<p>I have to switch my checking account to Bank of America before I go to college in the fall because it is the only bank both my hometown and my college town have. When I was checking out the different options, it seemed like they have a lot more maintainence fees than my bank (Suntrust) does. I was wondering if anyone had any experience with this bank, particularly its student banking program (Campus Edge). Would I be better off getting a basic checking account, or should I do their whole student program?</p>
<p>i have the student checkings/savings.</p>
<p>haven't had any problems at all. Everything is free except extra checks, but you get a free check card, so checks are kinda pointless. Billpay is free, unlimited withdraws/deposits, no minimum balance required, free online account management...just watch out for the overdraft fees (about $30/overdraft) which can occur if you use credit with your check card and loose track of your balance.</p>
<p>I've used Bank of America for years. As long as you maintain the minimum balance in your checking account it's fine & you won't get crazy over withdrawl fees. I've never notices maintenance fees on my account. I love thier online banking, I can check my balance, transfer funds around, and pay my bills. I'm not sure what thier whole student program is, I have a regular checking account.</p>
<p>Bank of America savings sucks. Get all your money out NOW. Their checking, on the other hand, is decent. I believe it's free for 5 years for students and they have good online service. They also have decent ATM coverage (in my area, at least). Their keep the change program is a quick way to earn $250.</p>
<p>i have the campus edge thing and theres no min. balance which is sweet but the over draft is $31 after the first time so watch out... that adds up fast (ive gone red 3 times this year)</p>
<p>My son has BofA and it has worked great for him. We've found them to be among the most helpful and efficient when things happen--ie lost ATM card. Online banking is awesome.</p>
<p>And another plus, they actually are waiving the out of state fees for using another bank's ATMs. This is because they don't actually have a branch in New Orleans (Tulane). The local NO banks aren't the same ones where we are, so the option of finding a bank in both places wasn't one for us.</p>
<p>Anyway, overall, I've been very happy with BofA. I also have an account as does my D (sophomore in college in another city). Easy to transfer funds back and forth too.</p>
<p>Similar to what other people have said, I have some sort of student checking/savings account and I like that they have ATMs all over the place. I've been generally happy with them, but I have had occasions where I've been charged a fee for not having a high enough balance (it was a low number, but I have no cash flow, basically) which brought me into the red, cashed checks thinking I had x amount of money (they don't give you credit for the whole deposit until it goes through), went and spent what I thought I had, due to fees went into the red, got charged $31 bucks for going over, cycle repeats. That $31 bucks really gets me. Of course, I really do need some better money manegement skills, so it's probably my fault, so I really can't complain. I've used it as a debit overseas and avoided hefty atm charges. Debit cards are the universal currency :)</p>
<p>My D has bank of america and has never had a problem with their services. She has a campus edge account, with no fees and pays bills on line. She has her paychecks directly deposited int o the account and has a visa through them.</p>
<p>They do have major issues when using the accounts out of state. For example, when I'm at home in MD, I can't use the BofA ATM to deposit checks into my California BofA account...</p>
<p>You should have no problems using yoru Bof A account from state to state.</p>
<p>My daugter has a BofA account in rural NH and has never problem banking in NYC when she is home.</p>
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You should have no problems using yoru Bof A account from state to state.
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<p>Double check, though. I have some friends with MD accounts who have no problems in NY...however, I have issues (convenience, nothing completely locking me out of my money) outside CA.</p>
<p>I pretty much have no choice but to get Bank of America because like I said its the only bank in both towns. I think I am going to do the Campus Edge checking as opposed to regular, because you get reimbursed the first time you get overdrawn, and you don't have to have a minimum balance. </p>
<p>Also, Slorg says that their saving sucks--why? I am planning on opening a savings account my second semester so I can save money for studying abroad. Have any of you used their savings accounts?</p>
<p>The interest rates are horrible. I use a linked ING direct account. Instead 0.5%, the interest is like 4.5% and it functions exactly as if it were a BofA savings account. And there are even better options than ING Direct. Other banks like Emigrant and HSBC have even better rates. Also, laddered one-month treasury bills are a great way to store cash because of taxes. They net even more money than a savings account. Even better is a money market account exempt from both state and federal taxes. I know Vanguard has a CA one. These are all pretty much risk-free options.</p>
<p>If you want to setup an ING Direct account, PM me. I can refer you so you get $25 free.</p>
<p>Bank of America's systems are not completely tied together. Therefore, if you have an account in one region of the United States and you try to deposit a check from another region into your account, you end up with a big mess.</p>
<p>Uh... </p>
<p>You go into your out-of-state branch, take an out of state deposit slip, circle your state on the slip, and deposit normally. This is not a 'big mess.'</p>
<p>Try doing money transfers between two unlinked bofa accounts that have your name listed.</p>
<p>Took me 3 days and 12 phone calls to make a simple $900 balance transfer.</p>
<p>use Washington Mutual....BOA is trash</p>
<p>You guys are making me nervous. I plan on having one checking account with Bank of America, and opening it in Tennessee, my home state. I will be going to college in Missouri. My parents will transfer $200 to me through direct deposit from their accounts every month the first year, and I will use my check card for purchases, but eventually I will get a job in Missouri. Will I have difficulty depositing paychecks while in Missouri because it is a Tennessee account?</p>
<p>Call and ask. Not every state is in its own system - reason why sybbie's daughter hasn't had any problems. You might be lucky too.</p>
<p>:)</p>
<p>I use Washington Mutual.</p>
<p>One of my friends tried calling BOA one Saturday night b/c he lost his check card and wanted to cancel it, but there was no customer service and he had to wait until Monday. It seems improbable that a bank doesn't have 24hr customer service, but if it is, that sucks.</p>