Can someone reccommend a good bank?

[exodus454]

So this is about the 4th week in a row that this has happened. Always towards the end of a pay cycle money starts getting tight, and every once and awhile I get hit with overdraft fees for this stuff. But Bank of America is fvcking tearing me a new one!

First off, they charge you a $5 monthly fee without direct deposit. Nice.

Secondly, they charge me a $10 "overdraft protection" fee whenever they have to transfer funds from savings to checking in order to cover a purchase. Crap.

Thirdly, they deduct funds from your account not in the order which they were purchased, but they always deduct the largest amount first ensuring that they get the most possible overdraft fees. Scummy.

A few days ago I didnt know a $300 check I had written 3 weeks ago had hit my account. I made 6 or 7 $1.50-$7.00 purchases totaling $25. I got charged $210 in overdraft fees for $25 that they had to loan me for two days! RIDICULOUS!

Now, I know some of the fees were my fault, but $210 in fees for $25 in purchases is ridiculous. Tomorrow I'm marching down to their office, giving them a face full and closing my account. I'm done.


Does anyone know of any good banks that are actually nice to do business with? Any recommendations would be very appreciated.

I live in CT, if it makes a difference.

 

[jme5343]

Look for a credit union to join...

 

[xanis]

Try Wachovia... I've been with them for as long as I can remember and I've been very happy.

 

[ThePresence]

I use Wachovia, I'm quite happy with them.

 

[ponyo]

Originally posted by: jmebonner
Look for a credit union to join...

Probably your best bet. All large banks operate the same slimy way. Wachovia, BoA, Wells, etc.

 

[Pepsei]

wachovia...

 

[Eug]

Why don't you get overdraft protection?

 

[gooseman]

I know this is a long shot and apparently quite old fashioned but have you ever thought about possibly keeping your checkbook balanced!!!

I know, I know, it's crazy but it just might work!!

 

[moshquerade]

Originally posted by: Eug
Why don't you get overdraft protection?

really. it's very simple to do and then you are covered.

 

[garkon]

hmm, i bank w/ wells fargo, and when my account takes from my savings for overdraft, it dose not charge me anything, though i've only done it twice. The one time it overdrafted to my CC it charged me(i had just opened a credit card and did not know that overdraft protection would be defaulted to the card, ass munchers)

 

[thespeakerbox]

I've always had a great experience with Bank Of America. It sounds more like a money management issue than anything else. Also if youre student, bank of america provides student checking which is excellent. They even alow you some "stuff happens" card which let you remove overdraft fees. With my campusedge checking I get no monthly fees at all. The things youre complaining about are pretty much normal practice for all banks. If you have trouble with fees of 5 and 10 dollars causing overdrafts, it soudns like a money issue , not bank.

I'd stick it out with the large bank rather than going to fargo or wachovia , but if anything, go Citibank.

You might want to start making purchases on a credit card. At least you get 20 something days to straighten out you stuff , and you wont have to deal with people depositing your checks 2349 months later. Just dont go overboard.

Credit Card + Balancing Book = Less headaches. Online banking does wonders too.

 

[kt]

I never had any problems with BofA before, but then again I have never overdrafted.

 

[imported_FishTaco]

Originally posted by: exodus454
So this is about the 4th week in a row that this has happened. Always towards the end of a pay cycle money starts getting tight, and every once and awhile I get hit with overdraft fees for this stuff. But Bank of America is fvcking tearing me a new one!

First off, they charge you a $5 monthly fee without direct deposit. Nice.

Secondly, they charge me a $10 "overdraft protection" fee whenever they have to transfer funds from savings to checking in order to cover a purchase. Crap.

Thirdly, they deduct funds from your account not in the order which they were purchased, but they always deduct the largest amount first ensuring that they get the most possible overdraft fees. Scummy.

A few days ago I didnt know a $300 check I had written 3 weeks ago had hit my account. I made 6 or 7 $1.50-$7.00 purchases totaling $25. I got charged $210 in overdraft fees for $25 that they had to loan me for two days! RIDICULOUS!

Now, I know some of the fees were my fault, but $210 in fees for $25 in purchases is ridiculous. Tomorrow I'm marching down to their office, giving them a face full and closing my account. I'm done.


Does anyone know of any good banks that are actually nice to do business with? Any recommendations would be very appreciated.

I live in CT, if it makes a difference.

I'm confused as to what type of overdraft protection your checking account is offering. If the overdraft fee is $10 per incident, and you had 6 or 7 incidents, shouldn't the fee be $60 or $70 to transfer the $25 total from your savings to your checking account, not $210? Is the bank loaning you the $25 or are they transfering it from your savings account? On one line you state they are transfering from your savings and on another you say they're loaning you the money.

