Online banking

[Gaddabout]

yeah if they ever start charging me I'll just close the account and go somewhere else.

I have a credit union account with 7.33 in it. The only reason I keep it open is if I get fed up with Banks I can get free checking et al there.

I think my girlfriend has finally talked me into IMG. They make it almost impossible to move and get (and spend) money, but otherwise it's a great place to save money.

 

[Gaddabout]

unfortunately, everyone is charging. Unless you keep a "minimum combined balance."

My current combined balance is high five figures right now. It's why I'm appalled at paying $10 for a savings account like I'm a newspaper boy trying to put a couple of dimes together to buy a model rocket.

 

[AzStevenCal]

My current combined balance is high five figures right now. It's why I'm appalled at paying $10 for a savings account like I'm a newspaper boy trying to put a couple of dimes together to buy a model rocket.

Something doesn't sound right about this. Any chance you've just got your money in the wrong kind of savings account?

Steve

 

[Gaddabout]

Something doesn't sound right about this. Any chance you've just got your money in the wrong kind of savings account?

Considering I just opened it a month ago, I can't imagine why my rep steered me into this. I'm not even going to investigate. I'm just researching where I'm going to put my money next. It's not going to be Wells Fargo.

 

[D-Dogg]

I currently bank with Bank of America, but am pretty sure I will be switching banks since they are "phasing out" my particular type of checking account (translation: new fees coming for me). I have been happy with Bank of America and have a bunch of auto deposits and withdrawals set up with my account; but, I don't like the monthly fee idea at all. (It's a principle thing for me.)

So, I started looking at other options and online banking might seem like the way to go. Do any of you guys do online checking? If so, how do you like it? What are the pros and cons? And how do I deposit cash or live checks into an online checking account?

Any info you have would be appreciated. Thanks!

USAA

Can't be beat. I deposit checks via my smartphone..scan them in and they are in my account immediately.

Cash...I don't deposit cash.

 

[D-Dogg]

unfortunately, everyone is charging. Unless you keep a "minimum combined balance."

USAA is not, and I don't see that happening for them anytime soon.

I do all my bill pay, insurance, banking, IRAs, etc through USAA...used to have Chase...had Wells Fargo for a heartbeat and they sucked. Used Compass bank and b of a for my mom's account.

USAA is hands down the best and easiest to use.

 

[DeAnna]

I'm intrigued by USAA - since they have no ATM, how does one get cash - via their debit card? I presume they don't charge to use their debit card?

What about cash deposits? Their website says at UPS stores, but looks like it's only for checks.

 

[Jersey Girl]

USAA

Can't be beat. I deposit checks via my smartphone..scan them in and they are in my account immediately.

Cash...I don't deposit cash.

I have maybe three cash deposits a month, mostly due to household bills from my roomies.

My phone is dumb, but it sounds like, from Kate's post, I can scan it on my computer scanner and still have it post immediately, which is awesome.

Thanks for the feedback on USAA. I think I will do a little more research and sign up. Gonna keep my ING savings account (which has a grand total of $4.32 total in it right now, lol ... tells ya how much I use THAT account) and maybe look into a local credit union just so I have something local for peace of mind.

 

[D-Dogg]

I'm intrigued by USAA - since they have no ATM, how does one get cash - via their debit card? I presume they don't charge to use their debit card?

What about cash deposits? Their website says at UPS stores, but looks like it's only for checks.

Any ATM - they refund any ATM fees up to 15 bucks a month, but most big banks like Chase ATMs don't charge a fee using a USAA debit card. They were first a military only bank, so they are set up perfectly to deal with people on the go, not local, etc, so online is second nature to them.

Free checking, free debit card.

Their customer service is unparalleled. My auto insurance with them is top notch, fast claims...no hassle. They are great. Banking is super. Plus when I rarely call for something (for towing last time) they talk to me as Specialist...I haven't been in the military for 11 years, but they toss it in like I'm still serving the country.

I seriously heart USAA.

