Ciao!

I have never been much in favor of NatCity either. The only reason I stay with them is because I do not want to learn new account numbers. I got enough numbers, passpords, website usernames, and other things in my head to try to fit morenumbers in there now.

However, once I finish school and move somewhere I will find a good bank there,with good service. Until then I will continue to put up with them. Hey, once you get a reply from themsend them the link to your blog. They might want to read it...

i use 5/3 bank and so far, so good. i used national city for a while but we switched because there fees for our checking account started to get crazy. with 5/3, no fees.

The only American bank that seems to comprehend the concept of foreign countries is Citibank. For hysterical reasons I use Wells Fargo but I don't really recommend it.

I use Bank One and they are pretty good, but everyone tells me credit unions are the way to go.

Oh and thanks for the x-mass card’s :)

daveb

credit union all the way!

i grow weary of bank mergers that cause fees to go up, charges to make a deposit/withdrawl/speak directly to a teller or representitive in person, etc., etc.

I used to belong to my parents Credit Union, of which I was a member of for quite a few years.
They did little to help me with my credit, but that was only because I was stupid with money at the time.

Allison and I just recently started an account at Consumers Credit Union. It's very friendly and very, very customer oriented. The tellers remember you. Don't hassle you with actually filling out deposit slips and shit like that...
it's nice. We got a loan for a used car in an afternoon. They keep an open loan on file, so if you need a loan, you can basically walk in, tell them what you need it for, and get approved on the spot. We also got advice on our debt - credit card and otherwise... And get this...
they just instituted a $500 overdraft protection plan, which you can pay back at your convience.
(minimum monthly payment applies...)
So, if I want to overdraw my account going crazy on Christmas presents... I can.
No harm, no foul. Just pay it back.

I'm closing my checking account at Standard Federal by the end of the month as soon as all of my checks go through...

I'll throw one strike against Bank One for many of the same reasons you cite. I used to be able (albeit at my own expense) to call a (312) number and manage my account. But they cancelled this in favour of 1-800 and a new registration system, and then... I tried to get web access and they said I had to enter details of a deposit made in the last 90 days. There hasn't been one. So, I can't register and they won't even deal with me in customer service since I can't get a PIN without registering on-line.

All I wanted was to order some more checks, since I've run out. I had to write them a letter (from Brazil) to ask for it. Believe me, they don't know you from Adam if you live outside the US.

A cautionary tale, though. I got really angry with their f***ing Visa card people when they told me they would not increase my credit limit until I had waited for a reference, which would take 3 hours (at 3PM, in a bank, on a Friday afternoon). I got so angry I told the "incompetents" to cancel my credit card. I forgot it was my only US-dollar credit card and now I ain't got one. So far, I'm coping, but recently I've had a purchase fail because my CC was not US-based.

I barely bank in the US these days, but I'll vouch for Citi, even though I don't have an account there. Here in Rio they take all comers and the service is better-than-average.