Banks in NOVA? (Burke: apartment complex, mortgage, credit)

[emmy22]

Hi, my husband and I need to find another bank since we are moving to NOVA next month. We are from out of state, and the bank we use now is not in that area. I was wanting some suggestions on what banks people like. I am open to credit unions as well. Please tell me why you like the bank that you bank with or why you don't like them. Thanks.

[Flamingo13]

We bank locally at BB&T, the locations are convenient for us, the hours not so much but workable. I was with First Va. since I moved here and they were bought out by BB&T.

[athousandlogins]

We go to Bank of America. Their ATMs are everywhere around here so for us, that convenience really can't be beat. On the rare occasion that we actually need to go into a branch, there is one right next door to my husband's office and one right across the street from our apartment complex. Everything is free, too - free checking account, free online banking, etc. I've heard a lot of complaints about their customer service, but the experiences I've had with them have been just fine. I also love that I usually run into their ATMs when I travel, too, so I don't have to worry about paying fees.

For specifically local banks, I've heard good things about BB&T (they made some smart decisions and they've held up better than a lot of bigger banks during this recession - that speaks quite well of them). There are a lot of Sun Trust branches, but I've never known anyone to has banked with Sun Trust so I can't say how good they are. Chevy Chase Bank is one of the biggest banks in the area and was locally grown. You'd have no trouble finding ATMs/branches at all, but they were recently bought out by Capital One and I don't know how that will change things for them. When I was with them (2002-2006) their customer service was abysmal.

[tgbwc]

We used to (years ago) bank through Wachovia, but thought their fees were getting high. We switched to SunTrust and have been happy with them. We have had no problems with SunTrust. We are also starting to do more through Apple Federal Credit Union, through which we have one car loan and will have a home financed through them starting next week.

[Borge]

Navy Federal Credit Union for cd's, mortgage rates and Bank of America for convenience checking.

[Mearth]

PNC - open weekends, and until 7pm on weekdays, efficient.

EVERY branch I go to has THE friendliest people

[leighland]

Originally Posted by Mearth

PNC - open weekends, and until 7pm on weekdays, efficient.

EVERY branch I go to has THE friendliest people

I love PNC, very professional. I began them in Philadelphia and have kept them here in NOVA

[car54]

Beware Bank of America customers!

Direct deposit alone will no longer get you free checking at BOA....minimum balances will be required to avoid their "maintenace fee".

Most of my stuff is at Burke & Herbert Bank & Trust Co, the oldest bank in Virginia. I heartily recommend them. (But I don't do the ATM thing so I don't know how they are about that. )

[DC Oldtimer]

I havent been in a bank in years. I bank online with Etrade. When I need cash I can use an ATM. Etrade picks up any fees.

I pay no monthly fees and pay all my bills online. I must save about five or six bucks a month postage. And my checking account earns a couple percent interest that you cant get very many other places, if any.

This deal is called Max Rate checking. You have to keep a minimum 5K balance, which may sound like a lot, unless you are as old as I am.

[ScranBarre]

I use M&T Bank up here in Pennsylvania and will likely keep them when I relocate to NoVA, as there are branches there as well. Like some others I, too, have direct deposit and pay most bills online, so I would rarely require going to a concrete branch office anyways (except for withdrawing cash from the ATM). All M&T employees up here have been very friendly, loyal, and helpful over the years, and I hope the same will be true in Virginia.