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Non-Road Boards => Off-Topic => Topic started by: roadman65 on July 18, 2014, 02:20:43 PM

Title: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: roadman65 on July 18, 2014, 02:20:43 PM
I was just curious if anybody uses the big chain banks, and which ones you do bank at or have opinions about.

Me I like Chase and am looking into TD Bank as the latter requires you to only keep 100 bucks in your account to avoid service fees.  Bank of America sucks and glad I dumped years ago.  I only acquired them because they ended up buying the bank I originally liked when I moved to Florida back in the 90's.  B of A does not give you an accurate summary on line of your balance as if you use bill pay to pay 30 dollars to the electric company, your account is not shown the new balance until your electric company receives the money themselves.  Where with Chase I like because your account is automatically debited that 30 bucks from the moment you make the payment, so you know what you really have in your account.

Of course all banks these days really suck, but the two I mentioned are the best I have found so far.
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: SidS1045 on July 18, 2014, 02:59:05 PM
"Favorite national bank chain"
Isn't that a contradiction, like "jumbo shrimp?"
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: The Nature Boy on July 18, 2014, 03:49:12 PM
I have Bank of America, but only because it was the only national bank downtown in my college town and it's also in my law school town. I had their free student account until they switched me recently.

Once I move to Boston, I'll probably switch to TD or a local bank.
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: Thing 342 on July 18, 2014, 04:45:31 PM
Does USAA count?
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: ghYHZ on July 18, 2014, 07:03:55 PM
I'm surprised at the coverage the big Canadian banks now have in the US.....TD (Toronto Dominion) and RBC (Royal Bank of Canada)........ Great to be able to save on ATM fees by using a branch of my local bank on a drive to Myrtle Beach each year.
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: doorknob60 on July 18, 2014, 07:18:19 PM
US Bank hasn't given me any issues since I opened my account a few years ago. And my parents have used them for ages, without complaints. Although, I think there might be some fees that they're waiving for me since I'm a student. Not sure what they are or if I'll have to pay them later.
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: Scott5114 on July 18, 2014, 08:23:58 PM
Both banks that I use are Oklahoma-exclusive: Tinker Federal Credit Union for personal finance, and BancFirst for business. I have not had any problems with either, even though my TFCU account has been open since 1995.

I would never use one of the national banks. I have heard too many horror stories, particularly about Chase.
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: 1995hoo on July 18, 2014, 08:50:29 PM
I like Bank of America's online banking and their iPad app. Outstanding stuff.

I got fed up with Citibank because they kept putting holds on $200 of a $300 deposit every few weeks even when I had more than enough in my accounts to cover it if it bounced. To paraphrase William R. Sturgeon ("The Fish," for any of you who were once Gordon Korman fans), if I were to attempt to defraud Citibank, it would not be for the paltry sum of $200. I would, as they say, go for the bundle. I had had accounts at Citibank because when I worked downtown they had a branch a block from the office and it was a good way to segregate money for estimated tax payments from regular money, plus their ATM gave out $50 bills. But I no longer work downtown and finding a Citibank branch is a hassle (nearest one is a good 15—20 minute drive).
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: US71 on July 18, 2014, 08:54:49 PM
Arvest
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: Road Hog on July 18, 2014, 09:16:36 PM
B of A is where I have my checking, but only because they bought out my hometown bank some 15 years ago. I'll trust them to mind my account and their ATMs are everywhere, but that's the extent of it.

Tried to refinance my mortgage through B of A a few years ago and there were so many hoops to jump through, I gave up and refi'd through Green Tree.
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: 1995hoo on July 18, 2014, 09:28:41 PM
Quote from: Road Hog on July 18, 2014, 09:16:36 PM
B of A is where I have my checking, but only because they bought out my hometown bank some 15 years ago. I'll trust them to mind my account and their ATMs are everywhere, but that's the extent of it.

....

Heh. I could trace Bank of America back to Fairfax County National Bank!
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: SteveG1988 on July 18, 2014, 10:24:49 PM
I love wells fargo. I just like having a ton of branches everywhere
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: roadman65 on July 18, 2014, 11:53:45 PM
I do have an account with Wells Fargo.  Here is how it happened.  A small bank in Clark, NJ called United Counties Trust got absorbed sometime in the 90's to another bank.  That bank was a regional NJ bank that eventually became part of First Jersey Bank.  Then First Jersey got absorbed into First Union Bank, which as if you follow the 76ers in the NBA you will know the naming rights of its home arena that will give you the rest.

However, if you do not follow the Sixers than you should know how it later merged with another bank to become Wachovia.  Then finally Wachovia a few years back merged with Wells Fargo and viola I am part of it.  From a one branch bank to a large nationwide bank.  It is not the best though, but for Nostalgia I hold on to it.  Chase is my main bank, but Wells Fargo has the best logo with the covered wagon and even some branches show railroad pictures on the walls above the teller windows.
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: NJRoadfan on July 19, 2014, 01:12:31 AM
United Counties had more than one branch. There was a branch in Springfield, NJ that is still a Wells Fargo today. According to NJ's bank merger history, United Counties went through a few mergers before becoming New Jersey National Bank and First Union (you forget CoreStates).

