Comment on Reliable bank account
ApathyTree@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 days agoI use a credit union and they don’t penalize for either one. There’s a small “get gud with money” fee for the transfer if you use overdraft protection, something like $1.50 or whatever, but I don’t think there’s an insufficient funds fee at all. They just decline the transaction.
So your options might actually be “eat the fee, or switch banking institutions”, but they won’t tell you that, ofc.
Ookami38@sh.itjust.works 4 days ago
Well, yeah, switching institutions is always an option, unfortunately it’s not a great one here. I’ve used a few, and unfortunately this one seems to be the best in my area.
ApathyTree@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 days ago
Sorry to hear. Have you considered looking for one that does app-based banking and isn’t local?
I mean some 15 years ago I had a credit union that was very very regional, and I moved. But they had good online options (keep in mind this was like… 2011 or so and things have moved so far since) so I kept using them for several years until I found a better local credit union.
Maybe that would be an option for you as well, assuming you don’t need to go in in person for stuff frequently.
Ookami38@sh.itjust.works 4 days ago
I haven’t actually looked into any that weren’t local. Well, I did, but none that I found I could qualify for at the time. It may be worth looking into again.
ApathyTree@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 days ago
If you are in any sort of unique demographic, like you aren’t a white male office worker, you might look for credit unions that serve your specific population.
Like if you do trade work, there’s options. If you are Hispanic there’s options. Veterans have several options, women and feminists have several as well. Just sort of look for whatever fits you and see what might be available on a more national scale.
And if you are a cishet white male office worker with nothing to distinguish you from anyone else there’s probably a credit union for that, too. The theme of the day is themes. Credit unions that aren’t regionally based are nonetheless community based, and I’m sure you fit a community.
Really tho I hope you find something that fits so you can buck the bank. Banks are horrible and we can do better! Through unions!
CouncilOfFriends@slrpnk.net 4 days ago
I’ve used the free online banking from Charles Schwab as well as Capital One for years and don’t see any fees. Schwab refunds any ATM fees for withdrawing cash, even internationally last I tried. Capital One does have a large partner ATM network as well.
sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works 2 days ago
I’m similar, but I’m with Fidelity instead of Schwab. Using a brokerage as a bank account is an awesome cheat code to getting awesome interest w/o any extra effort. My “checking” is a brokerage account and the cash sits in a money market fund making ~4.5%, which is awesome.
The main downside w/ an online bank/brokerage is lack of access to branch services, like depositing cash or withdrawing specific denominations. I maintain a local bank that doesn’t entirely suck to get access to branch services and leave like $50 in there so they don’t close it, and then just transfer money to/from as needed. All of my regular expenses go through my brokerage “checking.”