I need to find a bank

[BarenakedLady]

I need to open a bank account. Does anyone know any good ones that don't charge fees for every little thing? Of course, I'm in Western NY so it would have to be here. :P

Oh and hi! What's up? Long time no post.

:hi:

[bicentennial_baby]

1. Hey you!

:hi:

I would try and find a local credit union. Much better than the monster corporate banks. :)

[BelleCarolinaPeridot]

2. I agree.

[BarenakedLady]

4. Thanks

I'll look into that. I've never used a credit union before.

[MissMillie]

6. YUP!

If your employer has one that's even better. But local credit unions are terrific.

[BarenakedLady]

10. I need to find a job first.

;)

[TZ]

7. +1

Credit Unions don't have fees for the most part.

[BarenakedLady]

13. I found one right near my school!

Cool. :D

[LeftyFingerPop]

3. If you do want to go with a bank rather than a CU...

Try M&T. You can develop relationship accounts with no fees.

I think they have them up your way? :hi:

One advantage of a bank: more branches.

[BarenakedLady]

5. Cool. There is one in my town.

I'll check it out. :)

I agree about the advantages of branches.

[HopeHoops]

8. Watch for minimum balance service charges!

I've got two banks that have no minimum, no service charge, no fees. Both are somewhat local to my region (S. Central PA). The larger ones are sneaky about hidden fees. I only use the ATM at my bank so I never pay ATM fees. I use the Visa/Debit card anywhere else - again, no fees.

[BarenakedLady]

9. Exactly

That's what I've been discovering while searching around. Fees for everything! Gah.

[HopeHoops]

14. I'm happy with the two I have and both are walking distance.

One is Commerce Bank and the other is Susquehanna, but I doubt you have either up your way. The small banks try harder and my experience has been that the employee retention is greater so they know you by name when you walk in the door.

I've had way too many small banks be swallowed by larger ones and suddenly everything goes to shit. They institute minimum balances, add fees to everything. I know someone mentioned M&T, but when they ate AllFirst, all of a sudden I had to keep something like $1,500 in my checking account to avoid a fee - and at the time I rarely had that much within ten minutes of my direct deposit going through - bills and all. I dropped them.

[taterguy]

11. The only banks I like are the banks of the Mississippi River

Yes, I'm channeling Mojo

[BarenakedLady]

12. Do they offer free checking.

:silly:

[Jamastiene]

15. Too bad you won't bank online.

Jama First Savings and Loan is an EXCELLENT banking institution. Your money would be just as safe at JFS&L as any other bank currently. :evilgrin:

[BarenakedLady]

16. Do you charge fees?

:D