I still bank local, no hidden fees, no hassles. If I ever have to call customer support, I get someone in NJ, not India. I still love how your own bank gets away with charging foreign ATM fees (PNC started this evil) on top of the ATM owner's fees. It actually doesn't cost your bank anything to process the transaction, its pure profit!

http://www.nj.gov/dobi/bankmerger_alpha.htm
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: on_wisconsin on July 19, 2014, 01:29:18 AM
Uh... Why would I voluntarily tell the internet what bank I use... sounds like a safe idea...
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: 1995hoo on July 19, 2014, 08:40:07 AM
Quote from: on_wisconsin on July 19, 2014, 01:29:18 AM
Uh... Why would I voluntarily tell the internet what bank I use... sounds like a safe idea...

Somebody tried posting a thread that asked exactly that and it was quickly locked. This thread is slightly different.
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: Doctor Whom on July 19, 2014, 09:54:28 AM
Quote from: SteveG1988 on July 18, 2014, 10:24:49 PM
I love wells fargo. I just like having a ton of branches everywhere
I'm very happy with Wells Fargo for mortgages.
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: US71 on July 19, 2014, 10:09:48 AM
Quote from: on_wisconsin on July 19, 2014, 01:29:18 AM
Uh... Why would I voluntarily tell the internet what bank I use... sounds like a safe idea...
It's not like you're giving your account info :p
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: US71 on July 19, 2014, 10:12:47 AM
Quote from: Doctor Whom on July 19, 2014, 09:54:28 AM
Quote from: SteveG1988 on July 18, 2014, 10:24:49 PM
I love wells fargo. I just like having a ton of branches everywhere
I'm very happy with Wells Fargo for mortgages.

I don't trust Wells Fargo. Long story. Suffice to say the brokers are crooked.
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: realjd on July 19, 2014, 03:03:22 PM
Banks suck, national banks even more so. Go find a local credit union.
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: US71 on July 19, 2014, 04:05:07 PM
Quote from: realjd on July 19, 2014, 03:03:22 PM
Banks suck, national banks even more so. Go find a local credit union.
I left my credit union after they gouged me on service fees (despite being "non-profit")
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: Pete from Boston on July 19, 2014, 10:12:26 PM

Quote from: 1995hoo on July 18, 2014, 09:28:41 PM
Quote from: Road Hog on July 18, 2014, 09:16:36 PM
B of A is where I have my checking, but only because they bought out my hometown bank some 15 years ago. I'll trust them to mind my account and their ATMs are everywhere, but that's the extent of it.

....

Heh. I could trace Bank of America back to Fairfax County National Bank!

Bank of America is the fifth corporation to own the account I have with them.  I periodically remind them of this when they're being a pain in my ass and they usually straighten up.
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: algorerhythms on July 19, 2014, 11:42:47 PM
Quote from: US71 on July 19, 2014, 04:05:07 PM
Quote from: realjd on July 19, 2014, 03:03:22 PM
Banks suck, national banks even more so. Go find a local credit union.
I left my credit union after they gouged me on service fees (despite being "non-profit")
That's why I didn't go with the local credit union that I qualify for. As bad as BoA is, they're less bad than that credit union.
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: SP Cook on July 20, 2014, 07:16:35 AM
Old guy mode on.  National banks, as in "with a national presense" as opposed to the word "national" in the name are a great convience.  In the old days you had to change banks everytime you moved, often even within the same state and when you traveled, you needed to plan ahead because the ATM fees were confiscatory (or, really old guy mode on, there was no such thing as an ATM, and nobody at the banks where you were knew you, which is why you had traveler's checks (credit cards were far less common) and cash). 

That said, I use BB&T.  Mainly because I used their local predecessor which they bought and most of my travels are in the South.  My area is an economic backwater and avoided by most truly national banks, save Chase, which of course, I would not use because of its historical owners.    If Wells Fargo or BoA came in this area, I would consider them.
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: US81 on July 20, 2014, 10:36:33 AM
Quote from: algorerhythms on July 19, 2014, 11:42:47 PM
Quote from: US71 on July 19, 2014, 04:05:07 PM
Quote from: realjd on July 19, 2014, 03:03:22 PM
Banks suck, national banks even more so. Go find a local credit union.
I left my credit union after they gouged me on service fees (despite being "non-profit")
That's why I didn't go with the local credit union that I qualify for. As bad as BoA is, they're less bad than that credit union.

