LoungeNet

[Intelekchewal]

It seems very hard to find good bank reviews online, especially when it comes to gotchas in credit card agreements. I need something to replace E-Trade, which is being ditched after only a couple of months.

First my new ATM card, despite only being used at ATMs, became involved in a fraudulent transaction in NY. E-Trade's robocoll "call this other number" and "customer service" rep actually convinced me it was a phishing scam until I got them to read off my transaction history.

I can't get cash because the replacement card came with a new PIN (contrary to the documentation) and no new-PIN mailer. Still waiting for the second, so I only have my credit card to use.

Turns out E-Trade doesn't think you should use its credit card for a day of holiday shopping and eating out, because it's limited to 8 transactions a day. I learned this when a gas pump told me to make a call. Good thing I had enough gas to get home.

WTF? I've never even heard of a restriction like that.



Is there any financial institution that will not fuck me over so often?

[lanclos]

If you are eligible (work for the military, or child of someone who does/did), USAA is the way to go. ING Direct seems like a decent sort. I don't know if they do credit cards. Also, Bay Federal Credit Union, but they're quite local to Santa Cruz.

[Argyle]

ING does seem to be pretty good. The couple times I've called them, they've been very helpful. It was a "how do I do this?" call, not a "you boneheads screwed up!" call, though. That may factor in. I'm not positive if they do credit cards, but they certainly do debit cards if that's good enough.
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I demand a better future.

[meira]

I second the credit union recommendations. Tech CU and Stanford FCU are local to the bay area and seem to be good. Check around and see what credit union options you have, you work might have some hook ups. The nice thing about credit unions is that they work with each other or with you to make banking easy when you can't find a branch. Some let you scan and submit checks online and most share ATM access.

We also have high interest accounts with Charles Schwab (through Brian's work) and FNBO that have treated us well so far. I have yet to step foot into a branch office for either, but the online and phone service has been good.
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merf...

[benvis]

I'll second (third? fourth?) the credit union recommendation. You have to pay a bit more attention to your CU. They're usually small and pay extra attention to customer service. Apparently it's pretty common for some new executive to come onboard and realize the CU is spending way more than their competitors on things like customer service. So, they cut back all that stuff, and you're left with service like some big bank (i.e. poor) and none of the advantages of a big bank (what are they again?). I don't have a source for this as a trend, but it certainly appears to have happened to a CU I used to use, and I've heard similar anecdotes from others. Personally, I'd rather lose 0.01% interest and instead have a friendly, competent person available when I call with a problem.

I'll definitely agree lanclos: I heart USAA.
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"Please note, we have added a consequence for failure. Any contact with the chamber floor will result in an unsatisfactory mark on your official testing record, followed by death. Good luck."

[Mark]

I like my credit Union. So far so good. You can use any credit Union ATM for free if you are part of a credit Union. To see if there are credit Union ATM locations near you, the following tool can be used:
http://www.co-opfs.org/public/locators/ATMlocator/index.cfm

[Argyle]

Caveat on TechCU: They sold off their credit card business and don't run it themselves. The outfit that does run it hasn't screwed me, but I can smell some sleaze from the way their web thingy is set up.
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I demand a better future.

[Karzon]

Rachel and I have been using USBank for several years now and have yet to be dicked over. It seems like if you overdraft or are late making payments their fees will ream you out, but as we don't do that we have had smooth sailing.
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Why am I talking when there is Science to do on the people who are still alive?

[el samayo grande]

I agree - I don't think high interest/brokerage accounts like E-trade and Schwab are meant to be accessed that frequently, while Credit Unions exist solely for everyday use. So they're great for that.

Though being a credit union member means you're not legally classified as a depositor by the government - http://www.ncua.gov/Resources/RegulationsOpinionsLaws/Regulations.aspx

I remember I looked into the local credit union when I moved back to CA in 2002, but Washington Mutual still had a better deal - better interest on my savings account, etc. And I didn't see a big difference in service

Oh, and I don't know how much this matters, but Charles Schwab (the firm) is one of the largest supporters of the California Republican Party, and Charles Schwab (the man) was heavily involved in Prop. 8, so if it does matter to you, watch out. It might be worth it to check out the Credit Union executives, too. All the big banks are slightly biased towards conservative issues too, but nothing on that scale.
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"Yes kids, we lied to you about Santa, but trust us, Jesus is real"
- Adult Swim

[Intelekchewal]

[Amysun]

Yony has an account at the Stanford Credit Union and they aren't very good, and a nightmare overseas. I have Citibank and WaMu (which is now Chase) and haven't any problems with Chase, and just one or two tiny ones with Citibank that happened so long ago I can't remember them anymore. Both banks were great when my wallet was stolen and there were fraudulent charges on my ATM cards.
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Cake!

[bforsse]

TechCU was great for a car loan. Despite their evil inclinations Schwab is great for checking, brokerage, and credit cards. FNBO has been great for savings, they keep their rates competitive. WaMu's checking and savings were pure frustration in my experience, with little to no interest options.

[Argyle]

It seems the answer is clear. Move to Santa Cruz for six months, get an account at Bay Federal, and move back.

That or join the army.
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I demand a better future.

[Argyle]

[beckalay]

I'm very fond of my bank: Comerica. I've never been screwed. Their customer service is good enough for me so far and they've been my bank for 10 years. Knock on wood.