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treehouse
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« on: October 29, 2009, 06:38:10 PM » |
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I've been with Bank of America for about ten years now, but I'm utterly disgusted with their ATM "overdraft protection" policies and no longer want to do business with them. Anyone have any recommendations for a better option, if there is one? Also, check out this NYT article on this very subject from last month. |
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« Last Edit: October 29, 2009, 06:38:41 PM by treehouse »
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zuzu_
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« Reply #1 on: October 29, 2009, 07:13:42 PM » |
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Find a local credit union. That is your best bet. I've actually been pleased with BoA over the past few months; they have instituted a credit card rate freeze despite the pending legislation that is motivating other CC companies (such as those a$$holes at Chase) to jack up rates for no reason: http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/10/09/credit.card.outrage/index.html |
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prephd
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« Reply #2 on: October 29, 2009, 07:15:48 PM » |
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Hubby has BoA and I've been trying to get him to switch for years, not only because the lines at their ATMs are ridiculously long. I have good luck with both Wachovia and SunTrust.
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Prephd, in all that black, you are like the anti-pink-me. Freewill is a beeyaaatch
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lohai0
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« Reply #3 on: October 29, 2009, 07:33:33 PM » |
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I'm very happy with TCF Bank, but I think they are regional..
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This semester's going to call for an increase in my liquor budget.
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the_honey_badger
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« Reply #4 on: October 29, 2009, 07:40:47 PM » |
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I have had good luck with BoA but last year had to use Wells Fargo (due to fellowship direct deposit and lack of BoA branches in the entire state). I will say: the single worst experience with a bank was WF. They made a number of errors or cut off access when I was traveling and then were not only unhelpful but actually rude about it. It was bizarre. I'd say "anyone but Wells Fargo."
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_____________________________________
"Honey badger don't care."
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prytania3
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« Reply #5 on: October 29, 2009, 07:43:35 PM » |
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Hubby has BoA and I've been trying to get him to switch for years, not only because the lines at their ATMs are ridiculously long. I have good luck with both Wachovia and SunTrust.
Walkalloverya Wachovia blows and so does JP Morgan Chase. I've been banking with both for years, and I hate them dearly. I would switch, but they all blow as evidenced by the necessity to take TARP money. I have a soft spot for BofA because I made money off their stock options. Also I think Ken Lewis was forced into buying Merrill, so I don't count him among the Banksters. I'd actually switch to BofA, but it's too much trouble. |
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Clowns, I tell you. Clowns.
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prytania3
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« Reply #6 on: October 29, 2009, 07:44:33 PM » |
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I have had good luck with BoA but last year had to use Wells Fargo (due to fellowship direct deposit and lack of BoA branches in the entire state). I will say: the single worst experience with a bank was WF. They made a number of errors or cut off access when I was traveling and then were not only unhelpful but actually rude about it. It was bizarre. I'd say "anyone but Wells Fargo."
Wells Fargo bought Wachovia, and soon they will switch the name over. |
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Clowns, I tell you. Clowns.
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michigander
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« Reply #7 on: October 30, 2009, 01:38:09 PM » |
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I've been very happy with National City (now part of PNC), but they are regional. The only practice of theirs which feels abusive to me is the finance charge for foreign currency credit card transactions, but it's hard to find a bank that doesn't levy those.
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scampster
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« Reply #8 on: October 30, 2009, 01:43:52 PM » |
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Find a local credit union. That is your best bet. I've actually been pleased with BoA over the past few months; they have instituted a credit card rate freeze despite the pending legislation that is motivating other CC companies (such as those a$$holes at Chase) to jack up rates for no reason: http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/10/09/credit.card.outrage/index.htmlThat's because they jacked up rates for no reason six months ago. Oh look! Now they can take a pretend moral high ground! But then again, my credit union jacked up the rates for no reason six months ago as well (both more than doubled my rates for no reason - fortunately my rate was only 5% at both). To BoAs credit, they did allow me to discontinue using the card and pay off the rest of my balance at the 5% rate (if I use it once though, the rate goes up to 12%). |
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When you are a scientist your opinions and prejudices become facts. Science is like magic that way!
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sweetcider
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« Reply #9 on: October 30, 2009, 04:59:56 PM » |
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To BoAs credit, they did allow me to discontinue using the card and pay off the rest of my balance at the 5% rate (if I use it once though, the rate goes up to 12%).
I'm fairly certain that this is required by law. Not sure you can give BoA much credit. |
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Exactly! Well-stated, sweetcider.
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scampster
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« Reply #10 on: October 30, 2009, 05:28:10 PM » |
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To BoAs credit, they did allow me to discontinue using the card and pay off the rest of my balance at the 5% rate (if I use it once though, the rate goes up to 12%).
I'm fairly certain that this is required by law. Not sure you can give BoA much credit. Ha! Then I take back the credit! Zero for you BoA! |
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When you are a scientist your opinions and prejudices become facts. Science is like magic that way!
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octoprof
Member-Moderator
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 30,804
Life is short. Love your loved ones while you can.
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« Reply #11 on: October 30, 2009, 05:30:54 PM » |
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Your local credit union is light years better than BoA and practically all the other options.
I have personal experience with a wide variety of banks, including over 30 years at what is now Wachovia, which I detest with a purple passion now.
Credit union.
Credit union.
Credit union.
Some things are worth repeating.
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It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities. Professor Dumbledore
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toni52
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« Reply #12 on: November 01, 2009, 11:01:39 AM » |
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I've also had an account with BoA for about ten years. At the time, the only reason I went with BoA was because it was the closest to work. I know that everyone complains about BoA. And the ATM overdraft protection policies do seem a bit ridiculous. Luckily, I've never had any problems with them. I like the fact that BoA has branches almost everywhere you go (although this also disturbs me because in many ways it seems like BoA is a monopoly of sorts). I also have a BoA credit card (no problems there either).
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« Last Edit: November 01, 2009, 11:04:24 AM by toni52 »
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conjugate
Compulsive punster and insatiable reader, and
Member-Moderator
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 16,690
Tends to have warped sense of humor
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« Reply #13 on: November 01, 2009, 11:21:02 AM » |
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Well, I am fond of USAA as I have used them before. I also use a small local bank but of course they could be bought out by a bigger bank at any moment; that's happened to me before. The same problem arises with S&Ls, which also offer a good alternative to the traditional bank. Credit Unions are pretty good, and I would go for one except that where I am now the closest credit union has a branch that's over 10 miles away and nothing closer. That would mean I'd need to use unaffiliated ATMs. This is an advantage of USAA, which refunds other people's ATM fees. Check them out. |
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« Last Edit: November 01, 2009, 11:21:51 AM by conjugate »
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Unfortunately, I think conjugate gives good advice.
∀ε>0∃δ>0∋|x–a|<δ⇒|ƒ(x)-ƒ(a)|<ε |
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scampster
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« Reply #14 on: November 01, 2009, 11:24:20 AM » |
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The same problem arises with S&Ls, which also offer a good alternative to the traditional bank. Credit Unions are pretty good, and I would go for one except that where I am now the closest credit union has a branch that's over 10 miles away and nothing closer. That would mean I'd need to use unaffiliated ATMs. This is an advantage of USAA, which refunds other people's ATM fees. Check them out.
My credit union reimburses ATM fees, which is one reason why I have stuck with them for 20 years, despite never having an ATM nearby. On a sidenote, writing that I have been with my bank for 20 years made me feel old. |
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When you are a scientist your opinions and prejudices become facts. Science is like magic that way!
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