I'm sorry to hear that there are bad credit unions out there. I've only had good experiences with all of mine, and been so badly gouged by banks that I'm never - ever- going back.
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: Doctor Whom on July 20, 2014, 10:38:55 AM
Quote from: US71 on July 19, 2014, 04:05:07 PMI left my credit union after they gouged me on service fees (despite being "non-profit")
I used to have an account with my father's credit union, but the people there exhibited weapons-grade incompetence more than once.
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: US71 on July 20, 2014, 11:28:09 AM
Quote from: Doctor Whom on July 20, 2014, 10:38:55 AM
Quote from: US71 on July 19, 2014, 04:05:07 PMI left my credit union after they gouged me on service fees (despite being "non-profit")
I used to have an account with my father's credit union, but the people there exhibited weapons-grade incompetence more than once.
Same here: my cash deposits were always $10-$20 short (Count it again! "Oh, I missed that").  Then they lost $1000 deposit I made after one of my shows. They eventually found it, but refused to reimburse me the bounced check fees.
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: Dr Frankenstein on July 21, 2014, 11:23:16 AM
Like SidS1045, I think that "favourite national bank" is an oxymoron.

I do everything with my local credit union, and have not run into a single problem with them.
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: SSOWorld on July 21, 2014, 07:22:22 PM
Bank or CU - you're going to have fees.  The fees CUs will charge are used to drive a member of the CU toward a certain practice (E-Statements for and direct deposits to get free bill pay for example).  I have not had any problems with mine.
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: SP Cook on July 22, 2014, 08:34:23 AM
Credit Unions became de facto banks after a Supreme Court decision back in the 90s.  They used to really be limited to a genuine group, such as people that worked at the same place.  Now they only play lip service to that.  All you have is a small bank.  I don't get why deal with a small bank, unless you have bad credit and cannot borrow money elsewhere.  Knowing that my bank is on the corner, anywhere in the South I might go, it reassuring.

The remaining genuine credit unions, are generally run out of a cigar box.  Weapons grade incompentence to be sure. 
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: 1995hoo on July 22, 2014, 09:59:22 AM
Quote from: SP Cook on July 22, 2014, 08:34:23 AM
Credit Unions became de facto banks after a Supreme Court decision back in the 90s.  They used to really be limited to a genuine group, such as people that worked at the same place.  Now they only play lip service to that.  All you have is a small bank.  I don't get why deal with a small bank, unless you have bad credit and cannot borrow money elsewhere.  Knowing that my bank is on the corner, anywhere in the South I might go, it reassuring.

The remaining genuine credit unions, are generally run out of a cigar box.  Weapons grade incompentence to be sure. 

There's a local bank here that reimburses ATM fees charged by other banks, which takes away a lot of the concern about not having access to branches when you travel. True, making a deposit is harder if the need arises; mobile check deposit via a phone or tablet helps, but it has limitations (and there's always the risk they might put a hold on the deposit and ask you to produce the check, which is harder if you're on the road).
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: hbelkins on July 22, 2014, 10:41:17 AM
Quote from: SP Cook on July 22, 2014, 08:34:23 AM
Credit Unions became de facto banks after a Supreme Court decision back in the 90s.  They used to really be limited to a genuine group, such as people that worked at the same place.  Now they only play lip service to that.  All you have is a small bank.  I don't get why deal with a small bank, unless you have bad credit and cannot borrow money elsewhere.  Knowing that my bank is on the corner, anywhere in the South I might go, it reassuring.

The remaining genuine credit unions, are generally run out of a cigar box.  Weapons grade incompentence to be sure.

A lot of the small, independent banks and credit unions have joined together to form something called Alliance One, which offers fee-free ATM service.

I have banked for years at my hometown bank. Once upon a time it was owned and operated by a very well-respected local family. I knew them, my family knew them (my grandfather taught the bank president's son how to fish when he was a youngster) and when I wanted my first loan, to buy a car, I talked to the bank president himself. (I even had an unsolicited job offer to work there not long after I got out of college).

The expansion bug bit them, and they went after the more lucrative home loan market in the Winchester-Lexington-Georgetown area. They purged a lot of long-time, popular and well-liked employees. They expanded and then moved the headquarters to Winchester, and recently sold their big former headquarters they'd opened in the mid-1980s, leaving only a branch-type physical presence in the bank's hometown. The president is from out-of-town now (there's a back story behind that, which I won't go into here) and the directors are mostly from elsewhere. It's not the same hometown bank that it used to be, and that I preferred to deal with. They've started charging for services that were free for years, are closing dormant accounts and refusing to cash checks for non-customers, and a lot of other things that would have been blasphemy 25 years ago in our little community.

I don't consider the bank's offices in the other towns to be "my bank." They're not going to know me from Adam if I go in there and are going to treat me like a stranger, instead of someone they know.

My little town is withering on the vine. Businesses are closing, unemployment is very high and opportunities for educated, intelligent, ambitious people are few and far between. It's telling, though, that as the expansion bug has bitten the local bank, two banks from neighboring counties have established branched within the past 10 years. My sister-in-law works at the newest one, having been hired away from the established bank.

