NWR what bank do you use?

HotAir Posted: Aug 01, 2009 07:34 AM

NWR what bank do you use?

I currently have Astoria Federal for my checking and they are okay but nothing great. I don't have to have a minimum in my checking but I hate that there aren't that many branches and that if I use my debit at a grocery store or wherever as a debit they charge me.

What bank do you recommend???

geegee827 Posted: Aug 01, 2009 07:48 AM

Re: NWR what bank do you use?

I use Chase and use my debit card all the time. I don't get charged a fee for it. FH uses Capital One and loves it but I don't know if they charge for debit use because he NEVER uses his.

nraboni Posted: Aug 01, 2009 07:52 AM

Re: NWR what bank do you use?

I am with CitiBank and have been for about 10 years. There are branches everywhere and they have ATM's in 7/11 which makes it so easy to not ever have to pay an ATM fee. I don't have to have a minimum balance in checking or savings and I don't get charged for my checking. If you are considering making a switch I would switch to a bank that is nationwide....JMO.

MLAngelo Posted: Aug 01, 2009 08:30 AM

Re: NWR what bank do you use?

I love Citibank. I have had such a great experience with them that FH and I opened our joint there. He uses Wachovia, but there's not many branches on LI so he has to do all his accounts when he is in CT. But he loves them.

KerriJohnS Posted: Aug 01, 2009 08:49 AM

Re: NWR what bank do you use?

Posted by geegee827

I use Chase and use my debit card all the time. I don't get charged a fee for it. FH uses Capital One and loves it but I don't know if they charge for debit use because he NEVER uses his.

Nope they don't charge. I work for Capital One. Haha. The only time you can get charged when using your card is if you go to a foreign ATM machine (foreign meaning just not Capital One)... but that's with ALL banks really. Other than that they do not charge! :)

I bank with Capital One Bank and ING Direct.
Most of Cap 1 checking and savings accounts are free. They just came out with their own version of a 'keep the change' account... but with theirs Cap 1 contributes more money to your savings as well. And they have a cool rewards account where you get points for using your card and bill pay.... then you can cash the rewards in. I used mine to go to Jamiaca and i'm using my rewards this time around to pay for our airfare to and from cali (we fly to cali then to tahiti then to moorea and bora bora). And no I get NOTHING if you open an account there... just so people don't think I'm trying to solicit! haha!! I work in the training dept.... and i'm not in a customer facing job position. I just teach people things.

Oh and just so you know... there are HUGE differences between savings banks and commercial banks. A savings bank would be any bank with the word savings in the title. You usually get higher interest and better savings accounts at those banks. Oh and CD's would most likely be better. I prefer ING for those things though. And a commercial bank is like Bank of America, Chase, Citibank, Capital One, etc. All those big named ones.... they usually have more competitive checking products (and can be geared more towards small business accounts). But they are usually spread out across a larger area... on the flip side... they tend to be stringent and very referral driven (when you go in they will most likely try to sell you something).

julesrbf Posted: Aug 01, 2009 08:57 AM

Re: NWR what bank do you use?

I use Bank of America and was thrilled with them until this year, when they started charging me more interest and started charging me $50 a pop whenever I didn't pay my CC balance in full. So I paid off my CC in full (thanks, first-time homeowner tax credit!) and that's not an issue anymore. FH and I just opened a joint account at TD but I'm not thrilled with them either.

It's a shame, because BoA used to be great and I never had a complaint, but with the economy they've turned into money grubbers and it rubs me the wrong way.

kimmaymb20 Posted: Aug 01, 2009 09:03 AM

Re: NWR what bank do you use?

I have an account with BOA because I am constantly between NY and CT right now until FH moves to NY. They are pretty good I dont really have a problem with them. I also have an account that I dont use with Bethpage FCU they are pretty good as well and are starting to get more branches around.

HotAir Posted: Aug 01, 2009 09:35 AM

Re: NWR what bank do you use?

Thanks for all the info! I'm thinking of Bethpage Federal since my job has some sort of deal with them. I want free checking and as little fees as possible and since I'm broke I really can't gaurantee that I will have 1000 in a bank account at all times....I think my account goes as low as 100 bucks some times.

melcc83 Posted: Aug 01, 2009 09:37 AM

Re: NWR what bank do you use?

I work for bank of smithtown... its a really great bank and there opening like 10 more branches this year :)

alli3131 Posted: Aug 01, 2009 09:39 AM

Re: NWR what bank do you use?

I use TD Bank (Commerce) and love them. DOnt have tons of branches but it actually makes me plan my money better....and they are always open...sundays and many holidays.

FutureMrsG Posted: Aug 01, 2009 12:38 PM

Re: NWR what bank do you use?

I have Chase and I love them.

gina409 Posted: Aug 01, 2009 01:22 PM

Re: NWR what bank do you use?

Posted by alli3131

I use TD Bank (Commerce) and love them. DOnt have tons of branches but it actually makes me plan my money better....and they are always open...sundays and many holidays.

same here

debzy Posted: Aug 01, 2009 03:48 PM

Re: NWR what bank do you use?

TD Bank doesn't charge a fee and has free checking. There are so many branches popping up. I'd check them out.

geegee827 Posted: Aug 01, 2009 04:12 PM

Re: NWR what bank do you use?

Posted by HotAir

Thanks for all the info! I'm thinking of Bethpage Federal since my job has some sort of deal with them. I want free checking and as little fees as possible and since I'm broke I really can't gaurantee that I will have 1000 in a bank account at all times....I think my account goes as low as 100 bucks some times.

FH and I have our joint account with Bethpage because they have such great interest rates,

MrsCM Posted: Aug 01, 2009 09:16 PM

Re: NWR what bank do you use?

We had Wamu and Astoria and when we combined accounts we went over to Nassau Educators Credit Union and we couldn't be happier because we signed up for something called 'Go Green Checking' which means that you don't get paper statements in the mail and then you need to either have direct deposit or pay at least one bill online (I do both) and the last thing is you need to use your debit card as a credit transaction like 12 or 14 times per month and you get 4% interest on your checking every month!!! It's amazing it adds up! No fees, they give yo uback your atm fees up to like $15 or something and last month we got $50 in interest for doing nothing, which is ridiculous. We have to keep a minimum of $5 in savings but the savings rate is lower so we keep most in checking.

KittyGags Posted: Aug 01, 2009 10:11 PM

Re: NWR what bank do you use?

I have my savings, checking and my mortgage with Chase. Couldn't be happier with them, my online banking is a CINCH! And i don't really use checks and there is a chase ATM every 5 feet for me to use, so I'm all set!