Moving from NC to Orange County, CA & need HELP choosing a BANK! (Los Angeles: home, school district)

[Paula Lynn]

Originally Posted by barbara1

Remember! Don't ever do with Bank of America!

I agree!!! I've been with Wells Fargo for years. Anyone remember First Interstate? I was with them for several years (even transferred my accounts when I moved to Washington State for a short time). Then Wells Fargo took over First Interstate.

I've heard great feedback about Washington Mutual also.

[YLresident]

Originally Posted by RobE

Bank of America FTW.

I worked for BofA for a short bit--they have fees for EVERYTHING. And calling customer service is a pain in the butt! Even the people who work there have to take 30 minutes to get help from their own internal call center! >_<

For regular banks, I think WaMu has the best service--my mom has banked with most of the major banks out here--WaMu, BofA, Downey Savings (ew), Wells Fargo... plus Orange County's Credit Union (not the Teacher's one), and Western Federal Credit Union.

Honestly, though--credit unions are the way to go. Better rates and MUCH better service. I bank with Orange County Teacher's Federal Credit Union (OCTFCU) and I have never been disappointed by the service or rates. I never have to fill out deposit slips, they always have enough tellers working, and I'm never pressured to open any unnecessary accounts--they're much more member oriented. Only catch: I think you can only join if you work in education (administratively or academically) or have a family member/spouse who does. ^_^

[KerrTown]

Does your Credit Union in North Carolina allow you to use the Shared Branching services of the CU Service Centers? Go to CUSwirl and click on Contact your CU. Look for your credit union under the alphabetical list to see if they allow you to use this service. Click on locations to find the nearest branches in Orange County. Enter the zip code or your city and there should be a list of branches that offer Shared Branching.

[Dennis P]

Originally Posted by barbara1

Remember! Don't ever do with Bank of America!

I've heard countless horror stories regarding B of A. My mom banks with them but doesn't want to switch to another bank because she's been with B of A for so long. Besides, all she ever does as far as banking goes is use the ATM to make deposits and withdrawals, never setting foot inside the bank itself.

[Dennis P]

Originally Posted by Paula Lynn

I agree!!! I've been with Wells Fargo for years. Anyone remember First Interstate? I was with them for several years (even transferred my accounts when I moved to Washington State for a short time). Then Wells Fargo took over First Interstate.

I've heard great feedback about Washington Mutual also.

Hi Paula,

Yes, I remember the days when First Interstate Bank was around these parts. In fact, the tallest skyscraper in downtown L.A. used to the First Interstate Tower; now it's the U.S. Bank Tower. Speaking of U.S. Bank, one of my sisters and her husband bank there, and they're happy with them, too.

[Dennis P]

Originally Posted by YLresident

<snipped>

Honestly, though--credit unions are the way to go. Better rates and MUCH better service. I bank with Orange County Teacher's Federal Credit Union (OCTFCU) and I have never been disappointed by the service or rates. I never have to fill out deposit slips, they always have enough tellers working, and I'm never pressured to open any unnecessary accounts--they're much more member oriented. Only catch: I think you can only join if you work in education (administratively or academically) or have a family member/spouse who does. ^_^

I've heard all these great things about how much better credit unions are over banks, but it seems that this is the one big catch, which is you need to either work in the particular industry the credit union is affiliated with (like education) or you need to know an existing member so that you can join it. If I were to purchase a new car, I would much rather take out a loan with a credit union because of the more favorable rates, no doubt about it!

[YLresident]

Originally Posted by dennismpat

I've heard all these great things about how much better credit unions are over banks, but it seems that this is the one big catch, which is you need to either work in the particular industry the credit union is affiliated with (like education) or you need to know an existing member so that you can join it. If I were to purchase a new car, I would much rather take out a loan with a credit union because of the more favorable rates, no doubt about it!

That's for OC Teachers... I believe there are a number of credit unions you can join that only require you to live, work, or go to school/church in the area the credit union serves:

American First Credit Union
Membership is open to anyone who lives, works or worships in Orange County, Corona or Chino Hills. We also serve the grocery and drug industry and many other companies across the nation. Your family members, related by blood or marriage, are eligible for membership, too. Check out this list of the companies we serve to see if you work for one of the eligible companies.

Orange County's Credit Union (broken link)
Membership is available to all residents of Orange County (California), as well as individuals who live or work in the County and the communities of Long Beach, Signal Hill, Lakewood, and Cerritos. You may also be eligible if you have a relative who is currently a member of Orange County's Credit Union, you are an employee of the County of Orange, or you work for one of our Select Employer Groups.

[Dennis P]

Originally Posted by YLresident

That's for OC Teachers... I believe there are a number of credit unions you can join that only require you to live, work, or go to school/church in the area the credit union serves:

American First Credit Union
Membership is open to anyone who lives, works or worships in Orange County, Corona or Chino Hills. We also serve the grocery and drug industry and many other companies across the nation. Your family members, related by blood or marriage, are eligible for membership, too. Check out this list of the companies we serve to see if you work for one of the eligible companies.

Orange County's Credit Union (broken link)
Membership is available to all residents of Orange County (California), as well as individuals who live or work in the County and the communities of Long Beach, Signal Hill, Lakewood, and Cerritos. You may also be eligible if you have a relative who is currently a member of Orange County's Credit Union, you are an employee of the County of Orange, or you work for one of our Select Employer Groups.

Thanks for the information. One of these days, I may leave my bank and become a credit union member, especially with all those affiliates, not to mention the very favorable loan rates for car purchases and such.

[18Montclair]

Orange County Teachers CU is very good. I dunno if they admit non-teachers, but Id go with them if at all possible. The services and products offered by credit unions are far superior to commercial banks imo.

[JSuccess]

I got a rude awakening when I moved here from Chicago (6 months ago) and found out that my washington mutual account would not transfer because of the different financial platforms that California has. California has some type of law that makes peoples financial records (banking i guess) unavailable to other states. Likewise they cant use the records from other states. What I was able to do was keep my IL account open but all I can really do with the account is deposit and withdraw and taht can all be done online or with a customer rep over the phone. I also am a member of Orange County Teachers Credit Union and that is by far the best CU I have ever seen. But then again, in Chicago we really didn't use Credit Unions like they do out here so OCTFCU was the first CU I ever used. But overall, if you can find a Washington Mutual bank out there by you then open an account there and it should be able to be used out here for basic usage and everythin else can be done online and over the phone. ...oh and you cant get into OCTFCU unless you are a teacher or a member invites you. I am not a teacher but my mother in law invited me and my wife in.