<p>We want to change our bank. It is our bank by default after WAMU crashed and burned and was taken over by Chase.
We are looking for a bank with no fees and good service and do not have the reputation of being one of the more greedy institutions. Any suggestions or experience with a bank you can recommend? We are open to internet banking firms, has anyone had any experience with a good company?</p>
<p>Do you need a bank or could you use a credit union? Credit unions around here are pretty good, but they do not offer all services that banks offer.</p>
<p>Definitely, a credit union if you find one with convenient locations/hours. </p>
<p>If you can find a teachers or university credit union in your locale, they tend to be larger, offer more services, and have more branches. You do not always need an affiliation with the particular group that sponsors the credit union. Often, it is sufficient to live or work in the county where it is located. I’ve also moved several times to different states, but was able to keep previous credit union as there are sharing or network agreements among many of them, though not all credit unions are members of the same networks.</p>
<p>[Credit</a> Union Locator](<a href=“http://www.creditunion.coop/cu_locator/quickfind.php]Credit”>http://www.creditunion.coop/cu_locator/quickfind.php)</p>
<p>If you’re located in the eastern part of the country, I highly recommend TD Bank.</p>
<p>Either a credit union or a local small bank. We love our credit union.</p>
<p>Credit union supporter here, too.</p>
<p>But my kids have and like ING used in conjunction with a local bank.</p>
<p>We live close to Seattle.
There are a number of Credit Unions in our area so we will look into these. Thanks for your help!</p>
<p>I actually like our local banks (but they do not have branches all around the country). We also have some money & an account at Charles Schwab. I have heard folks who have been happy with ING as well, but personally, I like to be able to talk to some body in person.</p>
<p>I have also been OK with our credit unions–compare what each offers.</p>
<p>do you have pnc in your area? i left ing to go to them… i like them a lot. My account is called a virtual wallet. it’s got all the online banking but with a physical presense also. interest is similar to ING. i have a credit union account since i was a kid as well but with minimal money in it and it is very rarely used. their interest rates just don’t compare and its more out of my area.</p>
<p>Can’t beat a credit union.</p>
<p>OP, what are you looking for from a bank? </p>
<p>We use PNC and loving it. They have this private client group and assign a relationship manager to you. Everytime we walk in there, they know who we are and treat us very well. For any services, we call the direct number of our manager instead a listed number and she takes care all. The service is the best we have experienced.</p>
<p>We use a credit union for banking and also have a bunch of accounts at Fidelity Investments. The credit union has an ATM at my office which makes it very convenient (when it isn’t down). Fidelity also has offices around the country in major metros. I’ve never tried to use them as a bank but I probably should look into it.</p>
<p>Financial institutions are mostly struggling these days as they can’t earn that much off of loans so they are turning to fees, fees, penalties, fees and more fees.</p>
<p>Depends on where you live (there are not really any banks that have a truly national footprint of branches in the US). I have done business with Wells Fargo for several years, and have generally had good experiences there.</p>
<p>I think that TD Bank is Canadian. I have an account with TD Ameritrade and they provide all kinds of services. I wonder if you can get some kind of combination brokerage-banking account that generally gives you stuff without fees.</p>
<p>BCEagle, yes, TD is Canadian and one of the largest, and most stable (and profitable), banks in North America. However, the OP lives in Seattle and TD is not on the west coast of the U.S.</p>
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<p>I find this interesting. Most banks require a fairly high overall balance to be a member of the private client group. In other threads you have referred to yourself as “low income” and even “dirt poor”. How did you qualify for the private client group with such a LOW income?</p>
<p>I love my ING acct online…a tiny bit better interest than local banks, and great service.</p>
<p>Since the OP is in the Seattle area, I’d suggest BECU (formerly Boeing Employees’ Credit Union). All Washington residents are eligible to join and there is free checking, online banking, bill pay, etc. Rates are generally very good, especially if you have direct deposit and e-statements. I’ve been a member for over 15 years and the service has always been excellent, even with all the growth in the last decade. Like many credit unions, they are part of the Co-op Network, so you can also do your banking at other member credit unions across the country.</p>
<p>For reference, the major banks in the Seattle area are Chase (formerly Washington Mutual), Wells Fargo, Bank of America (formerly Seafirst), Key Bank, and Union Bank (formerly Frontier).</p>
<p>Great question, thumper. Private client groups are usually part of the Wealth Management Services, reserved for clients with significant assets. One way to keep significant assets hidden is to put it in grandma or grandpa’s name-- look poor on FAFSA and have the estate planning for grandma and grandpa set up as a trust, thereby avoiding probate and tax implications.</p>
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<p>Well…yes. If you place your significant assets into any accounts in the grandparents’ names, they would NOT be reported as significant assets on YOUR kids’ financial aid applications. And your significant assets therefore would not be tapped when the college determines your need. Hmmm.</p>