I will probably be considering someone new for checking, I might actually give them a look.


"Bank of Internet."

:hmm:

that sounds real legit.
 
kranky

kranky

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
21,019
156
106
I have no quibble with any of the banks on the list, but it really makes no sense to try to choose a "best" bank. People have different needs and wants from a bank. And a story like this has to ignore all the banks and CUs that are not national.

My local CU has gotten a lot bigger since I joined years ago. I still see raised eyebrows sometimes when I go in and give them my account number because it's only 4 digits.

I don't understand why so many people feel they have to go with a megabank. When I was tied up at work a couple months ago and needed to get to the CU before they closed (needed some paperwork handled), I called and asked if anyone would be there after official closing time because I was not going to get there until 15-20 minutes after they closed. The branch manager said he'd stay until I got there. That's just not going to happen at a megabank, and it cannot happen at a net-only bank.
 
M

MotF Bane

No Lifer
Dec 22, 2006
60,801
10
0
Still use ING, but it's really not what it once was.

BrokenVisage, that image is pretty disturbing. Reminiscent of the AT&T picture.
 
TwiceOver

TwiceOver

Lifer
Dec 20, 2002
13,544
44
91
Personally I've never had any problem with Wells Fargo. Generally the people I talk to that have "been screwed by" them are usually bad with money to begin with. I would probably jump ship if something really bad happened or they start charging.
 
Miramonti

Miramonti

Lifer
Aug 26, 2000
28,653
100
106
TwiceOver said:
Personally I've never had any problem with Wells Fargo. Generally the people I talk to that have "been screwed by" them are usually bad with money to begin with. I would probably jump ship if something really bad happened or they start charging.
Click to expand...

I'm great with money but have never had nearly as many hellish experiences elsewhere than with Wells Fargo. They are the devil incarnate (or original version.)
 
DanTMWTMP

DanTMWTMP

Lifer
Oct 7, 2001
15,908
19
81
I use Schwab invester checking account. Completely free checking (no fees, no minimum), unlimited ATM fee reimbursement (international/domestic/planet mars), interest bearing, iphone/android app check deposits, ordering checks is free, and an associated investor account (great if you have an IRA, or want to play in the stock market; it's so easy to transfer funds from one to the other). It's great because I travel too much for work. I'm surprised it's not on the list.

Technically, it's a "Schwab One Brokerage" account, and the investor checking account just comes with it. You can just use the investor checking account by itself. However, if you transfer funds to your account online, it may get deposited into the brokerage account. You'll have to transfer it to the checking account online (it's instant).

Their customer service is AWESOME though. They hire like an army of phone operators 24/7. I've never had to wait.. ever.

I call, and it goes right through. One time, my checking card was eaten by a foreign ATM (two days before I was going to travel from Taiwan to Chile). I really needed the card for withdrawals from the several countries I was going to be at for work. (I was on a mega trip from Asia, to South America, Antarctica, S. Africa, UK; most of the time spent in the oceans). I called them about the situation (from Taiwan), and told them that I did I have a 2-day layover at LAX on the way to Chile. They didn't guarantee anything (most likely a legal thing), but they had my card ready at a local Schwab office for pickup! Friggin awesome.. I can't believe they had the card made, ready, and delivered within a matter of days. I wasn't charged anything for the replacement. I was really expecting to use cash advances from my credit cards (ugh.. fee hell; especially using foreign banks). Schwab ROCKS. I HIGHLY recommend them. I tell that to everyone. Now all of my traveling coworkers use Schwab.

I also use a local ATM bank like Bank of America, just in case. BoA was my first bank account I opened when I was a teenager. They have the best website and ATM presence. I've never had an issue with BoA. I really like their accessibility, and their new ATMs are really cool and easy to use.

I have a couple friends who use ING, and they're happy with it. I almost went with them before Schwab, but Schwab's service package was a hell of a lot more compelling.
 
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HardcoreRobot

HardcoreRobot

Lifer
Nov 7, 2000
16,403
3
81
DanTMWTMP said:
I use Schwab invester checking account. Completely free checking (no fees, no minimum), unlimited ATM fee reimbursement (international/domestic/planet mars), interest bearing, iphone/android app check deposits, ordering checks is free, and an associated investor account (great if you have an IRA, or want to play in the stock market; it's so easy to transfer funds from one to the other). It's great because I travel too much for work. I'm surprised it's not on the list.

Technically, it's a "Schwab One Brokerage" account, and the investor checking account just comes with it. You can just use the investor checking account by itself. However, if you transfer funds to your account online, it may get deposited into the brokerage account. You'll have to transfer it to the checking account online (it's instant).

Their customer service is AWESOME though. They hire like an army of phone operators 24/7. I've never had to wait.. ever.

I call, and it goes right through. One time, my checking card was eaten by a foreign ATM (two days before I was going to travel from Taiwan to Chile). I really needed the card for withdrawals from the several countries I was going to be at for work. (I was on a mega trip from Asia, to South America, Antarctica, S. Africa, UK; most of the time spent in the oceans). I called them about the situation (from Taiwan), and told them that I did I have a 2-day layover at LAX on the way to Chile. They didn't guarantee anything (most likely a legal thing), but they had my card ready at a local Schwab office for pickup! Friggin awesome.. I can't believe they had the card made, ready, and delivered within a matter of days. I wasn't charged anything for the replacement. I was really expecting to use cash advances from my credit cards (ugh.. fee hell; especially using foreign banks). Schwab ROCKS. I HIGHLY recommend them. I tell that to everyone. Now all of my traveling coworkers use Schwab.

I also use a local ATM bank like Bank of America, just in case. BoA was my first bank account I opened when I was a teenager. They have the best website and ATM presence. I've never had an issue with BoA. I really like their accessibility, and their new ATMs are really cool and easy to use.

I have a couple friends who use ING, and they're happy with it. I almost went with them before Schwab, but Schwab's service package was a hell of a lot more compelling.
Click to expand...
schwab is terrible. i signed up, wanted to use their mobile deposit. super pumped to try it out. got the account created. first red flag - no way to electronically fund the account. how retarded for an online account... so i figured id fund the account using mobile deposit. applied through the app, claimed 3 day approval (wtf are they approving). week goes by, nothing. so i figured maybe they want some money in the account to enable all the features. fine. i tried to link my ING account, schwab never acknowledged the test transfers, so no go there. tried to link schwab to ING from schwab, they wanted me to print something and mail it. retarded. i finally broke down and mailed in a check I had. took a few days, they got it and the money showed up. another week goes by, no comment on my mobile deposit request. sent them an inquiry. they said, request denied because there was not enough money in the account! they also said they could not say what the minimum amount for approval would be. really? im trying to DEPOSIT MONEY and you saying i cant, because theres not enough? terrible terrible. very old-fashioned for an internet bank. everything is mail this, or call that. screw them.

set up an ally account, had the account created and initial deposit pending within 5 minutes. <3 ally now. schwab can go to hell.

btw, woudl have just stuck with ING, but i need an online checking and they only allow one per person (and i already have a joint one with my wife).
 
irishScott

irishScott

Lifer
Oct 10, 2006
21,562
3
0
ING Checking and Savings. INGs rates kinda suck, but everyone's rates suck. ING checking (electric orange) is still free and there are free ATMs everywhere (one at the 7/11 down the street from me).
 
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