I'm also a member of one of the credit unions available to employees at my place of work. That came in handy when I lived in Winchester and worked in Frankfort (before my hometown bank expanded into Winchester), but it's not so handy now because their closest physical presence is Lexington. They are easier to deal with than the bank, however, for short-term loans or lines of credit.
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: realjd on July 22, 2014, 12:36:18 PM
Quote from: SP Cook on July 22, 2014, 08:34:23 AM
Credit Unions became de facto banks after a Supreme Court decision back in the 90s.  They used to really be limited to a genuine group, such as people that worked at the same place.  Now they only play lip service to that.  All you have is a small bank.  I don't get why deal with a small bank, unless you have bad credit and cannot borrow money elsewhere.  Knowing that my bank is on the corner, anywhere in the South I might go, it reassuring.

The remaining genuine credit unions, are generally run out of a cigar box.  Weapons grade incompentence to be sure. 

Credit unions are non-profit and member owned. They typically have better customer service, lower fees, and lower interest rates (for accounts and loans) than a bank.

How often do you need to visit a bank when out of town? My credit/debit and ATM cards work anywhere in the world. The only reason I ever actually visit my credit union is to get into my safe deposit box.
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: The Nature Boy on July 22, 2014, 01:32:00 PM
Quote from: realjd on July 22, 2014, 12:36:18 PM
Quote from: SP Cook on July 22, 2014, 08:34:23 AM
Credit Unions became de facto banks after a Supreme Court decision back in the 90s.  They used to really be limited to a genuine group, such as people that worked at the same place.  Now they only play lip service to that.  All you have is a small bank.  I don't get why deal with a small bank, unless you have bad credit and cannot borrow money elsewhere.  Knowing that my bank is on the corner, anywhere in the South I might go, it reassuring.

The remaining genuine credit unions, are generally run out of a cigar box.  Weapons grade incompentence to be sure. 

Credit unions are non-profit and member owned. They typically have better customer service, lower fees, and lower interest rates (for accounts and loans) than a bank.

How often do you need to visit a bank when out of town? My credit/debit and ATM cards work anywhere in the world. The only reason I ever actually visit my credit union is to get into my safe deposit box.

You would genuinely be surprised. You still need to go and deposit cash and checks. I don't trust mobile check deposit and you still have to physically present cash to deposit it.
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: Scott5114 on July 22, 2014, 02:55:09 PM
...When do you need to make a deposit when you're out of town? What sort of vacation do you go on where people are giving you sums of money so large that you can't just take it home with you and deposit it then? (Okay, Vegas, but I'm pretty sure you can have them mail a check to your house if you hit a large enough jackpot that you're worried about taking it home...) I can see why a business that travels to conventions and other long-distance points of sale might want access to their bank nationwide, but I simply don't see that happening for an individual citizen.

Like realjd, I don't need to visit my CU branch. I do anyway because I prefer $10s to $20s and every ATM dispenses $20s, so I just go in to get $10s. They also have a free self-service coin counter, which I use whenever I amass $20 or so worth of random coins.

Regarding the credit union thing–since credit unions are usually non-profit and member-owned, they tend to not have the predatory fees and policies that for-profit banks do. My ATM fee for an out of network ATM is only 75¢, which I understand is quite a bit lower than the likes of Chase and BOA. If I am cheesed off about something the bank is doing I can walk into a board meeting (times and locations are posted in the branches) and raise hell with the directors directly instead of going up the line of corporate circlejerkers until I reach someone 16 levels up who has the power to fix whatever my issue is, but probably won't because he's busy trying to prop up his uneven desk with a strap of hundreds.
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: 1995hoo on July 22, 2014, 03:31:55 PM
Quote from: Scott5114 on July 22, 2014, 02:55:09 PM
...When do you need to make a deposit when you're out of town? What sort of vacation do you go on where people are giving you sums of money so large that you can't just take it home with you and deposit it then? (Okay, Vegas, but I'm pretty sure you can have them mail a check to your house if you hit a large enough jackpot that you're worried about taking it home...) I can see why a business that travels to conventions and other long-distance points of sale might want access to their bank nationwide, but I simply don't see that happening for an individual citizen.

....

One example when I wanted the ability to make deposits when I was out of town was some years back (prior to the advent of mobile deposits) when I was on a month-long business trip. My firm sent expense reimbursement checks to me at the hotel due to the trip's duration.

I've also needed to make a deposit when I was on vacation (in Florida for Christmas in 2012) because a check (from someone else) I had deposited the week before had bounced and I needed to move money between banks in a hurry so my month-end bill payments wouldn't bounce. An inter-bank transfer would have taken too long, so it was faster to write a check and then go make a deposit (in this case, having an account at a national bank with ATMs in Florida helped). Nowadays I might use my iPad and make a mobile check deposit, but in that particular case I'd probably still go to the nearest branch even though it was some 10 or 15 miles away–when you make the deposit at the bank or an ATM, you don't run the risk I mentioned earlier of them placing a hold on the deposit and asking you to go put the check into an ATM.
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: The Nature Boy on July 22, 2014, 04:12:52 PM
Quote from: Scott5114 on July 22, 2014, 02:55:09 PM
...When do you need to make a deposit when you're out of town? What sort of vacation do you go on where people are giving you sums of money so large that you can't just take it home with you and deposit it then? (Okay, Vegas, but I'm pretty sure you can have them mail a check to your house if you hit a large enough jackpot that you're worried about taking it home...) I can see why a business that travels to conventions and other long-distance points of sale might want access to their bank nationwide, but I simply don't see that happening for an individual citizen.

