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First off, What online pharmacy will take Discover Card? Looking forward for any answer. Another quick question... Hi,. |
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That's a good question. I'm not sure what is the answer. I'll do some research and get back to you if I discover an decent answer. You should email the people at Discover Card as they probably could help you..
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I hate Wells Fargo. I have HSBC which I love - sooo user friendly - but I don't need to go into a branch that often so the lack of branches isn't a big deal for me. Everything is free and so straight forward. I opened a Wells Fargo last year because I had a check stolen in the mail and I needed to get something paid asap (as in that day) and didn't have time to send a deposit in. Every time I've been in Wells Fargo they try to sell me things. I'm so tired of "so I see you do not have a savings account with us...blah blah blah." Then I started getting calls from some survey place who would hang up on my voicemail...I finally figured out they were calling for Wells Fargo after picking up the number and asking why the hell they call me 5 times in an afternoon and don't leave a message.
Just my 2 cents.. |
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I've been looking for a bank as well. I've been real interested in Wells Fargo myself, but I've been reading about every different bank out there. I'm in Chicago and have been banking for several years with Schwab but want to get a "brick and mortar" bank for a variety of reasons. I'd like a place where I can stash cash, write checks, have my two IRA's, and even get a mortgage for a good rate or possibly even a care loan in the future. I also have a brokerage account and as a bonus would love a place that would let me trade stocks.
Wells Fargo seemed to really hit all those points, but I've read some negative stories about them on CB and other forums. It seems like a lot of complaints from people that were having trouble paying (with Discover card) mortgage's and stuff, which could always happen I suppose, but it does seem like WF is less willing to work with people. I'd love to read some more detailed thoughts from people... |
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Not sure if Chase continues to offer free checking to new customers like Washington Mutual used to..
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Get a credit union account better service by far.
I too do not mind BoA, and think they have gotten better recently. (Except the annoying stalkers that annoy when you walk in the door and the "fake" security guard.). I have US Bank as well, not too bad and provide decent service. I also have and hard to beat Navy FCU and USAA. (but not LOCAL).. |
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IIRC, the troubled mortgage side resulted from Wells Fargo Financial - a different division...
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Just a suggestion.. Bank of the West. They're one of the largest banks in the.
Western US that nobody's ever heard about :-). Checking is usually fee-free with direct deposit, their online banking is simple,. Straight forward, realtime, and easy to understand as is their online billpay. Which last time I checked was also free (I don't use it myself.. only have 2. Bills a month to pay that can't be paid directly on the vendors' site). They're extremely solid financially.. they just don't seem to want to go. National.. they're in 19 states in the western US.. I've maintained my. Primary account with them for about 18 years without any drama or. Hassles. When I went to WF way back then, it took them 10 minutes to. Explain all the fees I could conceivably get hit with. BoTW was pretty. Straight forward - no monthly fees, and if you use non-BoTW ATM. Machines during a given month, you are charged a single $1.50. Interchange fee for the month... |
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I love Wells Fargo. They have great customer service. They don't charge me for withdrawing money from ATMs or having my account balance to low...
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I am a big fan of B of A. My concern is that I have 2 creedit cards with them in good standing (8k and 39k limits) but high utilization, and I have had a bunch of overdrafts over the years in addition to an IRS levy a year ago. Am I on their records permanently as being a risky customer??..
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I've been with Wachovia since 2000 and am generally very satisfied. Their Billpay has always worked for me and I've had no issues with them. Now, the buyout by Wells Fargo hasn't become noticeable yet in my area...meaning so far, nothing has changed. We'll have to see how that plays out as to whether I pick up my marbles and go else where or not...
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In my town in WI, WF is one of the better brick-and-mortar banks, IMO. It all depends on what you value. Their tellers are friendly and thus far have refrained from coding a deposit as a withdrawal, which is what I value a lot. However, if you value keeping a low number of EX hards, WF checking may not be for you. I opened two checking accounts with them recently, separated by a few months, and already was a mortgage customer with them for years. They pulled EX each time, despite assurances that they would pull CHEX only. Proceed with caution or with EX on ice...
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Thanks everyone!!.
