Need to get New Bank Account - Suggestions?

[PoorGrammyinBK7]

Hi again everyone!

Our atty said that we should get a new checking account, since our main "bank" is the credit union where we also have both our cars and our 1st mtg (all current right now - but BK will effect that because we are filing a 13) and a line of credit and a credit card (0 balances), and where I also have med insurance for myself automatically taken out (no auto deposits though).

What suggestions do you have for a good (hopefully FREE) checking account - a good bank experience??

Nearby are:

Fifth Third
Bank of America
BB & T

There are probably others but those are the ones I just thought of...

We just need a new, safe checking account - don't plan to borrow any money any time soon! LOL

What do you guys think?

[jnjw]

When we had to change accounts, we went with BB&T. We had a very good experience, and yes, it was free. And they've also amped up their online banking features, which is awesome.

The only thing I didn't like is that they don't offer, at least from what I understand, free overdraft protection. I mean you can have a BB&T savings account linked to your checking account for overdraft protection, but our old bank had given us $500 in free overdraft protection, and that was something we were not offered with BB&T. If you don't have a savings account, your BB&T overdraft protection options are credit-based. I didn't know this when we first opened a checking account, and we didn't have the funds for a savings account (and we still don't have one, actually), but I had an issue back in April where I thought I was going to need it and when I researched it on their site, the only option I had was to apply for credit-based overdraft protection (either a BB&T visa or BB&T line of credit). Of course, that was out since we had filed for bk back in December and our credit had bottomed out. If I had known that, I would've applied when we opened up our checking account last summer and our credit was still in excellent shape.

So that's one thing to think about when looking at your options.

HTH

[rrockinggramma]

I just opened up an account with B of A and I have the Keep the Change program. I love it!!! for the first time, I have savings and I can't wait to see it grow. Their checking is free with direct deposit and savings is free with a 25.00 a month transfer from checking to savings each month. No minimum required. 25.00 to open both accounts

[Lesa13]

Any chance you have a local credit union? Mine is awesome and after going through several banks (some of them politely showing me the door, unfortunately - but this is BEFORE BK so I'm better now :>), my local credit union totally rocks. I'll never leave them and wait until I'm done with BK and actually have money to give THEM! They'll die!