Hellobee Boards

I've been with Ally for the past few years and love it. It's strictly online, so if you need a physical branch for some reason, then it won't work. But for me it's been great. I have their free checking and we have a savings account with them. They don't charge ATM fees and if another bank charges you, they reimburse you for it. You can deposit checks on the app with your phone. The ONLY complaint I've had is that you can't deposit cash, but it's so rare that I have the need to do that, I don't even consider that a valid complaint.

@StrawberryBee: Yeah, that's what I end up doing.

We looooove Umpqua but it's a west coast bank. We get 5x a month fee reversal for getting cash from the ATM.

I've been with ally for a year, and like it, with the exception of the no cash deposits. I had negative experiences with key bank with customer service.

@StrawberryBee: while I was fully reimbursed both times, they just didn't take all of the necessary precautions when I notified them of my stolen identity. I wasn't aware of this until the fraud showed up again nearly a year later. The second time was over $9000 and it was a life disruptor for about two weeks.

Do either you or your husband have any military connections (parents, grandparents?)
Usaa and nfcu have been great to us

We have been very happy with Huntington National Bank and it looks like they have locations in PA. The app is so easy!

I'm using capitalone360. By far the highest interest you'll get for money just sitting. It' is a pain for things that you need like a bank check for or depositing cash, so I kept my citizens bank account for transferring purposes. There is a capital one physical location in center city philly if needed.

@StrawberryBee: I highly recommend credit unions over banks. Less fees, better rates, etc. And they care about their members.

Yep USAA is awesome. ATM fee reimbursements anywhere, we love their car and home insurance, really great app. Cash deposits I don't know about.

I've always been a credit union member (my mom worked for GTE back in the day and it was theirs) and so has DH (FF family) so we have accounts at those same institutions still. We've always had free checking, great rates on loans of all types, insurance, etc.

@StrawberryBee: is anyone in your family (parent, husband, you, inlaw) military or former military? USAA is the best bank I have ever used.

Have you heard of Kasasa accounts? My Kasasa bank gives me 3% for any balance up to $25,000. Ours requires 12 debits and one direct deposit or ACT transaction. You can go online and look for local ones or do it strictly online. Not all banks will have the same rates, they all have different requirements. Our first Kasasa account was in a bank in Kentucky, we lived in the Midwest. Now we live in Utah but I have a Kasasa in my home state.

I highly recommend Navy Federal Credit Union if you have military in the family. They'll literally pay you to open an account.

If you get a referral from someone, they'll give you and the person who referred you $25.

We have checking, savings, a credit card, mortgage, and DH's car loan all through them.

@reverie: Have you checked out Kasasa accounts? I get 3% for balances up to $25,000. They are only at certain banks but if you're comfortable doing online transactions you can really rack up the interest.

I use TD bank (used to work there back it was commerce) and I've always been happy with them! The checking is free and the whole business model is based around customer service so branches are open early and late and people are always really nice in person and on the phone. We didn't get our mortgage there though because at least that side of the business wasn't as service oriented and rates were higher (seriously no joke that mortgage person told me she couldn't help me one day because her kids were sick and she had to leave early.. like why is that my problem? I would have gotten fired for telling a customer that!) anyway I would recommend the checking/savings!

We LOVE Ally! Great interest rates on both checking and savings compared to the brick and mortar big names. Also, customer service is a total joy after a decade of terrible Bank of America