Free banking?

[superteacher]

a dream!

[Stealth3si]

a dream!

Really? I have had dreams that were also real. So is this idea possible?

[Stealth3si]

I don't know about California, but I belong to a credit union in Michigan and we have free banking there.  We also have free checking which is very nice.

I've heard one in my city but I haven't checked it out yet. I will thanks.

[Stealth3si]

I use Wachovia and have no monthly fees.They have a free checking acct.

Do they have requirements like Chase?

[Tresbn00]

I live in Colorado...not too familiar with California banking laws.  Out here I have been paid to open checking accounts with direct deposit and have had no fees.  Last year I opened ten accounts with ten direct deposit set ups from two jobs that I was working at and managed to net an extra $1,000.00 from incentives.  I set up two separate accounts with Chase and they were the best two accounts because they delivered the quickest.

[sandersdebt]

The federal government controls the banking laws. They also control the credit unions. In addition they insure both for the same amount. Banks are a for profit company. Credit Unions are a non-profit company. Any money the credit union makes goes back to the members in the form of lower interest on loans and more free stuff.

[jabkman]

im in florida, sorry

[Storm61115]

u dont have to close ur chase account. u should have had direct deposit. that would make it free. even if u just have money coming in from here. have that direct deposit.

[jski107]

Bank of America

[Trebor64]

Seriously if it were really Free banking, you would have to be able to open an account with no initial deposit.
I know that sounds stewpid but if you consider the actual definition of "free"(below) then you really understand there is no Free Bank around your location on this planet. Only free banking I know of is in Heaven.
Definitions of free (adj)
free [ free ] 

   1. costing nothing: requiring no money to be paid
   2. not kept prisoner: not, or no longer, physically bound or restrained, e.g. as a prisoner or in slavery
   3. not restricted in rights: not subject to censorship or control by a ruler, government, or other authority, and enjoying civil liberties

Synonyms: liberated, unbound, freed, released, set free, emancipated]

[sguzman]

I've used US Bank for the last 3 years. So far I haven't had to deal with any new fees. Fingers crossed that they don't do away with their free checking accounts.

[oonamas]

I use USBank too, which should be available in California. You have to pay for checks and stuff, but there are no fees and no minimums for the account I have. It doesn't earn interest, but then again most checking accounts earn none to almost none anyway.

[monnee]

There's always a catch to free banking to get you into the door.  Some banks in CA you might want to check out are B. of America, W. Fargo, and B. of the West.

[cyncity831]

I live in NYC.  My original bank was Washington Mutual which always offered free checking/savings.  When they went under Chase picked them up and they also continued with the free accounts.  But now after 2 years or so Chase has brought back their fees.  They offer you some ways to make it a free account but if you don't meet the requirements then get ready to get hit with fees.

[Stealth3si]

Just wanted to update this thread, so that others can know there are alternatives for basic free checking accounts with no fees.

1. USAA
2. M&T
3. BoA