Like realjd, I don't need to visit my CU branch. I do anyway because I prefer $10s to $20s and every ATM dispenses $20s, so I just go in to get $10s. They also have a free self-service coin counter, which I use whenever I amass $20 or so worth of random coins.

Regarding the credit union thing–since credit unions are usually non-profit and member-owned, they tend to not have the predatory fees and policies that for-profit banks do. My ATM fee for an out of network ATM is only 75¢, which I understand is quite a bit lower than the likes of Chase and BOA. If I am cheesed off about something the bank is doing I can walk into a board meeting (times and locations are posted in the branches) and raise hell with the directors directly instead of going up the line of corporate circlejerkers until I reach someone 16 levels up who has the power to fix whatever my issue is, but probably won't because he's busy trying to prop up his uneven desk with a strap of hundreds.

This probably only applies to students and otherwise transient people but right now, I am not where I live for 9 months out of the year. If I had an account with a bank where I do live, I would be screwed for an entire 3 months straight.

Similarly, I am moving to a new place in January and then moving again in May and then moving again in August (and then staying put indefinitely). Until I reach August 2015 though, I don't really have a "local" bank because I am moving so much. I assume many students are in the same boat.

EDIT to add - Since I plan to live near where I went to college, I could have banked locally there but then I would've gone 3 years without being around my local bank regularly.
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: Scott5114 on July 22, 2014, 04:23:42 PM
Okay, I can definitely see where this would come into play for students. As far as I could tell, when I was at college in Springfield, MO, there were no banks other than the national chains that had branches both in Oklahoma and in Springfield. (I think the nearest TFCU branch was Miami, OK.) This actually worked to my benefit on one occasion, since TFCU issues laminated cards with your account information (which helps make an in-person transaction quicker) and I lost mine up there. If anyone found it they would have had a several hour drive before they could do anything with it. Nothing ever came of it.

I managed to make do in this situation because I didn't have any deposits to make–no job–and when I needed cash, I could write a check out to cash at the university bursar's office at no cost. At the time, I was too young to get a debit card, which would have made things immensely more convenient.

As for the case of expense reimbursement while on a long business trip–does the business really not offer direct deposit??
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: hbelkins on July 22, 2014, 07:54:24 PM
When I was in college, I opened a checking account at one of the local banks. It helped that I knew someone here at home who knew a higher-up at that particular bank (one of three in the town at the time), so I had a personal contact and a good recommendation on which bank to use.

Even though I had my home address on the checks, and not a college address (which would have changed every year because I was in a different dorm), having an account on a local bank helped with writing checks at local businesses, many of which would not take student checks from out-of-town banks.
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: 1995hoo on July 22, 2014, 08:33:49 PM
Quote from: Scott5114 on July 22, 2014, 04:23:42 PM
....

As for the case of expense reimbursement while on a long business trip–does the business really not offer direct deposit??

It was eight years ago and I had no say in accounting procedures. What was I supposed to do? Paychecks came by direct deposit. Reimbursements didn't.
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: vdeane on July 22, 2014, 09:34:28 PM
I don't bother re-ordering checks when moving.  The checks with the old address process just fine.  That said, I don't use them often, so I'd have nearly an entire box to dispose of (somehow) at every move if I did.  I wish one could order one booklet at a time.  I really don't need more.
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: SP Cook on July 23, 2014, 07:56:58 AM
Couple of things.

- Las Vegas.  Now that is an issue for me.  I gamble.  A lot.  None of the banks that do business in LV do business here, and even if they did, none of them are within walking distance of the Strip.  The ATMs are all non-bank rip-off machines, and limited to $500 anyway.  So what to do?  You can either take cash, which is obviously a risk.  Or get the bank to write you a Cashier's Check payable to the casino, which is problematical and can take a day to clear the casino cage.  Or establish an account with the casino for a "marker" which is more paperwork than a house loan.  Or take traveler's checks.  Yes, they still make them, but the bank has to look in the back of the vault and ask the oldest teller what to do.  A lot of trouble.  Going to Canada or to the Carribbean is even harder, because of customs.  (Coming back is easy, the casino will write you a check).

- Deposit slips.  Yep.  I pay all my bills on line.  The only time I write a check is to kids as graduation gifts and such.  Maybe 10 a year.  But you get checks.  Random refunds, payments, so on.  So I end up needing deposit slips way before I need checks.  I am on the same box of checks from 15 years ago, but buy boxes and boxes of just deposit slips. 

