<p>I'm debating on where I want to open up a bank account. My brother said that USC has a bunch of Bank of America ATMs. What other banks are there? Are there any Chase ATMs?</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>If you plan on leaving the campus at all, I’d still recommend Bank of America. They have ATMs everywhere.</p>
<p>I’ll be leaving campus often. My home is about 45 minutes away.</p>
<p>Right now, Chase has a deal where if you open up a bank account, you get a $100 bonus. That $100 is my cell phone if I go with Chase. But yeah, I know that BofA is everywhere…</p>
<p>Well, I’d be weary of deals like that. They will eventually get those $100 back from you in some way.</p>
<p>There’s a BOA branch directly across the street from campus and a few BOA ATMs on campus.</p>
<p>There is a Wamu/Chase ATM located in the courtyard of tuscany by Coffee Bean. But the nearest Wamu/Chase branch is a blocks away by the Staples Center.</p>
<p>Other than those 2 there’s the USC’s Credit Union ATM and branch on campus.</p>
<p>The USC credit union was highly recommended to us by many, many students & families. </p>
<p>We went ahead and opened an account for a few reasons 1) it’s nice to have the convenient on-campus atms 2) We are also using them for her Stafford Loan 3) She’s a trojan now 
4) credit unions often offer nicer rates etc than banks.</p>
<p>D is keeping her bank accounts at large area bank (Wells Fargo) until all the dust has settled and she decides if she wants to transfer checking, etc to the Credit Union.</p>
<p>Uh oh. I’m using wells fargo at the moment, are there any of those nearby?</p>
<p>Same with red^</p>
<p>Yeah, I also recommend the USC credit union, I’ve never had a problem with them.</p>
<p>I also recommend the USC credit union - in addition to the convenience, you get Trojan checks and a Trojan ATM card.</p>
<p>During the summer, do you just transfer your funds to another bank?</p>
<p>Why would you do that?</p>
<p>After looking into the USC Credit Union, I’m convinced that that’s what I want.</p>
<p>Thanks guys.</p>
<p>S has a USC Credit Union account- Cardinal Checking- free for students.</p>
<p>I make deposits by faxing USC Credit Union a form they gave me from ACH- Automated Clearing House. This withdraws money from my checking (different bank) and deposits the designated amount to his account at USC Credit Union. Neither my bank nor the USC Credit Union charges a fee for this. When I fax the request, they usually make the deposit within 1 day. It is very convenient and we have had no problems with this system. </p>
<p>The only fees on his account are if he uses his ATM card for a purchase ($1) or if he withdraws money at a non USC Credit Union ATM machine ($1). The real advantage to using USC Credit Union is there are several ATMs on campus so they should not incur any ATM fees.</p>
<p>He also got a student credit card through them to start building credit. There is no fee for that.</p>
<p>FWIW- another recent discussion about banks-
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-southern-california/713428-banks.html?highlight=credit+union#post1062541367[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-southern-california/713428-banks.html?highlight=credit+union#post1062541367</a></p>
<p>Well let me pipe up for Bank of America. There used to be a BoA ATM on campus outside the bookstore, right next to the Credit Union ATM. With the construction, I am not sure it is there right now, but the BoA online ATM locator says it is. There is of course the full service branch on Jefferson across from Webb and the UV.</p>
<p>The big advantage to BoA is it is everywhere, so when the student is home ATMs can be accessed for free, changes to accounts made, checks ordered, money orders obtained, summer pay checks deposited, etc. It is surprising how often a trip to the branch is necessary, so it might as well be convenient. If you are away from campus, having your banking at the credit union there is not that great.</p>
<p>The student checking account is free for 5 years, plus you get a free do-over in the case of one NSF or other fee of your choice.</p>
<p>The other great thing is if the parental units have their banking at BoA, like we do, I can instantly transfer money into the student’s account with about 3 mouse clicks, as well as trouble shoot problems with the student’s account online, and do things at my local branch for her if necessary because of some snafu. If she is at Ralph’s with bags of groceries waiting to be paid for, but can’t because of a surprise lack of funds in her account, she can call me or her mom on her cell and I can solve her problem in about 20 seconds.</p>
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<p>Am I missing something? I’ve never noticed any $1 charges for using my USC credit union debit card…or have I been paying fees without noticing?</p>
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<p>I don’t think you are missing something. I don’t know where I got that info. I copied and pasted my post from one of my previous posts and it looks like I goofed. Just checked latest statement and there is no $1 charge for using ATM card for purchase. </p>
<p>Thanks for the correction.</p>
<p>Yeah, otherwise all those dinners at Chipotle and ice creams afterwards at Cold Stone would have built up quite some fees.</p>
<p>According to people who have done study abroad, a USC Credit Union account is awesome if you don’t want to get a foreign bank account. Only $1 fees at overseas ATMs, as opposed to huge ridiculous fees.</p>
<p>But in any case, I’d recommend the credit union as well.</p>
<p>haha, thanks. I just wanted to check that I wasn’t spending myself into oblivion with fees :)</p>