The Kat&#39;s Journal

Hush your mouth!

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I'm eyeing BECU (I currently bank with WaMu as well, though my car loan is through BECU), and

pullthestars is in the process of switching there. They seem pretty un-evil, the only major problem I've seen is the lack of branches (though they do have a number of in-store locations and ATMs scattered around).

BECU's the only one I haven't heard or experienced horror stories about.

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There is a time in every young person's life where they reach an age of maturity where somone finally reveals to them the secret of good banking.

That secret, is credit unions.

I've actually heard fantabulous things about BECU, and I would bank with them myself if I didn't live up in the land of BECUlessness. They're big enough to have bank conveniences (pretty online banking, lots of atms) but they're still not-for-profit, so they want to keep you satisfied a whole lot more than a bank does.

I bank with a credit union, made the switch after almost 10 years at BofA (previously Seafirst.) Now, because my CU is smaller, the online banking isn't as pretty, but their security is sophisticated and that's really all I care about. Also, turns out most CU's have agreements with other CU's, and you can use any CU atm for free (unlike the bank wars, where everyone has to take their cut.)

The only thing banks beat credit unions on are mortgage rates, and even that's not always true. Hands down, for smaller loans, CU's beat the pants off the big guys.

I wish I'd changed years ago.

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Actually, I was a credit union member from the ages of six or so through eighteen. I've been a fan of them almost my whole life. Which is a reason I'm so glad BECU got my car loan.

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I'm assuming that your parents imparted this wisdom to you.

My child will also have a bank account with a credit union from a young age.

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I think it was more that my mother was a civilian employee on an air force base and just happened to be a member. I realised the benefits entirely on my own. Especially once I closed my (joint) accounts and opened ones at a regular bank.

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Gotta admit, I'm impressed.

At six years old, I didn't even know what a bank was, excepting my piggy bank of course.

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Well, the account had been set up for me. But I used the hell out of it once I started having to pay for a lot of stuff myself (and working), in junior high and high school, and the service was sometimes staggeringly good.

Wells Fargo, by comparison, was... okay. And then I moved to Washington, and they were not so great. And then they lost $750 or so of my money somehow, without any record of it. So I switched to WaMu, who have been... acceptible, most of the time. I'm pretty sure they've never lost any of my money, anyway.

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Having worked at WaMu and Wells Fargo, I can tell you that WaMu used to be a much better company than it is now. It's been going downhill now for... about 4-5 years.

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I have not had a problem with a lack of branches. You can make deposits in any USBank or BECU ATM, plus I have direct deposit, and everything else I can do at an ATM or one of their in-store branches.

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tattermuffin.livejournal.com

Maybe try a credit union? I"m with WAMU and actually have had NO problems with them, which I can't say for BofA (my parents have constant problems with them) or Wells Fargo (who I have a credit card with - but moved my bank account away from).

I haven't every had issues with my credit unions ... but they're not as convenient when it comes to withdrawls, etc. Fewer locations!

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If I need to make a withdrawal and discover no ATMs in an easy location... I buy a pack of gum at the supermarket and get cash back.

It works remarkably well.

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fireballof3.livejournal.com

i've been pretty much OK w/ WaMu, but stay FAR away from BoA - they suck ass.

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m00t.livejournal.com

Been at the least content with USBank. Interest rate suuucks for them though.

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grymor.livejournal.com

I'm looking at BECU, going to let

pullthestars smoke test it though.

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Michelle and I have been VERY happy with BECU for... three years or so now.

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pullthestars.livejournal.com

I can tell you, so far BECU has been wonderful. I got paid this last week, and it looks as though everything cleared without any issue.

It was super easy to set up my accounts. I haven't paid a bill out of my accounts yet, so can't say 100% on how that will go vs how it went at WaMu.

The only issue, and it's pretty small, is the lack of branches close to work. I went to the branch in Totem Lake over lunch one day to get a check (they'll give you 6 free cashiers checks a month, which takes care of the whole rent thing right off) and it went very smoothly.

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Have you heard of ING direct? (dot com!)

I have been meaning to mention it to you. You have to have a bank account anyway, but if you join up with them, you can get a linked savings account with a 4.5% interest rate!

Seriously, go look around. A lot of banks and cu's barely match that rate with their CD's, and you can withdraw from this like any normal savings - at any time, with no penalties.

That's so unheard of.

It's pretty easy to set up an account too. Thought I'd pass along the love.

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