I've been a Bank of America customer for years, since whenever First Union bought out Wachovia (around 2001-ish I think). But over the past 6 months or so the incompetence of their Online Banking staff has really pissed me off to the point where I'm going elsewhere.

Any suggestions?

My only real needs are 1) they have a good online banking system so I can do everything else over teh intarwebs, and 2) they've got an ATM somewhere in Raleigh so I can pull cash for poker night


Edit: And yeah I know this topic was already covered back in the summer, but I wanted to get fresh opinions (since BofA's online foibles have pretty much only started since July-ish) 

12/19/2007 2:12:03 PM

quit BofA 5 years ago for SECU and never looked back

i also hoard money in E-Loan although the feds keep cutting interest rates, so i might move it

12/19/2007 2:18:50 PM

I currently bank with Wachovia, but I may be switching to BB&T in the next year or so.

12/19/2007 2:18:59 PM

ING Direct

12/19/2007 2:19:30 PM

First Citizens currently...

if I could get into SECU I would...but I can't

I am thinking Fidelity as well...make better rates that SECU.

12/19/2007 2:20:32 PM

I've been with First Citizens since 1999, and they've been pretty good. I have no complaints. Their online banking is good, I use their billpay sometimes. The only problem I've had is that the one time I tried to deposit money at a FC ATM, that option wasn't available.

12/19/2007 2:21:20 PM

SECU all the way, always friendly, better rates, lower overdraft fees

12/19/2007 2:22:01 PM

NCSECU

12/19/2007 2:22:22 PM

If you can get in to SECU you will not regret it.

http://www.ncsecu.org

You will need a relative that is a member.

http://www.ncsecu.org/AboutSECU/MembershipEligibility.html

12/19/2007 2:22:25 PM

I use BoA and I've been nothing but happy.

12/19/2007 2:24:01 PM

BB&T if you know what's good for you. plus, i've got the hook-up if you know what i mean

12/19/2007 2:40:48 PM

SECU for my general banking needs
ING Direct for savings
Wachovia Account (old) that I keep a little $ in mainly b/c Wachovia ATMs are everywhere.

12/19/2007 2:43:46 PM

^^ What kind of hookup? I'm still trying to decide what kind of account I should get.

12/19/2007 2:44:35 PM

SECU is the only acceptable answer to this

both wachovia and centura have screwed me over.

12/19/2007 2:46:26 PM

SECU is the best for local work

I have done better however.


I maintain a checking and savings with SECU, but I recently opened a Charles Schwab free checking account.

Chuck's checking account is no monthly fee, no start up fee, no yearly fee, no any fee. And its 4.00% apy. And they send you a check card that can be used anywhere visa can be, and at any ATM. Plus, chuck pays for ALL ATM FEES (this includes strip clubs, I know, awesome).

12/19/2007 2:53:23 PM

bbt

12/19/2007 3:03:27 PM

How is SECU's online banking system quality-wise now? I got an account with them back about 5 years ago when I worked for the court system, but closed it and moved to Bank of America b/c it sucked royally compared to BofA's. If I can handle pretty much all of my bills and banking through their website then maybe I need to head back to them...


And megalinds: cold. day. in. hell. (j/k ) 

12/19/2007 3:11:23 PM

BoA
HSBC (online savings)

[Edited on December 19, 2007 at 3:12 PM. Reason : bbt for business]

12/19/2007 3:12:41 PM

Yeah, I use First Citizens for local as well because I can't get a SECU account

Is it relatives only? I thought I read somewhere you could even get one via your roommate (though I do know how stupid that sounds)

12/19/2007 3:13:44 PM

wachovia for needed on hand cash (they have the most convinient atm locations). i only keep several hundred in this account.

ing direct for my main checking and savings accounts.

12/19/2007 3:14:23 PM

ing has checking???

wow im going to have to go check that out...

i do the same thing as sober but i wasnt aware ing had checking now

12/19/2007 3:15:40 PM

yeah, its "check free" checking, so you don't have a checkbook or anything. if you need to write a check, you enter some info online and they print one out and send it to wherever it needs to go. thats really the only downside, and why i still have a brick and morter checking account (just in case something comes up that I need to write a check immediately).

but other then that, im getting interest on my checking account similar to an ing savings account, so its worth it i think.

12/19/2007 3:21:07 PM

well i save w/ ing, and it'd be nice to immediately change money between a savings/checking vs. a 2-3 day wait for funds between wachovia and ing

12/19/2007 3:26:53 PM

^yeah instant transfer is nice. I only use first citizens to funnel cash into my ING accounts. And to keep a check or two on hand if an emergency comes up like sober mentioned.

12/19/2007 3:58:07 PM

Along the lines of the "if you can get it" groups: USAA. I have had them since I was in college and they've been nothing short of outstanding. I also bank with NCSECU but I'd say USAA > NCSECU.

12/19/2007 8:48:56 PM

Credit union plus a combo of ing, hsbc, and citibank

12/19/2007 8:49:52 PM

wachovia for day to day
hsbc for online savings

still have a nc secu account open in case i ever need it later with a small amount of $$ in there

had a bb&t account open up until a few months ago and finally closed it - bb&t was the worst of all

12/19/2007 8:52:23 PM

Coastal Federal Credit Union for now, very pleased but will probably switch to SECU once I'm eligible next month.

12/19/2007 8:54:55 PM

SECU since I was hired there, and ING for savings.

12/19/2007 9:13:35 PM

I'm in NCSECU.