 

[abomb]

Any ATM - they refund any ATM fees up to 15 bucks a month, but most big banks like Chase ATMs don't charge a fee using a USAA debit card. They were first a military only bank, so they are set up perfectly to deal with people on the go, not local, etc, so online is second nature to them.

Free checking, free debit card.

Their customer service is unparalleled. My auto insurance with them is top notch, fast claims...no hassle. They are great. Banking is super. Plus when I rarely call for something (for towing last time) they talk to me as Specialist...I haven't been in the military for 11 years, but they toss it in like I'm still serving the country.

I seriously heart USAA.

Does USAA allow for unlimited sub-savings accounts? I loved ING until Capital One bought them (evil! evil! evil!), so I am looking to move my backup checking and 15 or so micro-savings accounts.

 

[thirty-two]

Any ATM - they refund any ATM fees up to 15 bucks a month, but most big banks like Chase ATMs don't charge a fee using a USAA debit card. They were first a military only bank, so they are set up perfectly to deal with people on the go, not local, etc, so online is second nature to them.

Free checking, free debit card.

Their customer service is unparalleled. My auto insurance with them is top notch, fast claims...no hassle. They are great. Banking is super. Plus when I rarely call for something (for towing last time) they talk to me as Specialist...I haven't been in the military for 11 years, but they toss it in like I'm still serving the country.

I seriously heart USAA.

Agree with all of the above, except for the military part since I'm not in the military.

Also, US Bank doesn't charge, per my experience.

I got grandfathered in since my mom works for them, and I have everything through them (banking, car/house insurance, mutual funds). Very thankful for that.

 

[Russ Smith]

Not true, they do have a pilot program going in 5 states where you are charged a $3 monthly fee for debit card use tho.

99% of the fees you are charged are determined by the Feds. In my time with WF I have had to learn and relearn so many fed regulations it makes me sick.

Thanks, I was told that by a WF teller, she said it was supposed to be coming in a few months so maybe they thought better of it.

On the debit cards since you work there, my ATM card is also a debit card, I didn't want a debit card just the ATM card. So if I just use it as an ATM card will it too be subject to debit card fees or only if I use it as a debit card?

My dad actually switched banks over that his new ATM card was a debit card and his bank told him he couldn't have just an ATM card, so he went to WF. Now they sent him a new one that's also a debit card so he'll probably be dropping WF soon if they can't resolve that for him.

 

[D-Dogg]

Does USAA allow for unlimited sub-savings accounts? I loved ING until Capital One bought them (evil! evil! evil!), so I am looking to move my backup checking and 15 or so micro-savings accounts.

I have a bajillion of them. So yes. Sub savings and sub free checking.

 

[Linderbee]

Wendy, I'd go with Desert Schools FCU. If you decide not to go with online. It's free, you're a teacher so you get an account for free (even if you're not currently teaching) and they also refund ATM fees every month that you get charged from other banks (they do not charge ATM fees at all).

Love them, love them, love them. They have online bill pay options, there are a lot of branches scattered about--AND

YOU CAN GET YOUR DEBIT CARD WITH FITZ ON IT.

'nuff said.

 

[BillsCarnage]

Wendy, I'd go with Desert Schools FCU. If you decide not to go with online.

I stick with Credit Unions. Screw the big banks and all of their bogus fees.

Amen to that!

I left the big banks many, many, many, many moons ago and have never looked back.

I have two CU's and unfortunately one started charging $3 for checking accts under $1500, so I'm leaving them.

Otherwise, I haven't paid a fee in probably 15yrs.. Even the 2 or 3 times I've had an NSF fee during that time the CU has refunded it.

I don't mind paying an occasion ATM fee because I rarely use an ATM unless I'm out of the country - just don't like carrying that much cash around.

 

[Jersey Girl]

Wendy, I'd go with Desert Schools FCU. If you decide not to go with online. It's free, you're a teacher so you get an account for free (even if you're not currently teaching) and they also refund ATM fees every month that you get charged from other banks (they do not charge ATM fees at all).

