I'm currently with Bank of America and am looking for a new bank. To make several long stories short, I'm looking for someone who at least appears to want my business. I've always heard that smaller/local and online banks provide better benefits, generally have better customer service, and tend to be more oriented toward the individual rather than corporate/commercial interests.

I need help with where to start searching, what I should be concerned with and what I should be looking for. All I really use a bank for is my checking (frequent cash deposits, don't know if this is difficult with an online bank), savings, one credit card, and perhaps an occasional loan, if this info is relevant.

Any advice?

[Edited on June 6, 2007 at 4:45 PM. Reason : dfg]

6/6/2007 4:40:13 PM

message_topic.aspx?topic=480617 if you're eligible

[Edited on June 6, 2007 at 4:43 PM. Reason : .]

6/6/2007 4:43:00 PM

ING is spectacular for savings, and I hear their online only checking is good (i have savings with) but it doesnt entirely solve the problem, you need a regular bank checking to tie it all into. No idea about c.cards or loans.

I'm pissed as shit with Wachovia who has my checking and c.card so...no recommendations there.

oh but ^ is right, i forget about that because I was a dumbass and didnt get one while i qualified and have been kicking myself for it ever since. - not an option for me anymore though.

[Edited on June 6, 2007 at 4:43 PM. Reason : .]

6/6/2007 4:43:05 PM

personally ive been very happy with wachovia for a good 4-5 years and i have several accounts there /shrug

6/6/2007 4:45:24 PM

I don't believe I'm eligible for SECU or any credit union I know of.

^ I'm trying to get away from the huge BoA/Wachovia et al. unless there is one that is definitely a cut above the rest...

6/6/2007 4:47:18 PM

capital bank is good. they have 4.??% interest on checking and are very friendly. small(er) type bank.

[Edited on June 6, 2007 at 4:55 PM. Reason : %]

6/6/2007 4:55:39 PM

i went from Wachovia to BoA for personal reasons but had no real issues with either

6/6/2007 5:06:43 PM

ING ftw

6/6/2007 5:11:50 PM

left wachovia years ago for First Citizens......been very happy

6/6/2007 6:13:14 PM

FCB ftw, I've been with them since I was old enough to open a bank acct. The girl who I set up my acct with knew me by name, made sure other ppl did, and I made sure to stay in touch so I do feel like I have a personal relationship there. It's also helped with networking now that I have a job. I also have an acct at RBC and they have been great, but their online banking kind of sucks.

6/6/2007 6:27:55 PM

There are dozens of small banks all over the place, each probably has better and more personalized customer service/higher interest rates on deposits/lower fees. However, small banks probably lack ATM's all over the place and purely local banks probably lack ATM's and high tech online banking stuff.

If you ever have a chance to join SECU via family, yourself, or a roomate do so!!

6/6/2007 11:34:12 PM

i have been exteremely satisfied with secu, i left bank of america about 2 years ago, i was tired of getting dicked over

6/7/2007 10:10:31 AM

Quote :

"left wachovia years ago for First Citizens......been very happy"

Better hope you don't need a loan unless you're overly qualified...they're one of the most conservative banks out there.

6/7/2007 10:17:08 AM

mechanics & farmers

6/7/2007 11:38:28 AM

I would not recommend a small bank.


I have RBC is very slow to complete any transaction I attempt. Also, there is no support after 5pm or on weekends.

6/7/2007 1:46:50 PM

I've use BB&T and am happy with them.

6/7/2007 1:49:43 PM

^^RBC isn't a small bank

6/7/2007 1:56:12 PM

Quote :

"Better hope you don't need a loan unless you're overly qualified...they're one of the most conservative banks out there."

already had and paid off one.......

6/7/2007 4:21:01 PM

Couldn't be happier with BB&T...great local service touch.

For online savings, I use EmigrantDirect.com

6/7/2007 4:23:38 PM

^^that was me btw, woops

6/7/2007 7:08:34 PM

RBC is a fucking terrible bank.

6/7/2007 7:29:28 PM

i really liked centura before the buyout, and i lived in rocky mount.

now, not so much

6/7/2007 7:49:23 PM

BB&T.

I've had my personal account with them since I was 16, brought our business to them and loved it. I've had now 4 friends move their personal accounts to BB&T from Wachovia and BoA, and soon to be 3 businesses move or open their accounts with BB&T. I can't speak highly enough about their customer service, it's absolutely the reason I am with them.

6/8/2007 12:40:33 AM

^ yep thats probably the best one to go to that has a balance between large bank and smaller local bank. I did a lot of business with them until I came on board with SECU.

6/8/2007 12:45:45 AM

actually my first bank was a BB&T but I switched to BoA when I changed high schools because there wasn't a BB&T around the new school and my mom had/has a great record and benefits with BoA. I wasn't really all that concerned with the complexities of banking back then though so I can't really say if it was any better. I'm willing to give it a good shot though, especially since there's one right across the skreet from me.

Anyone know anything about good savings plans through BB&T? That's my primary concern now...that and customer service. One of the reasons I'm leaving BoA is the abhorrent or complete lack of customer care.

6/8/2007 1:38:17 AM

6/8/2007 1:48:15 AM

^^ I know they are currently doing 5.5% 5 or 6 month CD's. I think they have saving accounts with something in the 4-4.5% range with a minimum of like 5K in it. Don't remember too much on the details as all my money stay in our company instead of my personal accounts, but it seemed like they had a lot of options and were just under ING's rates for most everything.

6/8/2007 2:33:24 AM

BB&T is great.

6/8/2007 10:14:10 AM

ETRADE is the best

6/8/2007 3:47:11 PM