Chase is awesome! IME, they have always made every thing super easy, plus they have branches and ATMs everywhere and 24-hour phone service, which is super convenient. The interest rate on their savings accounts sucks, but 1% at an online bank is not much either. I had my car loan with a smaller, local bank and it was a nightmare. Why would you want to switch?
@UncleB wrote:
@darkfrosty wrote:I am currently with Chase. Have been with them for a few years but I keep hearing you should go to credit unions or smaller banks. I am full member of both USAA and NFCU. Which one would you guys choose?
Both USAA and NFCU are strong when it comes to checking, but for me (personally) USAA has a slight edge for checking, at least if you're a civilian.
With USAA everything is free - literally. Free paper checks, free ATM withdrawals at any ATM (up to 10 per month) and they will automatically reimburse the fee charged by the ATM (if any) up to $15 per month as well. I also like that with direct deposit, you get your money a day earlier... or at least the folks in my family do.
USAA also has free ACH transfers in/out of bank accounts at other institutions, which is a plus for many folks. Finally, if you don't have a credit account with them, you can use any MasterCard as an overdraft protection source should the need arise. Before I had my USAA Visa, I had my Capital One MasterCard on file for OD protection... I never had to actually use it, but it was nice knowing it was there.
I keep an account with Wells Fargo for those times when I need to get a cashier's check or deposit cash, but for my day-to-day banking, USAA has been fantastic for me. Honestly, if it weren't for the occasional need to deposit cash I would only use USAA... they're that good.
Hope this helps!
Looks like we got a USAA employee here.
(Kidding 
)
@Anonymous wrote:
@UncleB wrote:
@darkfrosty wrote:I am currently with Chase. Have been with them for a few years but I keep hearing you should go to credit unions or smaller banks. I am full member of both USAA and NFCU. Which one would you guys choose?
Both USAA and NFCU are strong when it comes to checking, but for me (personally) USAA has a slight edge for checking, at least if you're a civilian.
With USAA everything is free - literally. Free paper checks, free ATM withdrawals at any ATM (up to 10 per month) and they will automatically reimburse the fee charged by the ATM (if any) up to $15 per month as well. I also like that with direct deposit, you get your money a day earlier... or at least the folks in my family do.
USAA also has free ACH transfers in/out of bank accounts at other institutions, which is a plus for many folks. Finally, if you don't have a credit account with them, you can use any MasterCard as an overdraft protection source should the need arise. Before I had my USAA Visa, I had my Capital One MasterCard on file for OD protection... I never had to actually use it, but it was nice knowing it was there.
I keep an account with Wells Fargo for those times when I need to get a cashier's check or deposit cash, but for my day-to-day banking, USAA has been fantastic for me. Honestly, if it weren't for the occasional need to deposit cash I would only use USAA... they're that good.
Hope this helps!
Looks like we got a USAA employee here.
(Kidding
LOL my friend! 
Seriously, through the years of dealing with big banks, little banks, and regional banks - most of which looked for every opportunity to nickle-and-dime me to death, I'm so happy to have an account that's actually a good deal sometimes I do sound a bit like a commercial... LOL.
My only 'regret' is that they've tightened up on the membership requirements. At one time anybody could get a deposit account, but not anymore. Under the current requirements, I wouldn't even be eligible, but I'm 'grandfathered' in. In some ways they are more strict than NFCU, in some ways not as much... it can get really granular, especially when comparing the two.
