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I've banked with citibank since i moved to NYC area. They had the most ATMs, and added 7/11 locations as Citi ATM locations, so i can even get decent access around the country without having to pay atm fees. ATM fees drive me nuts!
So after nearly 6 years, i've finally written check #150. i never write checks. my account has a combined balance requirement of $6,000 to avoid various fees and get certain perks. no problems since they have been pretty competitive on savings account interest most of the time (though have recently fallen behind).
So i call to order new checks. the account i signed up with included free checks. but i guess i switched my account at some point, or they did, and the account type that gives free checks no longer exists unless you're Citi "Gold" which has a $100,000 combined balance requirement (mortgage would count if i had it through them - great perks...too bad i'll never have $100,000 in savings and CDs with just citi!).
anyways, they wanted to charge me $25 for 120 checks! i'm sorry, but that's obscene. I have $6,000 in savings with them. I have a credit card that i use frequently. I have been direct depositing money for 6 years that they can make money off of. $25 for a book of checks? So i told them i'm going to have to consider going back to banking with my credit union because i can't see paying $25 for something i hardly use. Bank of America wanted to charge me $12 for new checks, so i told them nevermind a few weeks ago.
Anyways, they called me back and offered them to me for free, but I'm annoyed with the big box banks. what happened to taking care of your customers?
i plan on it slack, but the bad part is...you go from one to the other and they are all the same! lucky i have a credit union to turn to, but then i may end up paying lots of atm fees.
You really haven't used checks much. With all the big banks that I dealt with, there were no free checks with basic checking accounts. But I usually got free checks by calling customer service. If they didn't offer, I just close the account.
Trivia - the MICR codes are for the convenience of the bank. I've used those "make yer own" checks with a regular laser printer, and found the banks had to add on the MICR strip on every check. After a few of those, they started sending free checks.
I'm the opposite of you though, I refuse to use ATMs.
Open an ING checking account. You can send paper checks online (type in a name/address/memo/amount and they mail the check for you). $0 minimum balance, $0 fees.
You really haven't used checks much. With all the big banks that I dealt with, there were no free checks with basic checking accounts. But I usually got free checks by calling customer service. If they didn't offer, I just close the account.
no i haven't you are right! but i know the account i signed up with for CitiBank offered free checks. my credit union does (of course), and i find that local banks usually do. i used checks more 6+ years ago, so maybe i've just been lost and didn't realize everyone charges for it now.
but i did what you did - called customer service and got free ones.
Trivia - the MICR codes are for the convenience of the bank. I've used those "make yer own" checks with a regular laser printer, and found the banks had to add on the MICR strip on every check. After a few of those, they started sending free checks.
I'm the opposite of you though, I refuse to use ATMs.
I get my checks (about 200 every 10yrs) from one of the internet check makers, like currents check-by-mail??? I think it was $6/for 200 of them. Took 2 or 3 weeek to get them. Just google checks and a bunch of companies will pop up, put in the Info from the bottom of your current checks, give them you next starting number, and you done...
Open an ING checking account. You can send paper checks online (type in a name/address/memo/amount and they mail the check for you). $0 minimum balance, $0 fees.
I can top that.
Open an online checking account at Ally bank. You can send checks online and also get free physical checks. $0 minimum balance, $0 fees.
In addition, you can use any ATM and they reimburse any ATM fees at the billing cycle.
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