-College.  Yep.  When I was in college, almost 40 years ago, you needed to open an account in the college town.  There were no branch banks in my state.  Made for a problem.
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: realjd on July 23, 2014, 08:15:09 AM
Quote from: SP Cook on July 23, 2014, 07:56:58 AM
- Deposit slips.  Yep.  I pay all my bills on line.  The only time I write a check is to kids as graduation gifts and such.  Maybe 10 a year.  But you get checks.  Random refunds, payments, so on.  So I end up needing deposit slips way before I need checks.  I am on the same box of checks from 15 years ago, but buy boxes and boxes of just deposit slips. 

What's a deposit slip? If I go to the bank in person there's a little form I fill out but it's just my account number, name, and amount depositing. Is that what you're talking about? If so, doesn't your bank have stacks of them for free to fill out when you get there?

Your statement about Canada and the Caribbean being challenging for money transfers brings up another question I've always had: what actually happens if you declare more than $10k in money coming back into the country?
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: jeffandnicole on July 23, 2014, 08:36:07 AM
Quote from: 1995hoo on July 22, 2014, 08:33:49 PM
Quote from: Scott5114 on July 22, 2014, 04:23:42 PM
....

As for the case of expense reimbursement while on a long business trip—does the business really not offer direct deposit??

It was eight years ago and I had no say in accounting procedures. What was I supposed to do? Paychecks came by direct deposit. Reimbursements didn't.

Payroll departments can be funny, based on the employer's guidelines.  My regular paycheck is direct deposited, and if I want to see the deductions, I log in online and take a look (as long as the deposit matches what I got two weeks ago, I don't bother looking).  But my OT pay is via traditional paycheck on the opposite weeks of regular pay.  I don't even have the option for direct deposit. 

I'm in Vegas yearly as well - but I generally don't gamble a whole helluva lot (maybe several hundred bucks, and that's a big trip!), and most of my purchases are on a credit card.  When I do want cash, Casino Royale has a cheap, $1 (I believe) ATM to withdrawal cash.

My bank changed names several years ago now, but since the routing number never changed, I've never had to get new checks.  I write one a month - the mortgage, and one every few months - Water/Sewer.  Everything else is paid online or automatically.
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: Scott5114 on July 23, 2014, 03:38:27 PM
Quote from: realjd on July 23, 2014, 08:15:09 AM
Quote from: SP Cook on July 23, 2014, 07:56:58 AM
What's a deposit slip? If I go to the bank in person there's a little form I fill out but it's just my account number, name, and amount depositing. Is that what you're talking about? If so, doesn't your bank have stacks of them for free to fill out when you get there?
My credit union doesn't even bother with deposit slips–I just show the laminated card with my account number on it, or, failing that, tell them my account number, which I have memorized, and the teller just types in the information. My business bank does require deposit slips, so one time I went in I grabbed 20 or so blank ones and filled them all out with my business name and account number. Whenever I want to make a deposit I just fill in the amount. The only place I've seen pre-printed ones used was when I was a manager at Burger King; we had a pad of pre-printed slips with the account number and bank name ready to go. It also created carbonless duplicates so that if there was ever a discrepancy it could be seen which manager had prepared the deposit.

Quote from: realjd on July 23, 2014, 08:15:09 AM
Your statement about Canada and the Caribbean being challenging for money transfers brings up another question I've always had: what actually happens if you declare more than $10k in money coming back into the country?

It probably triggers some form of reporting under the Bank Secrecy Act (i.e. anti-money laundering laws). Basically, nothing, other than your personal information is collected and the Treasury Department is notified that you have $10k in cash coming in. At that point they can determine whether or not further investigation is warranted.

In the casino industry, we have to do similar tracking of ticket and chip redemption in case someone attempts to launder money by inserting tainted cash into a slot machine, not gambling, and redeeming the cashout ticket for clean money. We don't do anything other than log it and send it off to the Treasury.

A former coworker of mine once got the third degree from a bank because she had amassed a few grand on her pay card (a feeful debit card that employees' checks were deposited to if they did not opt for direct deposit). An interbank transfer didn't occur to her (or else she couldn't figure out how to make it work), so she went to a fee-free ATM and withdrew the card's balance, then took the cash to her bank. The bank flipped out when she made a deposit of several straps of $20s and had her fill out umpteen forms. They did accept her explanation, however, and told her next time to just do an interbank transfer.

--best assumption on quote fix --sso
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: jeffandnicole on July 23, 2014, 04:02:31 PM
Quote from: Scott5114 on July 23, 2014, 03:38:27 PM
My credit union doesn't even bother with deposit slips–I just show the laminated card with my account number on it, or, failing that, tell them my account number, which I have memorized, and the teller just types in the information. My business bank does require deposit slips, so one time I went in I grabbed 20 or so blank ones and filled them all out with my business name and account number. Whenever I want to make a deposit I just fill in the amount. The only place I've seen pre-printed ones used was when I was a manager at Burger King; we had a pad of pre-printed slips with the account number and bank name ready to go. It also created carbonless duplicates so that if there was ever a discrepancy it could be seen which manager had prepared the deposit.

