Need new checking account

[untitledkaos]

Hi, not sure if this goes here.


I'm 22 and looking for a new bank for checking. I currently have a Washington Mutual account but moved to a place where the closes bank is an hour drive. My choices are Chase or Bank of America. I'm looking for a free checking account, I have down the online research but now want to get some information from people that have accounts with these banks

[hermione]

We used to have Bank of America checking and cash maximizer accounts (as well as a credit card which I haven't used in over 2 years and just keep on hand as backup). But frankly, our experience with Bank of America wasn't great.

They and their affiliates constantly pestered us with telemarketing calls for services we didn't want or need and once signed me up for a cardmember protection service without my authorization (they talked to my sister who said she couldn't make decisions for my account, but they signed me up and charged my account anyway.)

I personally prefer to bank with credit unions now. We have a checking account tied to a savings account with rates better than you'd get from a bank. We just transfer over funds as we need to cover bills and leave the rest in savings to earn dividends.

I wrote a blog post a few months ago on the reasons we prefer credit unions:
http://ourfourpenceworth.com/why-cre...ad-of-banks/34

[72Tiger]

I agree with Hermione. Go with a good credit union.

[untitledkaos]

would a credit union work for me. the only one in town is a AZ Credit Union and i plan on living in AZ for another two years if that

[Karmie]

It seems like almost all the reviews/comments I read about Bank of America are negative. I can't give a personal opinion about them since I've never banked with BoA. I have banked with Chase, though, for over 10 years now and have no complaints. Great customer service as far as my branch is concerned.

I wish I could be more helpful, except to say that if I were making a decision based on the feedback I've seen online about the two banks, I'd personally stay well away from Bank of America. There's a proverb in Spanish that goes something like "If the river is noisy, it's because it's carrying rocks."

[untitledkaos]

I see your point exactly, I usually don't go with just for the fact that when people has a negative experience with some thing 9 out of 10 will tell about it and 1 out of 10 with positive experience will tell. With that said ill problem be going with Chase. People I have met with Bank of America account advised me against them.

[amyschiff]

Originally Posted by Karmie

It seems like almost all the reviews/comments I read about Bank of America are negative. I can't give a personal opinion about them since I've never banked with BoA. I have banked with Chase, though, for over 10 years now and have no complaints. Great customer service as far as my branch is concerned.

I wish I could be more helpful, except to say that if I were making a decision based on the feedback I've seen online about the two banks, I'd personally stay well away from Bank of America. There's a proverb in Spanish that goes something like "If the river is noisy, it's because it's carrying rocks."

I've also heard a lot of negative about BoA. I read The Consumerist once in a while and there always seem to be horror stories about them.

[Xin Lu]

I've been with Bank of America for almost 10 years now. I used them mostly for the ATMs. They have charged me extra account fees in the past, but after I called them it was resolved. They have a no fee checking account if you have direct deposit, and I like the free billpay service because I can pay my landlord without using stamps or checks. Anyway, I guess I'm just too lazy to get another checking account since a lot of my accounts are tied to this super old checking account. The only financial institution I had a real problem with was CitiBank, but that's a different story.

[Greg]

My story is a lot like Xin's. Been w/ BofA for over 15 years, and I've never had a major problem with them. I've got a couple of accounts with them.

BofA may not be the best deal (or service) around, but I'm just too lazy to research and switch.