Best Banking Options (Savings/Checking)?

[Anonymous]

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@Kalamazoo2714 wrote:

Anyonr can join lake michigan cu I read but you have to join some als association  of west michigan if you are not in credit union charter area and print out form and mail to them with a fee.visit lmcu.org 3.00% apy even with all thr requrements you can't beat that with no mininum balance

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Did I read the rates on their website right?  So a balance of $14,999.99 would earn the most interest at 3.00%, but $15,000 would earn 0.00%?  I can understand if only the first $15k would earn interest, but they pay you NOTHING if you go over that?  Haha, the rate is ridiculous, but that is a bit weird itself.

I don't live in Michigan, but perhaps I can backdoor myself in, as I have about $15k at the moment I would be willing to move to earn that 3.00%.  I suppose I would have to keep transferring money out every month to stay below the $15k mark, haha.

Only thing that scares me a bit is that it's not FDIC insured, rather a different one it appears.

Checking - Max Checking Account - 1 - 14,999***	3.000%
Checking - Max Checking Account - 15,000+	0.000%

[MB2714]

Lmcu is a credit union they are not insured by FDIC all credit unions are insured by NCUA which stands for national credit union association whuch is similar ti the fdic but better because they are not for profit

[austinguy907]

I just signed up for Coppermark myself since it's local and 4%  

http://www.depositaccounts.com/checking/reward-checking-accounts.html

[Anonymous]

Hey thanks for the depositaccounts.com site, it's a great reference!

[Anonymous]

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@Kalamazoo2714 wrote:
Lmcu is a credit union they are not insured by FDIC all credit unions are insured by NCUA which stands for national credit union association whuch is similar ti the fdic but better because they are not for profit

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I don't live in MI, so I wouldn't qualify that way, however, it appears I can make a small donation to their ALS, West Michigan chapter to qualify?  Is it really that easy?  It seems a bit too good to be true, especially with that great rate.

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

I'm not sure if this technically belongs here or not.  Most banks now a days do a hard pull when you open a checking account, so I figured why not.

What do you guys think are some of the top banks out there for savings and/or checking? I am currently with a local bank, but their rates are pathetically low, so I'm looking to move my money elsewhere.

I really like USAA because of their clean and smooth layouts, and just professional looking overall.  Their rates are a bit lower than I expected, however, with a max of 0.41% (I would fall in the 0.26% bracket anyways).

Ally has been another option I was looking at, but their website layout and funtionality isn't the best (or so I've read and heard).  Their interest rates are hard to beat though being 0.84% regardless of your balance.

Has anyone had experience with either bank and would you recommend them, or possibly a different bank altogether?

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are you sure banks pull hard query for checking? RecentY opened checking with boa and ing!! I am worried in that case.

[MB2714]

From my research to join Lake Michigan Credit Union you go to LMCU.ORG go to bottom of home screen click on " apply for Membership" it gives details to join "AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS ASSOC OF WEST MICHIGAN" with a min $ 5.00 donation if you don't live in michigan. print form mail with donation to address listed and fill out credit new account app.i think they will fund account electronically also.

[jsucool76]

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@Pardeep wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

I'm not sure if this technically belongs here or not.  Most banks now a days do a hard pull when you open a checking account, so I figured why not.

What do you guys think are some of the top banks out there for savings and/or checking? I am currently with a local bank, but their rates are pathetically low, so I'm looking to move my money elsewhere.

I really like USAA because of their clean and smooth layouts, and just professional looking overall.  Their rates are a bit lower than I expected, however, with a max of 0.41% (I would fall in the 0.26% bracket anyways).

Ally has been another option I was looking at, but their website layout and funtionality isn't the best (or so I've read and heard).  Their interest rates are hard to beat though being 0.84% regardless of your balance.

Has anyone had experience with either bank and would you recommend them, or possibly a different bank altogether?

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are you sure banks pull hard query for checking? RecentY opened checking with boa and ing!! I am worried in that case.

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Some banks do SPs, some do chexsystems, some do both, i'm sure some do HP.  I know ally bank softs me every couple of months for no reason. I wish they offered credit cards D:

Most credit unions will do a HP on your report for membership though. 

[MB2714]

Hey I just called lake michigan credit union, the girl said yes as long as you make $5.00 mininum donation to the als association of west michigan anyone can join even if you don't live in michigan. The application is done online and you can fund it there. She said they have many members who have joined that way that do not live in michigan. She said there savings rates are 4 X the national average. from what I know they have about 180,000+ members and are the second largest credit union in michigan behind DFCU ficancial cu.lake michigan I found is also the 47th largest creditunion in the nation. Hope this helps somebody.

[Anonymous]

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@Kalamazoo2714 wrote:

Hey I just called lake michigan credit union, the girl said yes as long as you make $5.00 mininum donation to the als association of west michigan anyone can join even if you don't live in michigan. The application is done online and you can fund it there. She said they have many members who have joined that way that do not live in michigan. She said there savings rates are 4 X the national average. from what I know they have about 180,000+ members and are the second largest credit union in michigan behind DFCU ficancial cu.lake michigan I found is also the 47th largest creditunion in the nation. Hope this helps somebody.

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Thanks for the info!

Do you know how to make the actual donation? I see the form, but do you have to send a check or something, or does LMCU simply take whatever amount you put out of your initial deposit or something?