If you want to be a member of Coastal Federal they'll take you for $10.

Quote :

"Coastal Capital Club Membership The Coastal Capital Club is a non-profit association established to promote the education and benefits of savings, investments and retirement planning. By joining the Coastal Capital Club for a one-time non-refundable $10 membership fee, you qualify for Coastal Federal Credit Union membership."

http://www.coastalfcu.org/verify_eligibility.htm

-- Dave

12/19/2007 10:04:26 PM

What's wrong with BoA? I've never had an issue with them.

Chuck's checking account sounds nice. I might have to look into that.

12/19/2007 10:08:02 PM

Wachovia
ING
Everbank
RTP FCU
Coastal Federal CU

12/19/2007 10:27:46 PM

Coastal Federal Credit Union FTW!

12/19/2007 10:50:51 PM

^^^
Their online billpay system has had some back-end changes apparently -- 3 times in the past 6 months since the "upgrades", I've had bills get double-paid through their system and then have to spend hours in the local branch having my rep talk to the online staff trying to get everything re-credited.

After using online banking for 5-ish years now without any problems, it's sorely testing my patience. The only reason I'm still there is b/c the lady I always work with to get things fixed goes out of her way to try and help 

12/19/2007 11:51:36 PM

First Citizens will nickel and dime you in fees. And their service blows... and if you call more than a few times per month with issues, you're getting charged for that too. Their online banking is also WAYYYY behind in technology and services available (can I PLEASE get a daily email update... AMEX does it!). I have Fidelity Bank (NC), too. They're better at "hometown services" but are under the same umbrella as First Citizens so have the same drawbacks.

If American Express ever offers checking, I'm soooooo in. I couldn't be happier with them, even if only for my Blue credit card.

12/19/2007 11:52:28 PM

SECU and USAA

12/19/2007 11:57:55 PM

I've been with BoA for 9 years and I have been satisfied. I don't use their system for online bill pay but I only check my account through their site and it has become a lot easier to see what is coming in and out. They just started a thing where they even scan your deposit slips whereas before it was just your checks. While I disagree with some of their negative environmental investments and theirs attempts to greenwash the issue I have too many things tied to my checking account to try and redo it all.

I sure as hell wouldn't use BB&T. My girlfriend uses them and their online banking blows something horrible. It's hardly ever up to date and she says tracking her expenses through there is nearly impossible.

12/20/2007 12:18:09 AM

RBC and ING but we are getting ready to change from RBC because of such incompetence to USAA

12/20/2007 8:48:23 AM

i've been with wachovia since i was 15. when i was in pennsylvania i used PNC.

my wife has a SECU account but i've never seen any benefit from it. wachovia even gave us a better deal on a mortgage. we rarely use ATMs and never have overdrafts, so the only thing that really matters is online banking and maybe 24 hour phone support.

i'd like to get an online savings account for the high interest rate, but haven't settled on one i like yet

[Edited on December 20, 2007 at 9:19 AM. Reason : .]

12/20/2007 9:19:23 AM

So, I just got a call from wachovia.

Apparently my debit card has been compromised, and someone attempted to charge $193 to some porn site, about a minute after charting $1 to myfonts.com

Wachovia denied the charges, called me to let me know, and have frozen my debit card and a new one is on its way.

I never use debit for online purchases either, so I wonder how this happened...

1/5/2008 12:57:05 PM

wachovia seems to have the better online banking system.

system updates quickly.

SECU seems quite a bit slower in that arena and their system shows less information.

BoA sucks, turnover is high in certain areas (locally), not a good sign.

[Edited on January 5, 2008 at 1:41 PM. Reason : ^ i'd say someone at a store or restaurant compromised your info.]

1/5/2008 1:40:57 PM

First Citizens


never had any problems, excellent service, but a HUGE mistake if you live in durham...i think there is one branch and NO atms anywhere..its all Suntrust


i might switch to one of the RTP credit unions since i work out there, but it is really inconvenient to bank with FC in Durham

1/5/2008 1:43:00 PM

I pulled every dime I had out of Wachovia and moved to Centura briefly. Then I had my husband close his accounts with Wachovia/First Union and we both moved to SECU.

We love SECU.

1/5/2008 2:05:59 PM

SECU.

Anything else is retarded.

1/5/2008 2:08:55 PM

if you can chalk up 10k in assets (including investments i think) your best bet is to go with fidelity, you can get:
-atm reimbursements both ways (you can pull money out of any atm they pay you back)
-check writing free
-overdraft protection from their very competitive money market fund

this means you can leave all of your cash in the overdraft money market fund and earn around 5% interest on all your cash


i have ncsecu + fnbo for online savings

1/5/2008 2:57:52 PM

You're eligible for SECU so do that

unless you're eligible for USAA (there even better)


I chose both



[Edited on January 5, 2008 at 3:10 PM. Reason : .]

1/5/2008 3:02:53 PM

SECU, awesome online banking...havent been in one in years(mainly because I have been out of state), moving money around, simple and fast.

1/5/2008 3:16:39 PM

SECU and Truliant
Truliant is much faster about posting my card usage online.

1/5/2008 7:52:07 PM

I've used Suntrust since I was 16 with no problems. Easy online site, and ATMs all over. I don't know about any special accounts or anything though...I just have the basic savings and checking accounts.

1/5/2008 8:01:35 PM

Centura currently has all of my money. No compalints and I'm getting a very good rate in my money market account.

1/5/2008 8:10:48 PM