Banks / Credit Unions (Colorado Springs, Woodland Park: apartments, rent, loans)

[JFlow]

I am planning on moving to Colorado Springs in 1-2 years from now. I believe that I found the location and place that I want to live at after I get there. I am leaning toward the downtown area. I don't have a car and walk pretty much everywhere I go. I plan on taking advantage of the bus terminal downtown to get anywhere that would take to long to walk to.

One big question that I know everyone has that I have not seen answered is, what are the better banks and/or credit unions in the springs? Any information on them would be great, especially the ones downtown.

I live in NY state and one reason why I like my current credit union, is that I pay my rent by money order and the money orders have a carbon copy to them. I fill out the money order once and keep the carbon copy as my rent receipt. Before I got my credit union account, I use to pay my rent with a post office money order. I hated those, because there wasn't any real copy of the money order.

Thanks in advance.

[Maynerd]

Ent FCU is the largest in town, and they have a strong reputation. I've been a customer for many years, and have no problem with them. I don't think they have a branch in the downtown area, though.

[JFlow]

I found the Ent Federal Credit Union web site, Ent – a credit union where you belong. - , and they do have a service center near downtown at 123 South Weber St. It is right across from the Greyhound bus station. Where is the main Ent Office branch located? I noticed that they have little branches and ATM's everywhere in the Springs.

One major question I have about them is their money orders, how are they? Do the money orders have a carbon copy to them, so when you fill out all your information on them, you keep the carbon copy for your records? My current credit union prints out the money order with my address and amount on them. All I do is fill out who it is to and their address, then I keep the yellow carbon copy for my records.

Thanks again.

[PokerMunkee]

I bank at Pikes Peak Credit Union. They are not large, only a few branches. I use the one in Woodland Park. The main advantage is their auto loans, usually a .5% less than the others.

[JFlow]

This is weird, a lot of people have help and information for people about areas and apartments in Colorado Springs. But I ask about Banks / Credit Unions, and only one person has some information.

I know that this is a major issue for people thinking about moving to Colorado Springs. I thought that this would be a hot topic on these forums, but I found only one other topic post about this and that quickly went way off topic.

I know it is a major issue for me. I already know where I plan on living when I move there. I also have an idea on where I want to work too.

So what Bank / Credit Union to go with is a major issue that I think everyone should be questioning.

For just one of the things I am questioning about, see my previous posts here.

[froggin4colorado]

I use TCF. They are open 7 days a week and most holidays (except Christmas, Easter, and shortened hours on Thanksgiving). I also bank with ING.com online. Hubby banks with TCF, Wellsfargo, and Square One online.

[livecontent]

Originally Posted by JFlow

I am planning on moving to Colorado Springs in 1-2 years from now. I believe that I found the location and place that I want to live at after I get there. I am leaning toward the downtown area. I don't have a car and walk pretty much everywhere I go. I plan on taking advantage of the bus terminal downtown to get anywhere that would take to long to walk to.

One big question that I know everyone has that I have not seen answered is, what are the better banks and/or credit unions in the springs? Any information on them would be great, especially the ones downtown.

I live in NY state and one reason why I like my current credit union, is that I pay my rent by money order and the money orders have a carbon copy to them. I fill out the money order once and keep the carbon copy as my rent receipt. Before I got my credit union account, I use to pay my rent with a post office money order. I hated those, because there wasn't any real copy of the money order.

Thanks in advance.

I think you need a little education in money and banking. A copy of a money order receipt is not any sort of instrument or receipt that verifies that you paid your rent. It only is a copy of the money order transaction that you made and filled out. In order to prove payment of rent you would have to prove the money order was cashed and then you would have to go back to the issuer and receive that verification. Showing that you wrote the money order means nothing; a debt is not discharged until the financial instrument is cashed.

Money Orders are generally used by people who do not have bank/credit union accounts, cannot save, live pay check to pay check, are poor ,or uninformed and buy them with cash and pay a fee. You mentioned a postal money order--that is really going back in time, I did not realize they still issued them. I am not making fun of you; I am just trying to help you become more educated and save paying a fee. By the way, I know where Olean is located--I grew up in Cheektowaga.

If you are asking for information about a credit union, then I would assume you would want to open an account and have a checking and savings account.

Most credit unions if you have sufficient balances will issue money orders for free but if you have accounts, why bother with them, write a check. A check on your accounts is much more convenient and quicker and easier to verify payment. The only reason to issue a money order is if you do not want to disclose your account numbers to the recipient or when the recipient will not accept a check. However, that is really very old fashion because today a check can be verified by electronic means, instantaneously, and cashed quickly without the actual check be physically presented to the issuing bank.

Electronic bill pay would also would not disclose your account numbers. For payments that a larger secure payment is needed, like a car purchase, you then ask the bank to issue a cashier or bank check which is drawn on the bank's accounts.

Also, today it is very common to have your salary/pay electronically transferred to your bank accounts.

A check is the same issue if it is a carbon copy system. The carbon copy of the check is only a record of the transaction and you still need a copy of the canceled/cashed check to prove payment. A checks is an instrument that draws on your accounts that you have established at a bank or credit union.

You have got good information from the other posters. ENT is the largest credit union in the State of Colorado. However, there are many other banks and credit unions in the Springs that were mentioned by the posters. I would suggest opening accounts and saving money and being more secure in your finances.

Livecontent

[toxicavenger]

online is the best source of info for what you are seeking for banks.

[JFlow]

Money orders are used a lot around here, even by businesses. I used money orders, because the carbon copy was the easiest method to keep a record of payments. I chose to not write checks because my credit union account here is only temporary. I plan on opening checking and savings accounts after I move to Colorado Springs, and having my paycheck direct deposited into the account.

Also, a lot of businesses around here prefer payments by money orders over checks. The money orders clear quicker than checks and businesses were getting to many bad checks from people. I know of a couple of businesses that will only accept cash or money order, they won't deal with anyone paying by check or credit/debit card.

I have checked out a couple of the banks and credit unions online and found an ENT branch around the corner and down the street from where I am looking to temporarily move to in Colorado Springs.

I was wondering what people thought of their bank or credit union. Why they prefer their chosen one over the others. This information would be good for everyone looking into a bank or credit union in Colorado Springs. The websites can only say so much, they do not say much of anything about people's personal experiences with them. That is really the main reason why I posted about banks and credit unions.

Thanks.

[toxicavenger]

I have had really good experiences with Ent and US Bank they both treat my family like we mean something to them. Unlike Wells Fargo!