I asked several people here about WF and it is definitely a love hate relationship. I opened an account with Chase twice and I HATE THEM!. I wish Citi wouldn't charge unnecessary fees. But I'm going to give BOA a try; it all else fells I'll just keep the Citi limit in my checking acount... |
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I've been using WF checking for 30+ years. I've never had a problem with them. Actually, that was a problem. When debit cards, then Visa branded debit cards came out they sent me one. I gradually used it more and more just to avoid the PITA of paying (with Discover card) a monthly bill to a CC. Then they gradually raised my daily limit from $1000 to $5000 then $10,000 and I stopped using CCs completely.
Eventually they dropped off my CR. A tax lien and some utility baddies I didn't close when I moved completed my transformation to a creditless SOB. And I had no idea since I had no credit accounts to be dropped nor had I applied for credit in 20 yrs.. If it hadn't been for the occasional hassle of renting cars/hotel rooms with debit cards I would still be clueless today. I picked up a Wells Fargo secured almost 1 year ago to the day. It solved the car rental/hotel hassle. I also asked the bank to decrease the daily limit on my debit card for safety after learning about the differences between debit-credit liability.. Another positive. I had my debit card cloned some years ago and used to buy over $6,000 worth of jewellry at a store in Australia. I filed a fraud report with WF. They took care of it promptly.. One negative. The secured Discover credit card doesn't pay interest on the deposit and has an AF of about $20. However, since it is linked to my online banking account I have great visibility/control on the WF site.. For secured CCs I absolutely love Citi. I found out about them on the CB and got the 4% APR CD based one. I love the virtual Discover credit card capability which lets me create a unique Discover credit card number for use online.. I'm sticking with WF for banking based on the long term positive experience and ubiquity of WF ATMs. I can't really blame them for going "debit only." It was completely my fault... |
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Wells pulls inquiries for almost anything reason. open a CD? who cares if you are an existing customer, wells pulls a hard one..
You're better off with a small community bank or a CU... |
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I wonder why?.
I opened a CD with WF 1.5 yrs ago. No hard or soft pull. They did pull EX for the secured Discover credit card but that's the only one I've seen. Never had a pull from any bank opening CDs or even checking. Did get a soft from AMEX savings... |
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Funny thing is that up until last year I was under mandatory IRS withholding there. Didn't mess up my banking relationship though...
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If you meet any of the following, and can get it for $0.00 100% free (I got MyAccess Checking for free in 2007, may not be available anymore), please try Bank of America:.
(1) Everyone hated them in Cali for fees and more fees, but I've never had a fee b/c I've never overdrawn. (1a) if you want overdraft protection, you can get it. (2) No minimum balance. (3) No direct deposit stipulation. (4) Awesome and fully-featured Bill Pay that's very easy to use and set up. (5) Budgeting tool similar to Mint.com that allows you to log in other financial accounts to keep track of your spending. (6) Cute and stylish debit cards (I personally like Precious Moments and Hello Kitty, OP, haha!). (7) Cute icons next to transactions (maybe you don't care? ). (8) Shows the pending transaction vendor for both Checking and Credit Cards (Chase, BoA's biggest competitor in my opinion, CANNOT do this for CC, and it annoys me to no end). (9) If you have a checking account and you need to lend money to a friend or borrow money from a friend with BoA, the transfer is almost instantaneous, clearing the next business day.. If you have access to Wells Fargo, I am assuming you have access to BoA and Chase. I would not go to WF; I have heard more horrible things about WF than BoA and Chase combined, if possible? Also, WF wouldn't let me buy a sofa (they were underwriter), so I'm still a bit bitter, haha!.. |
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BofA was my first bank until they misplaced a deposit, started bouncing checks, then suggested I had faked a teller's initials on the account book. I had to search their drawers (litterally) to locate my deposit check. Found it and there was absolutely nothing wrong with it - they just stuck it in their "unknown" file. The processed it and sent letters to all the people they bounced checks on but I was done with them. For some reason I tend to resent being accused of fraud..
For years they courted a company I later started but, as they say, actions have consequences... |
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Sorry about that. Never had that problem. I rarely went in to deposit checks because at the time, Washington Mutual was right across from where I worked, so I only electronically moved funds. Then, when they got their new ATMs, I started feeding my checks and cash in directly for automatic availability.....
