Looking for a new bank in Maine (Bangor, Camden: credit, loan)

[399083453]

I have TD Banknorth and its been fine a decades, but ever since the change over in ownership I've been fee'd to death. I'm currently looking for a new bank probably a credit union in Maine.

Items I need:
-------------------

- Online Check Writing (type in address and $$ and they mail the person a check)

- Online Access (check the account and charges to my checks/debit card)

- Offers a visa check/debit card / or mastercard, not picky.


Any suggestions?

[Zymer]

Maybe you just need to change your account type. Here is the rate listing for ME for personal checking accounts:

Checking Account Rates – Personal

According to that, there is no fee for the "SimplyFree" account, which doesn't pay interest. The interest bearing accounts charge a fee...but considering the listed APY is only .10% (a lousy one tenth of one percent) or .15%, if you don't maintain either a $5,000 or $20,000 minimum daily balance (depending on account type, for which the fees are waived) it makes no sense at all. It just doesn't seem worth it.

The interest they are paying is paltry, at .1% you'd need to have $120,000.00 on deposit to make a lousy $10/mo.

Maybe whoever wrote the page made a mistake and put the decimal points in the wrong place and it isn't really as bad as it seems. If they were paying 1% you'd only need $12,000 to make $10/mo. Still doesn't sound too good, does it?

Give them a call and see if you can just change to the free account.

[Petertherock]

I have had Peoples/TD Banknorth since I have been in Maine in 2000 and I have had no problems with fees or anything.

[Northern Maine Land Man]

TD Banknorth has good service, but for savings deposits I would go with a credit union.

I would stay away from Key Bank. If your account is inactive for several months they will send your money to the state and it can take years to get it back.

[treeluvr]

Originally Posted by 399083453

I have TD Banknorth and its been fine a decades, but ever since the change over in ownership I've been fee'd to death. I'm currently looking for a new bank probably a credit union in Maine.

Items I need:
-------------------

- Online Check Writing (type in address and $$ and they mail the person a check)

- Online Access (check the account and charges to my checks/debit card)

- Offers a visa check/debit card / or mastercard, not picky.


Any suggestions?

Why not check out ING DIRECT? Orange electric is their version of a checking account. It does all the things you mention. Since they are an internet bank, it doesn't matter where you live. ING DIRECT just bought out my bank (Netbank), so they are new to me, but when I searched the Web for opinions about them, they are pretty well-liked. You get a much better interest rate with an virtual bank, very few fees, and no minimum balance. You can do direct deposit of a paycheck or link to another bank and transfer money. Personally, I would never go back to paying a regular bank their fees, although I think it's smart to keep a bit in a local money market account, just in case there is a problem.

[sjlcu]

I agree with Treeluver.

I am not a MAINER yet but bank in a small town in Texas. I deposit my check there in the FREE account that offers me a debit card and online access as long as I maintain a $100.00 balance. I transfer everything else to ING split randomly between savings and checking (INTEREST :-) They now have a debit card linked to the checking account and bill pay is a snap. I've been with them since June of 2006 and LOVE LOVE LOVE it. Go to ING DIRECT - Save Your Money!

Stacie

[Acadianlion]

TD Banknorth is a second rate bank, owned by a very large Canadian banking corporation.

In the thirty years that I have been in Maine, I have found NO Maine based bank that really is a "state of the art" institution. Among the best for most regular banking needs is Bangor Savings Bank.

Since everyone on this list is able to use a computer to some extent, it makes perfect sense to investigate the Intenet based banks who can offer checking, savings, and some loan services without being weighed down by the "old think" that infects a lot of conventional banks.

[moughie]

We recently switched to HSBC online banking. Online Savings, Online Payment and Online CD Accounts, HSBC Direct

HSBC- same idea as ING and a direct competitor.

The interest rate is so much better ( 4.5%) and the money is not locked into a cd. I set up automatic transfers at no charge from my local bank to my online savings. Transfers back to a local bank are available at no charge.

Checking also available - though I personally have not tried that one out yet

[Coaster]

I'll second Acadianlion's opinion of Bangor Savings. I've been very happy with them. Also Camden National.

No experience here with online banking. I think I'd be a little nervous about access to the money in the case of a financial crisis -- something which seems more likely to occur every day. I've been told it takes up to three days to get money out of an online account. True?

[Elcarim]

Yes. We have our savings in ING due to the above average rates, but it takes 3 days for transfers.