 

[jadinolf]

Originally posted by: Eug
Why don't you get overdraft protection?

:thumbsup:

 

[Mday]

it's mostly your fault though. Not sure why you got hit with such high fees.

I got overdrafted a while back, $30 from the bill, $30 from the bank. It was totally my fault, and I expected those charges once I found out there was an overdraft issue. I use citibank (who also has its haters).

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: exodus454
First off, they charge you a $5 monthly fee without direct deposit. Nice.

I don't quite understand what you're getting at here...they're charging you $5 for depositing your paycheck physically instead of electronically? How is it processed any differently than any other check? I've had BoA for years, and have NEVER seen a $5 charge during those times when I didn't have direct deposit. And I've deposited a LOT of checks.

Originally posted by: exodus454
Secondly, they charge me a $10 "overdraft protection" fee whenever they have to transfer funds from savings to checking in order to cover a purchase. Crap.

Well, maybe, but it's somewhat worrisome that you're actually keeping enough money in BoA's worthless "savings" account to cover your checking indiscretions.

Originally posted by: exodus454
Thirdly, they deduct funds from your account not in the order which they were purchased, but they always deduct the largest amount first ensuring that they get the most possible overdraft fees. Scummy.

Yeah, that's pretty lousy.

Still, you can usually get a lot of those overdraft fees dropped the first time if you call them up and talk it over. In the future, balance your checkbook, dude!

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: exodus454
So this is about the 4th week in a row that this has happened. Always towards the end of a pay cycle money starts getting tight, and every once and awhile I get hit with overdraft fees for this stuff. But Bank of America is fvcking tearing me a new one!

First off, they charge you a $5 monthly fee without direct deposit. Nice.

Secondly, they charge me a $10 "overdraft protection" fee whenever they have to transfer funds from savings to checking in order to cover a purchase. Crap.

Thirdly, they deduct funds from your account not in the order which they were purchased, but they always deduct the largest amount first ensuring that they get the most possible overdraft fees. Scummy.

A few days ago I didnt know a $300 check I had written 3 weeks ago had hit my account. I made 6 or 7 $1.50-$7.00 purchases totaling $25. I got charged $210 in overdraft fees for $25 that they had to loan me for two days! RIDICULOUS!

Now, I know some of the fees were my fault, but $210 in fees for $25 in purchases is ridiculous. Tomorrow I'm marching down to their office, giving them a face full and closing my account. I'm done.


Does anyone know of any good banks that are actually nice to do business with? Any recommendations would be very appreciated.

I live in CT, if it makes a difference.

It's called Check 21, was signed into Law last summer by the President.

Enjoy

Another Law they make sound like a good thing but is bad for the peon Americans

 

[biggestmuff]

switching banks isn't going to fix your problem. start paying attention to your finances. BoA has a very good online money management system; use it.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: biggestmuff
switching banks isn't going to fix your problem. start paying attention to your finances. BoA has a very good online money management system; use it.

They hold on to your check from 3 to 9 days under the new law but take the money out instantly.

Explain how you manage more than a week gap in time they are stealing your money?

 

[DaWhim]

USAA is great, but i don't use them.

HSBC works great for me.

 

[DaWhim]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: biggestmuff
switching banks isn't going to fix your problem. start paying attention to your finances. BoA has a very good online money management system; use it.

They hold on to your check from 3 to 9 days under the new law but take the money out instantly.

Explain how you manage more than a week gap in time they are stealing your money?

not sure what you talking about the holding your check thing. this is what I do when I get checks for deposit. "CASH THESE AND DEPOSIT, PLEASE." I get my fund instant showed on my checking account.

 

[PHiuR]

HSBC. can't go wrong with a name as long as Hong Kong - Shanghai Bank Corporation.

 

[msparish]

Hehe, reminds me of a time back in Feb. I meant to withdraw $5000 from my ING savings to my checking account. Instead, I accidently entered the reverse. I checked my account a couple days later to see if the transaction was done. I'll never forget the feeling of seeing that really large, red, number. Luckily I hardly ever use my checking account (just to pay rent, a couple utilities, and the credit card at the end of the month), so I only ended up with one overdraft charge. I tried to get them to eliminate the fee, but they were unwilling since the overdraft was so large.

Anyway...OP, keep better track of your money. With your habits, any back would ding you with fees.

 

[CrashX]

I have a friend who went through the same thing at BoA. A $2 trip charge at the gas station started a chain reaction of overdrafts on his account. That candy bar and soda ended up costing him $200! Instead of just charging him for the first overdraft, each time it was $25. Ridiculous.

Anyway, I recommend NetBank - www.netbank.com
I have been using them for years and have always been happy with them. No fees, great customer service, interest bearing accounts...etc.

 

[mzkhadir]

Washington Mutual has been great for me.