What Will You Do?
The fist question to ask yourself is what you want to do with your bank account. Do you want to put money in there periodically and watch it grow? Will you move money in and out quickly? You need to know what your banking behavior will be like in order to find the right bank.
How Will You do It?
Next, get an idea of how you prefer to do your banking. If your schedule doesn’t work with most bank schedules, the best bank might just be the one that’s open at convenient times. If you’re a web-savvy customer, look for the banks that make it easy to do your dealings quickly and efficiently with the click of a mouse.
What’s it Worth to You?
Free checking accounts get a lot of hype. They get people in the door. However, free may not always be the best thing for you. If you value certain services or conveniences, you may be willing to pay for them. Once you get ahold of fee schedules from competing banks, consider if it’s really going to bother you to pay a few bucks each month for that “gotta have it” feature or service. Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t.
Get Opinions
Finally, remember to ask other people for opinions. You can find bank reviews in our Bank Review pages. Ask your friends where they bank, and how happy they are. Finally, some of the blogs out there have extensive information on customer experiences in banks. When searching online, just remember that negative experiences will be more common than positive ones. People upset at the bank are motivated to spread the word – but happy customers often don’t even realize that they’re happy.
Shop Around
Once you know what you want, start shopping and comparing. You can use the list below to start a checklist. Most institutions will have everything you need on their Website. If not, call (or walk in) and ask – you'll get a preview of the customer service. Look for fee schedules, rate sheets, and hours of operation while you’re hunting online.
Ideas to Get You Started
Try the list below to get the process started. For example, if you:
Have a tight schedule…
Find a bank with convenient location and flexible (or weekend) hours.
Want the highest interest rate on your money…
Consider an internet bank account. They pay the best interest rates for deposits.
Feel more comfortable face-to-face…
Search out community banks and credit unions that are easy for you to get to.
Need to get a loan…
Check the newspaper and bank websites for special offers (like no closing costs on a mortgage). Don’t forget to look at local credit unions.
Write lots of checks…
Get the free checking option where available.
Hate licking envelopes and paying bills…
Find a bank that offers free online bill pay.
Use ATM’s frequently…
Use a local bank with an extensive ATM network. Or, get into an institution that will rebate foreign ATM fees. Be realistic about the “requirements” for getting this done. Are you really going to provide the bank with ATM receipts?
Tend to forget how much money you have in the bank…
Get a checking account with an inexpensive overdraft protection plan.
Run a small business…
Ask if the bank does commercial checking accounts and if it offers small business loans.
Want a one-stop-shop…
Look for a bank or credit union that has everything you need: auto loans, mortgages, deposits, CDs, other investments, and more.
Need to put HSA money to work…
See our resource on HSA providers.
