[pauldenton]

Originally Posted by bigben2k

I hate my bank, I really do.

Because I've been working part time for the last six months, I've been using my checking account and playing the balance down to the last dollar. Once in a while though, I'll forget about an upcoming charge, or a check, and I make a few small purchases (can of pop, a sandwich,...), and overdraft my account, which Wells Fargo is not only happy to let me do, but also charge me $33, EACH TIME.

So my overdraft protection options are:
-link my checking account to a credit card
or
-link it to a savings account

But...

Since I'm still a Canadian citizen in the US, I have no credit history, so I'd have to get a secured credit card, which Wells Fargo will gladly give me, if I drop $300 with them, to back it up. (I need a credit card from someone else, I guess)

Wells Fargo's savings will charge me $3 per month, just to have a savings account, unless I maintain a balance of... you guessed it, $300.


I'm stingy when it comes to bank fees.


It's bad enough that my part time employer doesn't have direct deposit, because if they did, I wouldn't have to pay Wells Fargo $8 per month, just to have a checking account (hey, maybe I can just switch account type...).

Now that I have a second job, and that the employer does have direct deposit, I'll be able to go around this $8 fee. This will take ~6 weeks to take effect...


So I've been looking at other banks. Bank of America is even worse than Wells Fargo... (no secure card, $500 minimum balance on savings).


Hence this poll: who do you bank with?

well you guys seem to get a really bad deal on banking
i presume it's connected to the US's weird banking laws (with banks not being able to necessarily operate nationwide iirc?) leading to a non-competitive market.

is it better in canada?

over here the idea of being charged a fee for a debit card would be regarded as absolutely preposterous.....
free banking (if in credit - if overdrawn it's a different story....) is the norm (with the exception of a few "private banks" catering to high net worth individuals) and has been for about 30 years iirc. - by free banking i mean no fees at all for all normal transactions (deposits/withdrawls/cheque or debit card transactions, bill payments etc.) interest on your current account (albiet at a low rate) is also the norm (unless you opt out of it for religious reasons)