I don’t think getting an account at a local bank is necessary, and it could end up costing you more money than going with a national bank.
[ul]
[] Check the terms of the banks that you want to use. Many offer the ability to deposit checks online and reimburse ATM fees that other banks charge for using their ATMs. I haven’t set foot in a bank in over 20 years.
[] Make sure there aren’t fees if a minimum balance isn’t maintained.
[li] Make sure that you include a savings account that can automatically provide overdraft protection for the checking account. Start the savings account with a reasonable balance to cover the occasional/inevitable overdrafts that will happen.[/li][/ul]
We use USAA and set her up with a custodial checking and savings account when she was young. The accounts automatically convert to standard accounts when she turns 18. No minimum balance requirements, overdraft protection, We’ll also add her to our USAA credit card (cash rewards) so that she has this available for unexpected expenses.