One of the worst banks in this regard was Wilmington Trust (which is now M&T Bank), which I had to deal with about 4 years ago.  They had 3 ply deposit slips.  I guess because of cost savings, they got rid of the 3 ply.  But...they didn't get rid of the need for 3 deposit slips.  I would have to fill out 3 deposit slips for a single deposit!!!
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: vdeane on July 23, 2014, 06:44:52 PM
I don't worry about how many deposit slips I have.  If for some reason I run out, I just use the ones in the bank.  That's not likely to happen in the near term though; I'm guaranteed to write at least one check a month (when I reimburse Mom for my portion of the family cell phone bill) but not for a deposit.  I'm currently lagging by one book.
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: Pete from Boston on July 23, 2014, 06:51:39 PM
I forgot deposit slips exist (and I get a fair number of checks coming in).
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: 1995hoo on July 23, 2014, 09:42:52 PM
I have enough deposit slips but I seldom use them. Ever since the ATM gave the opportunity to get a receipt with an image of the deposited check, I've usually deposited checks via the ATM, even when a check has been for over $20,000, or via my iPad subject to bank-imposed limits on the amount. Haven't had any problems, though I'll admit the first time or two (via each method) I was a little nervous.

I have found mobile depositing doesn't work well with rebate checks or class-action settlement checks you get through the mail. They usually have more information printed on them than a "standard" check and it seems to confuse the mobile app. Ticks me off when I have a check for something like $3.62 and I have to go to the ATM to deposit it!
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: wxfree on July 23, 2014, 10:49:57 PM
My favorite is First National Bank.  They have branches in almost every town I've ever been to.
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: BamaZeus on July 24, 2014, 12:21:39 PM
Personally, I would never go anywhere called First National Bank.  That's the bank that's always getting robbed in the cartoons, immediately followed by Second National Bank.
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: 1995hoo on July 24, 2014, 12:28:50 PM
I've always found it puzzling when places call themselves "First" anything. It seems like 80% of the time when I see a Baptist church, it's named "First Baptist Church." I suppose if it has a suffix, such as "of Podunkville" or the like, then maybe the name makes sense if it was the first church of that denomination founded in that town. I just always find it weird to see so many "First Baptist Church"es everywhere.
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: Brandon on July 24, 2014, 12:36:13 PM
Quote from: BamaZeus on July 24, 2014, 12:21:39 PM
Personally, I would never go anywhere called First National Bank.  That's the bank that's always getting robbed in the cartoons, immediately followed by Second National Bank.

There actually is a Second National Bank in Illinois, based in Aurora.
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: Big John on July 24, 2014, 01:16:43 PM
And there is a Fifth Third bank.  A Cincinnati-based regional bank.
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: kkt on July 24, 2014, 01:18:13 PM
Quote from: realjd on July 23, 2014, 08:15:09 AM
What's a deposit slip? If I go to the bank in person there's a little form I fill out but it's just my account number, name, and amount depositing. Is that what you're talking about? If so, doesn't your bank have stacks of them for free to fill out when you get there?

Sure, you can use the blank ones, but they you have to copy down your name and account number.  If you use your preprinted ones that come with your checks, you just fill in the amount and don't have to have your account number memorized or written down, or make the teller look it up.
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: Scott5114 on July 24, 2014, 02:03:25 PM
Quote from: 1995hoo on July 24, 2014, 12:28:50 PM
I've always found it puzzling when places call themselves "First" anything. It seems like 80% of the time when I see a Baptist church, it's named "First Baptist Church." I suppose if it has a suffix, such as "of Podunkville" or the like, then maybe the name makes sense if it was the first church of that denomination founded in that town. I just always find it weird to see so many "First Baptist Church"es everywhere.

This actually has something to do with the National Bank Act of 1863. This is the law allowing federally-chartered banks that could issue national currency (as opposed to state-chartered banks that could only issue currency redeemable for precious metals at that bank only). For whatever reason, a lot of banks became the First National Bank of Whatever upon getting issued a federal charter.

By the way the First National Bank was the First National Bank of Philadelphia, issued charter No. 1. That bank is now part of Wells Fargo, which retains the charter number.
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: golden eagle on August 02, 2014, 08:03:27 PM
Quote from: Scott5114 on July 18, 2014, 08:23:58 PM
Both banks that I use are Oklahoma-exclusive: Tinker Federal Credit Union for personal finance, and BancFirst for business. I have not had any problems with either, even though my TFCU account has been open since 1995.

I saw a young woman in a park this morning with a BancFirst logo on the back of her shirt.

