Capital One Checking Acct Maintenance Fee

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm wondering if with all the new banking regulations, fee-free checking will be a thing of the past?

Either way, I want to keep it fee-free for as long as I can.

Thanks for the suggestions, PP. I didn't think of USAA, and we're eligible because of DH. They're normally great for customer service.

My spouse works in the financial industry... and yes, you can bet that all these banking regulations, and the debit card rule, are going to results in all kinds of new fees for consumers. Say bye-bye to your free checking accounts...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Join a credit union!!!! You won't pay many of these ridiculous fees, and they actually care about the customer - not just the stockholders!!!

Are there credit unions where you don't have to be part of a group like Federal employees to join?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Join a credit union!!!! You won't pay many of these ridiculous fees, and they actually care about the customer - not just the stockholders!!!

Are there credit unions where you don't have to be part of a group like Federal employees to join?

Oh yeah! There are some county credit unions where you can just be a county resident, or be employed in the county. I believe that Fairfax County and Arlington County Credit Unions are like that. If you are a graduate of a Maryland state school - you could join SECU. I'm sure there are others like that.

I just looked up on http://www.findacreditunion.com and for Fairfax County FCU, you either have to live, work or worship in FFX Co.

[Anonymous]

8:39 here -

To join Apple FCU, you just have to be the parent of a FFX County public school student. And there are a ton of companies that are in their field of membership:

https://www.applefcu.org/fom.asp#fom

[Anonymous]

And Apple takes parents of Loudoun and Stafford public school students too.

[Anonymous]

One last thing on credit union membership - If you have a family member who is already a member of a credit union - like parents or grandparents - often you can join based on that relationship. Worth checking out...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yup, this happened to me. I also thought it was $1500 min/$8.95 fee as someone mentioned but no, the "special" accounts that they switched Chevy Chase account holders to is $2500/$15. I somehow missed this fee in the literature they sent during the changeover. Anyway, I bascically demanded they reverse it (I only had it for 1 month) and they did. I'm not real happy with them either.

"I DEMAND that you reverse the fee because I am too stupid to read and understand your business policies!"

Geez. Grow up and take some personal responsibility.

[Anonymous]

I am very glad to be unspecial, because our interest checking account is $1500/8.95

So far the hassle of changing isn't worth it. Although I would be happy to switch if I could find a financial institution that wasn't contributing to those whiny-banker Metro posters about swipe fees. Dear bankers: The world doesn't owe you an extra $10 billion a year. STFU, and realize you wouldn't be subject to these regulations if you hadn't been such a bunch of weasels in the first place.

[Anonymous]

I was a long time Chevy Chase customer and really liked the online banking. I really dislike Capital One's online banking and am mad they screwed up a good system. I frequently use the branch at DCA and even the branch manager agreed with me.

We recently switched to Suntrust because they offered us a great banking deal in combination with refinancing through them. All ATM fees refunded (domestic and intl), free check, free money orders, cashier checks, traveler's checks, etc. In addition, I have been pleased with the customer service as our local branch as well as on the phone. My biggest beef with their online banking is that for small vendors (like our school's aftercare program) they don't debit the funds from our account immediately.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am very glad to be unspecial, because our interest checking account is $1500/8.95

So far the hassle of changing isn't worth it. Although I would be happy to switch if I could find a financial institution that wasn't contributing to those whiny-banker Metro posters about swipe fees. Dear bankers: The world doesn't owe you an extra $10 billion a year. STFU, and realize you wouldn't be subject to these regulations if you hadn't been such a bunch of weasels in the first place.

While I don't have a lot of sympathy for banks (I'm the pro-CU poster above), I will say that those swipe fees apply to community banks and credit unions too - institutions that did not get us into the mess we are in. And, when they stop getting those fees from those big merchants like WalMart, etc. you can bet the services you get for free now from just about any financial institution are going to start costing you something. And trust me - WalMart isn't going to start lowering their prices in response to their lower swipe fees.

Just sayin.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone use MidAtlantic Fed Credit Union? It says you simply need to line in MoCo.

What are the disadvantages of a credit union, versus a bank. I never had considered a credit union before, but definitely not happy with Capital Obe.

[Anonymous]

*live* not line sorry

[Anonymous]

While I don't have a lot of sympathy for banks (I'm the pro-CU poster above), I will say that those swipe fees apply to community banks and credit unions too - institutions that did not get us into the mess we are in. And, when they stop getting those fees from those big merchants like WalMart, etc. you can bet the services you get for free now from just about any financial institution are going to start costing you something. And trust me - WalMart isn't going to start lowering their prices in response to their lower swipe fees.

Just sayin.

It is much more likely that retailers will lower their prices if there interchange fees are lower, because consumers are much more likely to follow the low price on shopping (which they do weekly) than on banking (how often do you change banks?).

There were no-fee banking options before there were debit cards. They may have had fewer services (you might not have gotten interest on your checking accounts, for example), but they were there, and they will continue to be there.

Doing things electronically is cheaper for the financial institutions. They seem to think that the savings should go to executive bonuses. I don't agree.

[Anonymous]

*their* interchange fees.

[Anonymous]

Go Credit Union - anyone of them, really. You can make deposits and access your money at most credit union locations that are different from yours. Many of the credit unions participate in Shared Banking, e.g. http://www.creditunion.net/
BTW, CapOne Bank hit me with a $20 maintenance fee this month (for not meeting my minimum, which was never a problem with Chevy Chase Bank). I'll be switching out of CapOne.