Best checking account?

[Anonymous]

Hello. I would like to know what bank do you use for checking account, and why? 

For me, I use Navy Federal CU for my primary account ( direct deposit, cash deposit) and I also use Ally as an alternative. 

[Anonymous]

I use different checking accounts for different things:

BRICK AND MORTAR:

I have an account with a credit union at my place of work.  It's a good place to deposit cash or paper checks if I need to, and there are no minimum balances or fees.  Free paper checks too.  The branch is about 50 yards from my desk at work.  They would be a terrible place to try to earn interest whether for savings or checking.

DISCOVER:

I opened three different accounts with them for some nice signup bonuses.  Discover only gives you bonuses once -- you can't close them and get the bonuses again -- so I never felt impelled to close them.  Again, free paper checks, instant transfer from savings to checking, good savings rates, really friendly interface.

CHASE, CITI, AND OTHERS:

I open checking and savings accounts (personal and business) with other places because of the signup bonuses.  I close them 7 months later and do it again the following year or perhaps two years later.  It's easy to make $1000 in bonuses every year -- you can make $2000 if you really try.

I also have a big savings account with Marcus, who has a slightly better interest rate than Discover.  That's savings and you asked about checking, but I thought I'd mention that anyway.

[Anonymous]

If you pull cash out of ATMs often, Schwab Bank Checking may be the best choice.  They refund all ATM fees.

[j615]

Schwab. As previous post mentioned, all ATM fees refunded at end of month, even international fees. Customer service is also superb.

[mongstradamus]

I personally use alliant because they have very competitvie savings and checking rates, 2% for savings and .65% for checking. although i have never had to use it they also refund 20 dollars a month for out of network atm fees. 

[Anonymous]

I have somewhat of a buffet of accounts... Chase is best for branches, Discover is best for free checks, etc., for example.

[Anonymous]

Wells Fargo Greenhouse and Chase Finn can also be alternatives if you want to avoid minimum balance requirements or Simple from BBVA Compass.  

If you need physical branches, bank with someone where you frequent.  You can often find banks clustered together in the same areas.  Everyone seems to bank with someone different and no one size fits all.  Check www.fdic.gov and make your own choice as to which bank to use or check out a credit union at www.mycreditunion.gov

[pinkandgrey]

I use my local bank for checking and Discover for savings. 

[Anonymous]

I use BECU as my primary.  It pays interest on the first $500, has fee free ACH and pillpay, and recently added Zelle (I don't use this yet.)

What I like most about it is the Money manager.  It is probably similar to Mint or other money managers out there and gives me a good view of all my accounts in one place.

[Anonymous]

I have 1stBank (Colorado bank) as my primary... I have an NFCU checking but as I have had my bank account since 2013 and not had any issues and they don’t charge me any fees except $10 a year for my debit card (which I’m going to cancel), I really can’t see moving to NFCU. I do Zelle to Zelle when I need to move money between the two and my bank’s bill pay works flawlessly.