Anyhow, I bank with Regions. I was a member of Amsouth, but they were bought out by Regions.
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: DavidBoyce on November 08, 2023, 07:57:48 AM
Quote from: BamaZeus on July 24, 2014, 12:21:39 PM
Personally, I would never go anywhere called First National Bank.  That's the bank that's always getting robbed in the cartoons, immediately followed by Second National Bank.
Well, that's funny. :D
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: Takumi on November 08, 2023, 12:55:32 PM
Funny enough to dig up a 9-year-old thread though?

Like some others, I use a local credit union. I've had much better service with them than I did when I was with Wells Fargo. Honestly my only complaint about my credit union is they won't ever hire me when I apply to jobs there :-D

When I was out of the country last year, I only had one hiccup because they thought I was returning sooner than I did.
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: triplemultiplex on November 08, 2023, 03:21:59 PM
Quote from: Big John on July 24, 2014, 01:16:43 PM
And there is a Fifth Third bank.  A Cincinnati-based regional bank.

They should really express that as a decimal rather than a fraction.
"1.666666666666666..... Bank"
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: hotdogPi on November 08, 2023, 03:22:42 PM
Quote from: triplemultiplex on November 08, 2023, 03:21:59 PM
Quote from: Big John on July 24, 2014, 01:16:43 PM
And there is a Fifth Third bank.  A Cincinnati-based regional bank.

They should really express that as a decimal rather than a fraction.
"1.666666666666666..... Bank"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Redirects_for_discussion/Log/2016_January_6#Improper_Fraction_Arena
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: JayhawkCO on November 08, 2023, 03:35:13 PM
Navy Federal
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: wriddle082 on November 08, 2023, 03:44:50 PM
Quote from: triplemultiplex on November 08, 2023, 03:21:59 PM
Quote from: Big John on July 24, 2014, 01:16:43 PM
And there is a Fifth Third bank.  A Cincinnati-based regional bank.

They should really express that as a decimal rather than a fraction.
"1.666666666666666..... Bank"

Their current advertising promotes their "166.7% Guarantee".

My mom and one of my brothers have accounts with Fifth Third and have been very pleased.  If they had branches in my area I would convince my wife to drop BoA and go with them, but we'd have to go 100 miles away to their closest branch in Charlotte.  Otherwise I'd like to switch to Truist, since SunTrust never really did me wrong when I had them in the past.

I am a bigger fan of credit unions than my wife is.  I still have my credit union account from Tennessee, and my youngest brother works for a credit union in Kentucky.  He's hoping that Navy Federal opens up a branch near where he lives someday so he can try to apply to work for them.
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: Rothman on November 08, 2023, 03:52:55 PM
Remember when Dave Ramsey ranted against 5/3 Bank?  Made me look into the bank. :D
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: Scott5114 on November 08, 2023, 04:18:37 PM
Quote from: DavidBoyce on November 08, 2023, 07:57:48 AM
Quote from: BamaZeus on July 24, 2014, 12:21:39 PM
Personally, I would never go anywhere called First National Bank.  That's the bank that's always getting robbed in the cartoons, immediately followed by Second National Bank.
Well, that's funny. :D

The last time this thread was posted in before this, Barack Obama was President.

Don't post to old threads unless you have a good reason.
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: Henry on November 08, 2023, 10:33:20 PM
If you want to get comical, then here's something from National Lampoon's European Vacation:

(driving through Paris)

CLARK: Over there is the Left Bank; you won't guess what's on the other side.

RUSTY: The Bank of America!

Every time I see a B of A location or ad, it makes me think back to that father-son banter. (Of course, in 1985, what is now B of A was a bunch of state and regional banks scattered all over the nation.)
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: DavidBoyce on November 09, 2023, 04:28:07 PM
Quote from: Henry on November 08, 2023, 10:33:20 PM
If you want to get comical, then here's something from National Lampoon's European Vacation:

(driving through Paris)

CLARK: Over there is the Left Bank; you won't guess what's on the other side.

RUSTY: The Bank of America!
It's actually not that important to me which bank I use. But I'm also looking at TD Bank because of their low minimum balance requirements. Also I read about api in banking the guide to bank apis, found https://dashdevs.com/blog/api-in-banking-the-guide-to-bank-apis/ (https://dashdevs.com/blog/api-in-banking-the-guide-to-bank-apis/) for this. Therefore, I realized that it is important that everything is very well designed for the banking system. There are many choices, you need to read about each bank. But still, each will have big pros and big cons.
Every time I see a B of A location or ad, it makes me think back to that father-son banter. (Of course, in 1985, what is now B of A was a bunch of state and regional banks scattered all over the nation.)
thanks
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: Road Hog on November 11, 2023, 08:38:01 PM
Asking your favorite bank is like asking your favorite colonoscopist. They both know your ass and can probe it at will.
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: DandyDan on November 12, 2023, 05:52:01 AM
None. I have always used local banks as much as possible. The next big financial disaster probably takes out a big name bank.
Title: Re: Favorite National Bank Chain
Post by: Ted$8roadFan on November 12, 2023, 06:00:38 AM
None. I use local/regional banks and/or credit unions.