Please include personal and business banking choice. For business, I'm particularly interested in responses from scalable startup folks, so please indicate so if you fall into this category and why. Thanks
Assuming you don't care about (or can work around) the relatively few services that require going to an actual bank branch (e.g. free notary public, cashiers' checks, ...) their "Cash Management" accounts are wonderful. A monthly allowance for ATM fee reimbursements, direct deposit (of course) and image-based check deposit, free transfers in and out, alternative investment choices for your cash balance (e.g. municipals), and (almost) no fees.
I bank with First Republic, because they offer outstanding service and have good products, particularly if you're traveling overseas a lot; and with a local credit union, because they are a credit union and not a goddamned bank. I got a much better rate on an auto loan from the credit union than any local bank was offering.
+1 for First Republic (SF). They are truly superb and I can't recommend them highly enough.
You get access to a personal banker that you can contact directly via phone, email or in person, and who can do all sorts of helpful things for you.
Mine has been extremely awesome on several occasions, handling things like wire transfers, direct debits, account openings/closings due to stolen personal information, etc.
Check out Schawb Online Checking Account - No fees, reimbursement for any ATM usage in the world, iPhone app for check deposits, and you earn interest on your balance
Sacramento Credit Union, because when I asked about Mint.com integration they let me talk to one of the higher ups right away, and a week later they had it.
Obviously, if you're not in Sacramento that's a little impractical, but credit union employees and management are more accesible in general.
I do all of my personal and business banking at a local credit union. I like the fact that the shareholders of the credit union are the same as the customers. For investments, Vanguard also uses the same approach. This doesn't guarantee that it can't be poorly run, but at least then there is no conflict of interest as far as doing what is best for the business against doing what is best for the customer.
In general, the best advice that I have heard and read all points to going with a local bank or credit union. Unless you have millions of dollars, you're just a number to a large bank. With a local institution, you can develop relationships with the people in charge.
Tried that advice a few months ago, but the local credit union here (and there's only one in this entire province sadly), offered no better interest to my savings account, and wanted to charge me 3-5% more interest for any existing loans and credit cards that I wanted to more over. Guess they weren't hurting for customers too badly.
As for what bank, it's one of the five in Canada. Doesnt' matter much as to the name, they're all the same here really for anyone that isn't a millionaire.
BOA - Great online interface, late night atm deposits credit immediately (big deal for me), and access to my stocks directly in my online console (can transfer money in the same interface.)
I'm going to have to switch if they implement a $5 debit card fee though. Dunno where :P
I just left BOA after 20 years (started at Fleet bank). I've moved to The Bank of Maine (http://thebankofmaine.com) basically because it will cost me less and offers higher interest rates. The jump was a no-brainer that I should have done a long time ago but, honestly, was just too lazy.
The recent news about BOA and their apparent arrogance in addition to the threat of new fees was the final nail.
Edit: I should add The Bank of Maine is local for me.
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[ 3.0 ms ] story [ 40.8 ms ] threadAssuming you don't care about (or can work around) the relatively few services that require going to an actual bank branch (e.g. free notary public, cashiers' checks, ...) their "Cash Management" accounts are wonderful. A monthly allowance for ATM fee reimbursements, direct deposit (of course) and image-based check deposit, free transfers in and out, alternative investment choices for your cash balance (e.g. municipals), and (almost) no fees.
You get access to a personal banker that you can contact directly via phone, email or in person, and who can do all sorts of helpful things for you.
Mine has been extremely awesome on several occasions, handling things like wire transfers, direct debits, account openings/closings due to stolen personal information, etc.
Far better than any other bank I've ever used.
Obviously, if you're not in Sacramento that's a little impractical, but credit union employees and management are more accesible in general.
Business - HSBC
Bitcoins - http://strongcoin.com
In general, the best advice that I have heard and read all points to going with a local bank or credit union. Unless you have millions of dollars, you're just a number to a large bank. With a local institution, you can develop relationships with the people in charge.
As for what bank, it's one of the five in Canada. Doesnt' matter much as to the name, they're all the same here really for anyone that isn't a millionaire.
I'm going to have to switch if they implement a $5 debit card fee though. Dunno where :P
The recent news about BOA and their apparent arrogance in addition to the threat of new fees was the final nail.
Edit: I should add The Bank of Maine is local for me.