Love them, love them, love them. They have online bill pay options, there are a lot of branches scattered about--AND

YOU CAN GET YOUR DEBIT CARD WITH FITZ ON IT.

'nuff said.

Amen to that!

I left the big banks many, many, many, many moons ago and have never looked back.

I have two CU's and unfortunately one started charging $3 for checking accts under $1500, so I'm leaving them.

Otherwise, I haven't paid a fee in probably 15yrs.. Even the 2 or 3 times I've had an NSF fee during that time the CU has refunded it.

I don't mind paying an occasion ATM fee because I rarely use an ATM unless I'm out of the country - just don't like carrying that much cash around.

Thanks, guys. I am looking to move online and have something local, just in case I have some sort of crazy emergency and need to do something in person. Will definitely check them out.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

I stick with Credit Unions. Screw the big banks and all of their bogus fees.

Credit Unions have bogus fees too.

My wife had a savings account at a Credit Union through her work. She put hundreds of dollars in it and was well above the minimum balance. Suddenly she lost $15 in 3 months. They had begun charging her for inactivity. Really? Give me a break. We went in and argued with them, but in the end she got all of her money back minus the $15. The Credit Union worker that helped us told us she worked there, but no longer banked there because of these same "inactivity" fees. We're not going back to a Credit Union after that.

We'll stick with BofA.

With our accounts and our mortgage all being with BofA we do not get any fees for our interest checking accounts or our cash maximizer savings account.

 

[Jersey Girl]

We'll stick with BofA.

With our accounts and our mortgage all being with BofA we do not get any fees for our interest checking accounts or our cash maximizer savings account.

I will give BofA a chance to keep my business, but I don't think it's likely.

 

[az240zz]

I hate B of A. My son had an account with them and was stationed in Guam. They charged him $1.25 every time he took money, either from an ATM or from cash with purchase. They also did it to my nephew when he was in Iraq.

They know they were in the military as their pay was directly deposited.

 

[earthsci]

Donald is spot on. If you can get a USAA account, get it. We have all of our accounts, loans and insurance through them. My wife comparison shops all of the time and nobody ever beats USAA.

 

[82CardsGrad]

I will give BofA a chance to keep my business, but I don't think it's likely.

FWIW JG, we have both a BofA and a Wells Fargo on-line banking account. In short, BofA sucks... Wells is by far a better platform, better functionality, and better service.

I also have friends who both work for, and have accounts with USAA. In short - there is truly no better place!

 

[Jersey Girl]

FWIW JG, we have both a BofA and a Wells Fargo on-line banking account. In short, BofA sucks... Wells is by far a better platform, better functionality, and better service.

I also have friends who both work for, and have accounts with USAA. In short - there is truly no better place!

Cool.

I was checking out their site today and I did a search on where I can deposit cash into my account should I start one. Nothing came up. Does anyone have an account with USAA and deposit cash?

 

[D-Dogg]

you can deposit cash in a local bank, say a CU or something, in a savings account and do a free transfer to USAA.

Or, you can buy a money order for a couple of bucks and scan that do deposit @ home or @ mobile.

They have some ATMs that you can deposit cash into, but that hasn't reached AZ yet.

That's the extent of my knowledge there - never had to do it. Once I gave a friend some cash and he gave me a check and I did it that route. I rarely have cash to deposit.

 

[thirty-two]

Cool.

I was checking out their site today and I did a search on where I can deposit cash into my account should I start one. Nothing came up. Does anyone have an account with USAA and deposit cash?

As Donald just mentioned, you can deposit it into another account and just do a quick transfer to USAA. I have a checking account with a credit union for that purpose. It is pretty rare that I have to deposit cash though.

USAA seriously is the best.

 

[Jersey Girl]

Well, it lokos like B of A has decided NOT to introduce the $5 a month fee. Am still gona cal them and see what others fees, if any, they intend on imposing on me.

Am pretty happy that this is happening. Was gonna be a hassle. Still plan on looking into USAA.