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Well that was along time ago when things weren't done online. I even remember savings account booklets where the S&Ls didn't even send out mail summaries. I don't believe my experience with BofA in any way represents how they operate now and I've recently heard some good stories and their Discover credit card online pages look flexible. It's just an emotional response at this point. After all, even banks deserve a SOL, so I don't think this should be considered by others but just an explanation why I'm not gonna do biz with them..
Others have had horror stories about WF et al. It happens in all human endeavors.. Ps: I've also gone through the same electronic/online transition with WF... |
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Still trying to decide which way to go with my banking. I emailed a local bank some questions but it was a week ago and they still haven't returned my email. I'm strongly considering Wells Fargo but also alliant credit union. I know Alliant is held in pretty high regard around here, but I'm not a fan of their online interface, it just seems subpar. Plus, I have brokerage holdings and I'd like to consolidate my accounts for ease of use purposes...
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So does hells fargo offer 2% APY for savings LOL.
Alliant's site is functional. who cares about bells and whistles if you're getting better deposit and credit products?.. |
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My online brokerage is with WF. They give me 200 free trades a year. Made some serious green with it. I also love the fact it is all consolidated and can instantly move money from savings/checking/visa/brokerage and it posts immediately. That plus the fact you can't hardly go anywhere around here without running into a branch or ATM. As for fees, my account is large enough that there is little there is a fee on.
That I would like. However, I'm hoping Citi doesn't unsecure since they pay good interest and it is a virtual certainty I will not find myself with a sudden AA on vacation.. This post has been edited by cashnocredit: 30 January 2010 - 03:04 PM.. |
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Nope they sure don't. Being a bank TBTF, they seem to have attracted large numbers of big $ depositors and just don't have to pay much. I have moved chunks into other banks savings accounts paying (with Discover card) more just for the FDIC protection but WF is the main one I'm willing to park more than that in. I do my larger investments through them and don't get hassled on check holds and such. Even large checks...
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They have that nickname... We Fee... for a reason. It's well-earned..
Even at that, they make it so difficult to talk to anybody. They discourage talking to a teller. Talking to a phone rep costs $2 (may have increased since then). You can talk to a phone rep for free if it's something that the automated system can't do, but you have to ask for the $2 credit, they will NOT just give it to you if you don't ask.. The large network of branches and ATMs was great, but I've found reasonable ways to work around that just fine, and I'd rather just deal with a regional bank and/or CU that actually acts like they're happy to see me when I walk in the door. Customer service... what a concept, eh?. ETA: I liked they're billpay when I had it for a free trial offer, but I didn't use it enough to keep it free, and I didn't want yet another fee. As far as it's functionality, I liked it, though.. This post has been edited by Uncle Leo: 30 January 2010 - 03:13 PM.. |
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Odd. When I walk into my branch, they recognize me and give a friendly hello. However, it may be because it is in a small, semi-rural, town so it's a tiny group of people without a lot of traffic. Full service though. I even have a safe deposit box there. Yes, they do charge for that.
Perhaps the critical factor is the branch and people in it more than the actual bank.. This post has been edited by cashnocredit: 30 January 2010 - 03:18 PM.. |
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When I was with them it was a larger population area of northern California, so that may be part of it, though my experiences are not unusual or unique..
I once dated a woman who worked at one of their call centers as a supervisor (this was 2001-ish) and she filled me in on alot of their corporate culture and attitude. The most glaring example I can provide is when she went to a work meeting and the higher-ups told the employees that they viewed themselves as the "Nordstroms of banking" (yes, they used that phrase)... and that if a customer could not afford their fees, they didn't want that person as a customer... |
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Wow. WF is a giant with a large market share. Nordstroms is pretty upscale, expensive, and hoity toity. At least it seems that way to me, I actually have pretty plebian tastes having shopped at the "N" only once in my life. WF holding up Nords as a model seems, well, counterproductive based on relative size. Perhaps it is the Nordstrom's service rep. Of course one pays for it...
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Interesting thoughts in this thread, I'd definately encourage anyone with anything to add to post it. Thanks for all the insight CB!..
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It's all about individual experience with a bank. WF is no different in that respect.....
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I always see CHASE is bad.
