@Anonymous wrote:So while I was apparently sleeping my CU rates and fees have gone from great to sucksville. They used to be the best game in town. Now I pay for checking and get a fraction of a % interest. So I tink it is time to bank shop. Here's what I've been looking at:
Online bank, such as Ally (probably Ally)- Great rates, great fees. No direct access to stuff, but I hardly ever go to my CU anyway.
A different local CU- there is at least one that still has no fee checking. Of course the interest rate still sucks like all of them do now, but I can go to the branch if I need to. About the only time that happens is because I need lots of small bills when cruising. Also, they do still have a personal touch when it comes to lending decisions.
A "big" bank, like Cap1 or chase. I have a CC with cap1 and a chase card in the mail, so this would sort of make sense. Their interest rates are not quite as good as Ally, but they are the "big" banks. Maybe there is some safety there. There is still no local branch for either of these where I live.
So what do you think of these options? Where do you park your money?
Ally isn't an horrible choice for savings and checking they have pretty competitve rates for both. Thought you need to have decent amount to get .6% in your checking. I personally use alliant for my checking and savings needs. I get 1% savings and .65% for checking not the best in the world but I think its good enough for me. Also they will reimburse atm fees up to twenty bucks a month which is nice, even though i have never had to use that feature. They have access to an fair amount of "free" atms, something like 80,000 atm in us.
I also have an local CU that i park some money just in case. The local cu you would just have to look around in your town and see if you can find any that has no min balance or something like that.
As far as big banks go like a chase boa wf, i don't really have use for them I do use them for their rewards CC but thats about it.
On a side note i do have some 5 year cds with ally, but will probably be moving them to barclays since ally jusr nerfed their rates an lot.
I have savings account at Ally, but I do my main banking with a mid-sized bank. I just about never go into the branch, but I'm glad I have the option when I need to - like to deposit cash after Christmas or something. That said, I still probably would have opened an account with Chase if they let me, but they wouldn't because the closest branch is 70 miles away. If it didn't take Ally so long to post deposits into the account, I would open a checking with them and try it out, but I'm too impatient for that.
@Anonymous wrote:So while I was apparently sleeping my CU rates and fees have gone from great to sucksville. They used to be the best game in town. Now I pay for checking and get a fraction of a % interest. So I tink it is time to bank shop. Here's what I've been looking at:
Online bank, such as Ally (probably Ally)- Great rates, great fees. No direct access to stuff, but I hardly ever go to my CU anyway.
A different local CU- there is at least one that still has no fee checking. Of course the interest rate still sucks like all of them do now, but I can go to the branch if I need to. About the only time that happens is because I need lots of small bills when cruising. Also, they do still have a personal touch when it comes to lending decisions.
A "big" bank, like Cap1 or chase. I have a CC with cap1 and a chase card in the mail, so this would sort of make sense. Their interest rates are not quite as good as Ally, but they are the "big" banks. Maybe there is some safety there. There is still no local branch for either of these where I live.
So what do you think of these options? Where do you park your money?
You can pick a different CU and still walk into yor local CU to do business with them. There's nothing special about banking with any of the largest banks.
Go here and research https://www.depositaccounts.com/checking/reward-checking-accounts.html . You're certain to find one that fits your needs. Just make sure it's CO-OP with your local CU. That way you still get the personal touch with better rates.
Consider Alliant Credit Union. Good interest on savings, high interest checking, ATM fees reimbured upto $20/month.
@Themanwhocan wrote:Consider Alliant Credit Union. Good interest on savings, high interest checking, ATM fees reimbured upto $20/month.
Very nice rates, and what an awesome way to grant membership. 
@Anonymous wrote:
@Themanwhocan wrote:Consider Alliant Credit Union. Good interest on savings, high interest checking, ATM fees reimbured upto $20/month.
Very nice rates, and what an awesome way to grant membership.
They also have decent rates on 5 year cds if thats your thing, i believe its in 2% range. They are my main bank right now.
I can vouch for Alliant
