Your Financial Institution - Why it Rocks

[Apoc]

Started based on discussion from another thread.
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I've had Wachovia, who's consistently voted #1 in customer serivce, since I was 16. I'm always amazed at how great they are on the phone and in person as well as the breadth of their offerings. Every time I deal with them they're always pleasant, speak clear english and don't try to upsell me. It's almost sickening how nice they are.

The American Customer Satisfaction Index just ranked Wachovia No. 1 in customer satisfaction for the fifth consecutive year, and J.D. Power and Associates ranked it No. 1 in retail banking satisfaction among large banks.

What do you have and why is it great?

[BLINGMW]

Also Wachovia for at least the past 6+ years, I haven't seen any reason to shop around. The only thing they did that I didn't like recently was when we did add a savings account to our checking account, they opened a credit card to use as overlimit protection in our name without any authorization or mention of it to me. :?

[Mike]

I'm with Bank of America simply because they're everywhere... I'm not aprticularly pleased with their rates, but have never had an issue with customer service.

I'd be willing to change banks if someone gave me a good reason to do so. My biggest needs are: free ATMs (or ATMs everywhere), I'd like to see a decent return on a savings account, and a good website is important.

I spent some time with ING just for savings... No complaints there.

[HAULN-SS]

I still use a local bank - Bank of Botetourt. Everything's free, I have a 'personal' relationship with the loan officer there, which basically means if i need a loan for a car or something, I just ask, and get a pretty competitive rate with no hassle.

[ScottyB]

i have BB&T because they're everywhere down here. i like secure, available ATM's so that is a leading reason. i only have a checking account with BB&T, my savings is through Capital 1 because their interest rates are far superior. I also have a "fun fund" with ING (saving up for a Eurotrip w00t!)

i used to have an account with Member 1 Federal Credit Union in roanoke. they were fantastic. When it is convenient for me to get back into a credit union i will.

[white_2kgt]

Wachovia, had a savings account with them since I was a kid (well technically it was Central Fidelity then they got bought out by Wachovia). I have no problem w/ them, plenty of ATMs, easy to deal with. However I have no loans from them, our mortgage is with USAA, car loan was from Navy Federal, truck loan was from Tower Federal. So their rates are not the best but not many banks can beat out credit unions. I use them mainly for checking, we keep little in savings most is in CD's that come due on a regular basis just in case we need a little extra money for an emergency. We try and do no more than 18mo CDs and keep them due 2 months or so apart. We get those from whoever has the best rates, I think we have them at like 6 different places right now.

[Ginger]

I don't have time to write up why I do all my banking with my Credit Union. I can say, though, that every single experience I've had has been absolutely pathetic as far as customer service goes.

*edit* and as a financial institution employee for the past 3 years (and no, that's not bias because my favorite is the one I work at. The last institution I worked for I did not like at all) I'm not entirely ignorant on the subject.

[Evan]

Bank of America: Ive been with them since they were Crestar, then Nations Bank, then BoA.

website that does everything. Writes and mails checks to my landlord for free.
My credit card, checking account, and truck loan are all BOA and so they are all on my web interface. paying truck pmt or cc pmt is a breeze and instantaneous.

ATMs everywhere. never been outside of a few blocks of one when i need it.

New feature that I love: deposit checks through the ATM (and not in an envelope). Scans them, deposits directly into your account. Gives you a receipt with the checks printed out. I really like not having to wait in line or deal with people. i hate people.

only time Ive had to deal with customer service was when I called them to tell them to stop sending me those stupid credit card cash advance checks. the phone maze was a pain in the ass but after that it was fine.

I dont use boa for savings, I use ING for that and am very happy with them as well. Good web interface, tranferring funds between ING and BoA is a snap (it just takes 2 or 3 days to post)

Sharebuilder.com for stock stuff, which is ok but not great, only use them because they have the cheapest per trade cost (when you forego the advanced tools and do delayed trades). Ill probably change to something else later if I ever start taking investing seriously.

[ScottyB]

deposit checks through the ATM (and not in an envelope). Scans them, deposits directly into your account. Gives you a receipt with the checks printed out. I really like not having to wait in line or deal with people. i hate people.

that's fantastic. i wish my bank had that, i hate sitting in line for overworked tellers and all i want to do is deposit a $25 check.

[Ginger]

deposit checks through the ATM (and not in an envelope). Scans them, deposits directly into your account. Gives you a receipt with the checks printed out. I really like not having to wait in line or deal with people. i hate people.

that's fantastic. i wish my bank had that, i hate sitting in line for overworked tellers and all i want to do is deposit a $25 check.

+1

We've got those ATM's now. They're fantastic fun.

[Apoc]

deposit checks through the ATM (and not in an envelope). Scans them, deposits directly into your account. Gives you a receipt with the checks printed out. I really like not having to wait in line or deal with people. i hate people.

that's fantastic. i wish my bank had that, i hate sitting in line for overworked tellers and all i want to do is deposit a $25 check.

Maybe I'm just not following but I've NEVER been inside a bank to deposit a check. Wachovia doesn't have the no envelope thing but I've been able to deposit checks via ATM for 10 years. Isn't that how it is for other banks?

[Mike]

the check scanning thing really is so money. i used to hate writing deposit slips, having one handy, using an envelope...

[.RJ]

i used to hate writing deposit slips, having one handy, using an envelope...

microwave dinners. youporn. pay per view.

now, now now!

[Ginger]

deposit checks through the ATM (and not in an envelope). Scans them, deposits directly into your account. Gives you a receipt with the checks printed out. I really like not having to wait in line or deal with people. i hate people.

that's fantastic. i wish my bank had that, i hate sitting in line for overworked tellers and all i want to do is deposit a $25 check.

Maybe I'm just not following but I've NEVER been inside a bank to deposit a check. Wachovia doesn't have the no envelope thing but I've been able to deposit checks via ATM for 10 years. Isn't that how it is for other banks?

It is how it's been. ATM deposits are nothing new, but the new scanning ATM's are great because they provide an immediate record of what you deposited. They also verify the MICR on the check to cut down on fraud. There's no possibility of human error, like by the ATM Balancing Tech, later on

[Apoc]

So I guess people go into the bank to prevent error? Interesting. That just seems like a lot of hassle to prevent an outside chance of something.

Actually, you know what... a guy here at work used to do that until BoA got the check scanning thing. I used to bust his balls all the time because he'd drive to lunch just so he could hit the bank.

The only time I go in the bank is if I need to wathdraw more than $300 or I want large bills.

[Evan]

So I guess people go into the bank to prevent error? Interesting. That just seems like a lot of hassle to prevent an outside chance of something.

yeah, I never trusted the envelope thing. I like having full accountability and record through the whole process.

[JohnC]

USAA. Great customer service, decent rates. Everything is done online or via Fedex. I can use my home scanner to deposit checks over the interweb.

[Ginger]

Ironically, ATM's have always been less error prone, and are easier to correct in the instance of malfunction, than their human counterparts. People tend to assume ATM's carry great[er] risk, or don't like not dealing with people. I love ATM's!

Seriously, I'm an ATM nerd. But I think everbody that knew what my old job with PFCU was knew that already.

[.RJ]

yeah, I never trusted the envelope thing

Me neither - I dont know why. Its not like a $10/hr teller is going to foul something up worse than I will at the ATM, or the $10/hr ATM teller is when balancing it.

[Evan]

I can use my home scanner to deposit checks over the interweb.

now thats badass.