Best American banks

[Amby 490]

I belong to a credit union, which is ideal for me...they are usually cheaper and more customer service oriented...my credit union is fairly large, but it is local...check your area...

I would also recommend a credit union for the same reasons

[ladyynara 0]

We are with USAA, but unless you have military connections you can't get membership with them. They're apparently one of the highest rated companies in customer service in the US, and so far they have been fantastic. We opened a joint account over the phone with a free number in the UK, had a starting balance transferred from our UK account and have full online access to it. Previously when we were in the US we had credit unions, you have to be really careful though as lots of US banks and credit unions are sneaky with their charges. One we had we got charged $10 a month if our balance was under $500 (which it always was, we were lucky if we had anything left at the end of the month!).

[TracyTN 237]

I find the comparisons about UK banks interesting - Chas HATED UK banks and all their many and complicated charges. He much prefers the experience we've had with Bank of America.

[TinTin and Samby 11]

We are with USAA, but unless you have military connections you can't get membership with them. They're apparently one of the highest rated companies in customer service in the US, and so far they have been fantastic. We opened a joint account over the phone with a free number in the UK, had a starting balance transferred from our UK account and have full online access to it. Previously when we were in the US we had credit unions, you have to be really careful though as lots of US banks and credit unions are sneaky with their charges. One we had we got charged $10 a month if our balance was under $500 (which it always was, we were lucky if we had anything left at the end of the month!).

Military affiliation is no longer required to open USAA accounts. They are a pretty good organization, I agree.

Warm Regards,

Samby

[SMB x2 0]

What sort of interest rates do US banks offer on savings accounts? For comparison, I've got two savings accounts with Barclays - one 4% AER and an e-savings account with 4.24% AER.

I find the comparisons about UK banks interesting - Chas HATED UK banks and all their many and complicated charges.

Probably a good case for mileage varying. I think the only time Barclays have charged me was for going overdrawn, although I had a good moan at them and got the ridiculous £30 a day charge refunded.

Not that Barclays are amazing by the way, I just happened to sign up with them years ago as a student and didn't really get around to changing.

Stu

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

What sort of interest rates do US banks offer on savings accounts? For comparison, I've got two savings accounts with Barclays - one 4% AER and an e-savings account with 4.24% AER.

I find the comparisons about UK banks interesting - Chas HATED UK banks and all their many and complicated charges.

Probably a good case for mileage varying. I think the only time Barclays have charged me was for going overdrawn, although I had a good moan at them and got the ridiculous £30 a day charge refunded.

Not that Barclays are amazing by the way, I just happened to sign up with them years ago as a student and didn't really get around to changing.

Stu

My big love of UK banks was the fact they didn't charge me to use another bank's ATM, check books and gave me a big fat overdraft - those charges add up

[no name 1]

What sort of interest rates do US banks offer on savings accounts? For comparison, I've got two savings accounts with Barclays - one 4% AER and an e-savings account with 4.24% AER.

I find the comparisons about UK banks interesting - Chas HATED UK banks and all their many and complicated charges.

Probably a good case for mileage varying. I think the only time Barclays have charged me was for going overdrawn, although I had a good moan at them and got the ridiculous £30 a day charge refunded.

Not that Barclays are amazing by the way, I just happened to sign up with them years ago as a student and didn't really get around to changing.

Stu

My big love of UK banks was the fact they didn't charge me to use another bank's ATM, check books and gave me a big fat overdraft - those charges add up

I had an overdraft at NatWest!

US Bank charges me .25 if I use my card as debit. What bullsh*t. But overall USB is good. I would never ever use Bank of America.

[Lansbury 19]

I find the comparisons about UK banks interesting - Chas HATED UK banks and all their many and complicated charges. He much prefers the experience we've had with Bank of America.

Who did he bank with. My UK bank had no charges, in fact I haven't paid them a charge for so long I can't even remember when it was.

Wells Fargo, I have to remember which checking account we have, how much I have to keep in it to get free checking, argue every month my pension comes over because they charge me a wire transfer fee. Tell Moneycorp I've been charged a wire transfer fee when I shouldn't have and they have to get Wells Fargo to refund it.

[Lou Lou 1]

I have an account with a credit union and Citizen's Bank which are #######, by the way. I can't sing praises highly enough for First Direct back home. I have their new saver account at 8% and their online e-saver account at 5%. Can't get close to that here.

[LoriLawless 0]

I belong to a credit union, which is ideal for me...they are usually cheaper and more customer service oriented...my credit union is fairly large, but it is local...check your area...

I'm with a credit union too. I pay no monthly maintenance fees and I love it. I would never go back to a regular bank again.

[govols 0]

I find the comparisons about UK banks interesting - Chas HATED UK banks and all their many and complicated charges. He much prefers the experience we've had with Bank of America.

Who did he bank with. My UK bank had no charges, in fact I haven't paid them a charge for so long I can't even remember when it was.

Wells Fargo, I have to remember which checking account we have, how much I have to keep in it to get free checking, argue every month my pension comes over because they charge me a wire transfer fee. Tell Moneycorp I've been charged a wire transfer fee when I shouldn't have and they have to get Wells Fargo to refund it.

I had an account with Natwest in the UK and never got any charges for cheques or overdrafts. In the UK if the overdraft is agreed there is no charge or at least there wasn't for me with Natwest. Here in the US even if the overdraft is agreed they still charge you a ridiculous amount for every transaction that goes into overdraft.

Tony

Edited March 12, 2008 by govols

[Lansbury 19]

I had an account with Natwest in the UK and never got any charges for cheques or overdrafts. In the UK if the overdraft is agreed there is no charge or at least there wasn't for me with Natwest. Here in the US even if the overdraft is agreed they still charge you a ridiculous amount for every transaction that goes into overdraft.

Tony

We had a line of credit with the credit union we use and realised even though we had never used the line of credit at any time they were charging for it. It's like paying for an overdraft when you don't use it.

[Robyn-n-Kris 72]

Me and Russ are with a credit union called Fairwinds... not sure if this is local or not.

My bank is great! Everyone knows me there, one of the ladies even hugs me when I go in hehehe! I see them in the local publix and they say hey there... and we not in a small town... very friendly!

I think Fairwinds is a local one and I've heard good things about it. If you find a good credit union, it's the best. I've banked at large banks, local banks, and I've found that my credit union has been the best I've used.

I have to agree with Dawn Credit Unions (if you can find one you can get into) are much easier than Banks. There are many reasons for this (used to work for a bank and a credit union in the past) Credit Unions are generally 'member based' thus they have better customer service, fees are less and interests rates are more often than not better. Also they do not have to follow the same federal regulations as larger banks which helps. Bigger Banks in my opinion are a total pain. I've been with my credit union USAA since 2000 and love them to death. Best thing I can suggest is see what is available in your area when you get there and go from there. Good luck to you.

[TracyTN 237]

I find the comparisons about UK banks interesting - Chas HATED UK banks and all their many and complicated charges. He much prefers the experience we've had with Bank of America.

Who did he bank with. My UK bank had no charges, in fact I haven't paid them a charge for so long I can't even remember when it was.

Wells Fargo, I have to remember which checking account we have, how much I have to keep in it to get free checking, argue every month my pension comes over because they charge me a wire transfer fee. Tell Moneycorp I've been charged a wire transfer fee when I shouldn't have and they have to get Wells Fargo to refund it.

His last bank was First Direct. I think he was with some others before that, but I couldn't tell you which ones.

And yeah I agree w/ everyone - I'm sure it's a 'your mileage may vary' type of situation with banks.

[londonuk 0]

My fiance says Fidelity is the best. Did you look into them?