Done with USAA, looking for a better option

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
What is the issue exactly? I use USAA for most things but haven’t had to call their 800 number in the last year. I called several times August 2024 about an issue we had with a payment for a car purchase (dealer issues) as well as with insurance questions and each time I reached live individuals who were very helpful. Did something change? I’d hate to have to move banks. I have had an awful time with Capitol One and I’m not impressed with Chase Bank. Capital One held my college kid’s money hostage for years (really years!) claiming they couldn’t release funds from her account because they had to freeze it with no valid explanation. I couldn’t get any help at the branch and had to rely on their 800# where they just kept passing the buck and promising to investigate.


The issue today is that I can't get the money from my savings account to pay a contractor. It's too much for zelle, no one takes checks (and I don't have checks anyway), the wire transfer function is "unavailable," and they've vastly reduced their 800 number hours. This is not the first time this has happened. But at least last time, a few years ago, I could get someone on the phone and get it done.

I'll be paying attention to insurance recs, too. Had a fender bender a year or two ago that took four months to resolve. And I haven't shopped for homeowners in a while.

I'm ready to get a new bank TODAY though. I'm that fed up.


I hear you. But to pay the contractor you can do a check online through billpay. You set it up and it does take a bit to go through. Probably about the same as a mailed check. If your contractor won't take a check I'm not sure what to tell you. Take out cash in lots of chunks?

This is the exact reason that we opened an account at a local credit union that has a branch about a mile from our house (Andrews). You don't have to be an employee to use credit unions. When we have to pay a contractor I just drive up there and get a cashier's check (no fee for this). That is a very safe way to pay someone. We just feel like we need to have banking services near us in cases like that.

[Anonymous]

NFCU is still good in my experience.

[Anonymous]

Couldn't this be solved by spending $8 on a package of checks? Is it really that hard?

I have never had a contractor not accept a check. They know where you live! If you bounce a check, they'll be back. (I've never bounced a check -- but it seems strange that a contractor wouldn't take a check. Are they trying to shirk their taxes?)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Couldn't this be solved by spending $8 on a package of checks? Is it really that hard?

I have never had a contractor not accept a check. They know where you live! If you bounce a check, they'll be back. (I've never bounced a check -- but it seems strange that a contractor wouldn't take a check. Are they trying to shirk their taxes?)

+1 I still need paper checks occasionally and prefer them to money orders, since a check can be cancelled if necessary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No one has bank recommendations?

Use a credit union, much better than a bank!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I gave up on USAA several years ago and went with Fidelity. We use the cash management account as a checking account. They obviously also have all the investment account options you'd want so they are pretty one-stop shop. Of course, they don't have insurance, but I find it's better to shop around and switch insurance every few years anyway.

I can’t stand the Fidelity website. I can never figure out how to get anything done. I was trying to buy a T bill and lost so much time. And I hate that they include accounts that I am POA for in my balances as that money is not mine. I like to log on and quickly see where we’re at but now always have to weed through a long list of account that belong to my family member. Does anybody know of a way to hide those? I worry that I will accidentally make a purchase with the wrong account.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I gave up on USAA several years ago and went with Fidelity. We use the cash management account as a checking account. They obviously also have all the investment account options you'd want so they are pretty one-stop shop. Of course, they don't have insurance, but I find it's better to shop around and switch insurance every few years anyway.

I can’t stand the Fidelity website. I can never figure out how to get anything done. I was trying to buy a T bill and lost so much time. And I hate that they include accounts that I am POA for in my balances as that money is not mine. I like to log on and quickly see where we’re at but now always have to weed through a long list of account that belong to my family member. Does anybody know of a way to hide those? I worry that I will accidentally make a purchase with the wrong account.

Not sure about POA accounts, but you can hide accounts. I have an old 401k with no money left in it and have it hidden.

[Anonymous]

I use fidelity do everything except insurance, which is still with USAA unfortunately.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I moved last year to Truist after USAA kept lying about the money they were to restore after my debit card was hacked. I’m not syaing Truist is perfect but I appreciate them having so many local branches.

I do still keep $2 each in my USAA checking and savings to keep the accounts open if I ever need them.

My Truist account was hacked multiple times even after putting special fraud alerts on it. Now they keep screwing up my kids’ accounts.

What security protocols do you use? Consider using two-factor authorization.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Couldn't this be solved by spending $8 on a package of checks? Is it really that hard?

I have never had a contractor not accept a check. They know where you live! If you bounce a check, they'll be back. (I've never bounced a check -- but it seems strange that a contractor wouldn't take a check. Are they trying to shirk their taxes?)

All the contractors I recently hired accepted checks. Sometimes, they give a discount for it because there’s no credit card fee.

DP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I gave up on USAA several years ago and went with Fidelity. We use the cash management account as a checking account. They obviously also have all the investment account options you'd want so they are pretty one-stop shop. Of course, they don't have insurance, but I find it's better to shop around and switch insurance every few years anyway.

I can’t stand the Fidelity website. I can never figure out how to get anything done. I was trying to buy a T bill and lost so much time. And I hate that they include accounts that I am POA for in my balances as that money is not mine. I like to log on and quickly see where we’re at but now always have to weed through a long list of account that belong to my family member. Does anybody know of a way to hide those? I worry that I will accidentally make a purchase with the wrong account.

I am in the same boat, and that is why I won’t bank anywhere my relative is banking.

USAA already confused our accounts so I won’t take a chance anywhere now. They caused a lot of problems by doing this.

[Anonymous]

Have had Schwab for several years now and generally great experience. Customer service has always been quick and helpful. ATM reimbursements every month.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Couldn't this be solved by spending $8 on a package of checks? Is it really that hard?

I have never had a contractor not accept a check. They know where you live! If you bounce a check, they'll be back. (I've never bounced a check -- but it seems strange that a contractor wouldn't take a check. Are they trying to shirk their taxes?)

All the contractors I recently hired accepted checks. Sometimes, they give a discount for it because there’s no credit card fee.

DP

This is the real question- why doesn't OP's contractor take checks?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NFCU is still good in my experience.

Same. Have been with northwest fcu for two decades, have a car and personal loan, etc. Their customer service is very good, the rates are good and I just prefer credit unions. ( fyi they are offering personal loans and lines of credit to federal employees now as well, as they did during the last shut down). Online banking is easy, there are several branches and they are easy and helpful to reach by phone. I think even in this day and age, checks are useful. My cleaning person, my recent house painter, my electrician...they all are older workers who take checks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NFCU is still good in my experience.

Same. Have been with northwest fcu for two decades, have a car and personal loan, etc. Their customer service is very good, the rates are good and I just prefer credit unions. ( fyi they are offering personal loans and lines of credit to federal employees now as well, as they did during the last shut down). Online banking is easy, there are several branches and they are easy and helpful to reach by phone. I think even in this day and age, checks are useful. My cleaning person, my recent house painter, my electrician...they all are older workers who take checks.

Just realized poster may have been referring to navy federal, I was referring to northwest federal credit union, sorry