Reputable Banks with Free Checking?

NEW -> Contingent Buyer Assistance Program
Priced_Out_IT_Guy_IHB

Priced_Out_IT_Guy_IHB

New member
So I am shopping for a new bank. Is there a reputable bank out there with one or more Irvine branches that has free checking without minimum balances? I'm not going to sign up at a bank that has say a $2000 minimum balance, since you don't receive interest any on your checking account. You're essentially giving the bank a $2,000 interest-free loan and taking a hit on inflation.

I like WaMu because of the free checking and free personal checks, but things being the way they are, I want a second checking account with some cash in reserve just in case...

So far Bank of the West is on my list. Free checking, no minimum balance, first set of checks are for free. My copy of the LA times says that BauerFinancial gives them 4 stars and bankrate.com gives them 3, and they have 20 Billion in deposits, or about 1/5 the size of wells fargo and 1/8th the size of Bofa.
 
no_vaseline said:
After all the shakeups, nobody will offer free checking anymore.
Click to expand...

Did some more digging and Charles Schwab has a free checking account with checks, only problem is they don't have any physical branches to cash your paychecks unless you go direct deposit, so you still need a brick and mortar shop.
 
Priced_Out_IT_Guy said:
So I am shopping for a new bank. Is there a reputable bank out there with one or more Irvine branches that has free checking without minimum balances? I'm not going to sign up at a bank that has say a $2000 minimum balance, since you don't receive interest any on your checking account. You're essentially giving the bank a $2,000 interest-free loan and taking a hit on inflation.

I like WaMu because of the free checking and free personal checks, but things being the way they are, I want a second checking account with some cash in reserve just in case...

So far Bank of the West is on my list. Free checking, no minimum balance, first set of checks are for free. My copy of the LA times says that BauerFinancial gives them 4 stars and bankrate.com gives them 3, and they have 20 Billion in deposits, or about 1/5 the size of wells fargo and 1/8th the size of Bofa.
Click to expand...
You can check out my bank...Cal National Bank (privately held and very well capitalized).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top