Banks and Credit Unions in Nashville (live in, moving, deposit)

[pawillia]

Hello! Planning to relocate to Nashville in a couple of months!! I am currently with a credit union and have been for years by choice. Are there any recommended credit unions out in the Nashville area? If so, what is required to be a member (e.g. employee of a certain company, student, etc)?

Otherwise, are there any recommended banks that I should look into (free checking, good savings account w/ high interest options-- e.g. Money Market accts)??

Thanks for everyone's help, I will be down there in about two weeks and wanted to open my account then

[alleycat]

There are several credit unions about town; I don't have any firsthand information about them however.

As for banks, First Tennessee usually gets high marks. I don't think they have quite as many branches as some of the other, bigger national banks so it might depend on whether one is convenient to you.

[hulalula]

After looking around we went with Regions bank. Mostly because they have free checking and savings accounts, and a safty deposit box is only $19 a year if you are over 50 and $48 if you are not. They also seem to have a branch (or several branches) in each community all over the southeast.

We still kept our membership at our credit union and do most of our electronic banking through them. We use the Regions account for local stuff and depositing misc. checks. The credit union is pretty good at moving money around if needed.

[Mike in TN]

I've had a good experience with Ascend Federal Credit Union

Here are their two Nashville locations:

Nashville - Centennial

6201 Centennial Blvd.
Nashville, TN 37209
Hours: Mon.- Fri., 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Nashville - Elm Hill

2600 Elm Hill Pike
Nashville, TN 37214
Hours: Mon. - Fri., 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Drive-Up: Mon. - Thurs., 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Fri., 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

To join, I believe you must be sponsored by your employer, an immediate family member, or live in certain designated areas. I also believe certain occupations like teachers, firefighters, and policeman can join as well.

[pawillia]

Thanks to you all. I will begin to look into these. I like credit unions for the flexibility and the ease of moving things around as well. But a free checking and savings always wins my heart!

[Mike in TN]

You really can't beat credit unions. The only drawback IMO is the lack of ATMs and separate debit/ATM cards. All the other benefits trump those drawbacks though.

You mentioned money market accounts earlier. Have you considered doing something online? Bank Rate allows you to compare the rates of various places.

[pawillia]

Originally Posted by Mike in TN

You really can't beat credit unions. The only drawback IMO is the lack of ATMs and separate debit/ATM cards. All the other benefits trump those drawbacks though.

You mentioned money market accounts earlier. Have you considered doing something online? Bank Rate allows you to compare the rates of various places.

Thanks Mike in TN. I agree credit unions are the best but do have a lack of ATMs and site locations. I do however currently have one card for ATM and Debit but I'm still in MI.

Thanks for the bank rate link. I will be checking that out ASAP