They are one of the few I have left that has not AMEXED me.. |
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Why is Chase considered bad? I've never used them nor heard anyone I know say anything bad about them. Haven't really looked at them much though...
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This post has been edited by GEORGE: 31 January 2010 - 12:08 AM..
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Well George, he thinks WF sucks too and I'm pretty happy with them. I guess people just have to find something that works for them. The rest is noise..
This post has been edited by cashnocredit: 31 January 2010 - 12:15 AM.. |
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THERE IS NOT ONE SINGLE BANK or Discover card EVERYBODY HERE LOVES..
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This also came from their purchase of Wachovia, which nearly collapsed under it's own pile of bad loans, until Citigroup came to the rescue and then Wells Fargo stepped in. I'd have had a Citibank branch in my home town, too, if Wells Fargo wouldn't have mucked everything up! ... yes, I'm still butt hurt about that.
Anyway, Wells Fargo sucks, in my opinion. They've always had subpar service, and they have hards and fees for everything. EVERYTHING. My parent's auto loans were through them, and I cannot believe how they remain in business. Wells LOST their accounts online, and STILL cannot find them. My parents would have been forced to pay by phone ($9.95 fee for that) or mail in a check (yeah right - Wells would have probably lost the payment), so they said screw it and paid them off entirely.. I'm personally with Citibank, and LOVE them. I however keep my savings and brokerage in-house with them, so I easily hit the combined requirement of $6,000 on deposit per month. I've only had two issues with Citibank - both we minor, and both were solved within 5 minutes of calling into their service center. Hopefully they step up their branch banking soon, so if I move out of the area, I'll be able to have a branch nearby. Nevertheless, even if I don't - I'm keeping them. Either via direct deposit or deposit by mail. Quoted for truth!. This post has been edited by J-M: 31 January 2010 - 12:21 AM.. |
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No, there is not a single bank or CU that everybody loves. That's why people ask questions and get some info so they can try to best match what's important to them...
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DW and I recently embarked on a quest to replace our Chamu checking account and find a replacement for our Chamu Visa (now converted to a Chase Freedom thanks to the advice here on CB, but with ridiculous APR). I have business accounts at BoA and have never really been that impressed with the service, although I must admit their ATM's do rock. However, we feared that we would dislike BoA for the same reasons we dislike Chase (unpredictable AA on Discover credit card accounts, low yields on deposit products, mediocre service)..
Prior to moving to Wamu a number of years back, we had banked with US Bank. We checked into their financials, and they seemed to be one of the healthier super-regional or national banks, having paid their TARP money back the first day they were eligible to do so (there were a number of references to US Bank being basically forced by the FDIC/Fed to take TARP initially, rather than asking for it). They have a good presence where we live and expanded further by purchasing the local branches of the now-defunct Colonial Bank. Opened an account a few weeks ago, the same week they were converting all of the Colonial Bank accounts over, so it was understandably hectic. We still received good service, opened the account with no problem, and were even approved for a $1k overdraft LOC and $2k Visa Platinum on an EQ soft (CLI req at activation pending). They even do cash back or points rewards on their Visa Debit cards, which is nice, and they had a pretty good BT offer too.. So, although we've only been back with them a few weeks, I've been impressed with US Bank so far. Not being one to put all my eggs in one basket, I"m also opening savings accounts at a few of the national CU's as well so we have some other options just in case.. This post has been edited by Rob T: 31 January 2010 - 03:36 AM.. |
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For the record, Alliant is completely updating their online system May of this year...
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I opened a WF checking/savings in November. So far, I really like them..
I HATE my CU and will be closing my accounts soon.. Good luck!.. |
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No complaint about WF from me, either.
Which CU, a local one?.. |
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Hi Trevor.
Yes, a local CU. They are trying to be too big. Customer service is going way dowhnill. I figured I might as well join a bank an at least have the convenience of ATMs all over... |
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This is a problem with some CUs who get too "bank like" in their mindset as they get bigger...
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I switched to Wells Fargo last year. I like them fine. They have a lot of convenient branches for me. The bill pay is very good. Online site is good.
J.D.Power rated Bank of West, best in customer sat with Wells Fargo in very close second. I picked Wells Fargo over Bank of West because they have more Discover card options including secured. They do like to sell you stuff... |
