<p>Which bank should I open an account with when I go to UVA?</p>
<p>There is a Bank of America on campus. And someone adviced us to open the account at home, since there is a big line during the fist days. I dont know if you can open it there during orientation days</p>
<p>Bank of America. Line is not too bad during orientation if you get there early. After lunch the line was very long. We opened one at the local branch near home.</p>
<p>If you don't mind a little nonsense then you can also consider Wachovia - there is an ATM in Newcomb, and banks downtown and at Barracks. It is not as convenient as Bank of America because UVA is highly aligned with them (ATMs everywhere, and isn't there one right on the Corner? etc), but Wachovia is really popular where I'm from (Philly) and it hasn't been an inconvenience, especially now that I have a car... There are more Wachovia's near me at home than Bank of America's so it didn't make sense for me to switch over to them when Wachovia was accessible enough.</p>
<p>My son opened his checking account with Wachovia. We have been very satisfied with their Student Checking account. Also, they have a $25/$25 Referral Program where, if an existing customer refers a student who opens a new account, both folks get $25 as a cash bonus/reward. Pretty sweet.</p>
<p>They offer on-line banking, and the checking account is truly "free", with no minimum account balance required. Simple rules, less fine print and fewer potential bank fees than with Bank of America's accounts, IMO.</p>
<p>They have an ATM in Newcomb Hall. My son didn't use his checking account all that much, because he used UVa's Cavalier Advantage Program and Dining Plus Dollars for a lot of stuff.</p>
<p>There is the UVA Credit Union, Bank of America, and about 1300 banks locally in town.
:)
Charlottesville has about as many banks as there are restaurants. </p>
<p>I use Bank of America for my home business accounts. I personally would not chose them again.
BB&T is also located around grounds.</p>
<p>But if it were me as a student I would chose the Credit Union
<a href="https://www.uvacreditunion.org/infodesk7.html%5B/url%5D">https://www.uvacreditunion.org/infodesk7.html</a></p>
<p>I have been a member with them for over 10 years.</p>
<p>Anyone bank with Bank of America from out-of-state?</p>
<p>Are there any problems? Should I close my California account and transfer my money to a new Virginia one?</p>
<p>I use Chevy Chase which is strictly NoVa, DC, and southern MD. There's actually a branch next to the Target about 10min up 29, but I never go, and I get by fine. There's very little reason you'll ever need to withdraw cash, and when you do, you can use other branch ATMs, it just costs you a buck or two. So, if I do need to withdraw cash, I just withdraw ~$100 when I do, even if I only need $10, so I don't have to withdraw/be charged again when I need another $10 two weeks later. Most everywhere takes Visa/debit cards, so I just use my card when I'm eating or whatnot (you can use a debit card as a credit card. There's no difference, except you don't use your PIN and you don't get charged 25cents like you do when you use the card as debit)</p>
<p>Frankly, if you really really want to switch, look at Bank of America and Wachovia options, and pick whichever bank has the better plan/account for you. But, you really don't have to. Plenty of people I know have banks ranging from CC, to Wachovia, to BofAmer, to Suntrust, and beyond.</p>
<p>Does anyone have experience with SunTrust? Family in the Richmond area recommends them, and they do have a branch fairly close to the campus, but I know no one with their student account.</p>
<p>SunTrust does fine, but their locations are not nearly as convenient as BoA. </p>
<p>I also recommend you look at [url=<a href="http://www.ebank.com%5DeBank%5B/url">http://www.ebank.com]eBank[/url</a>] They have free checking with small interest, and they allow unlimited ATM usage with no fees. They even refund the fees charged by the issuing ATM.</p>
<p>Most of the students here use Bank of America. From what I've seen, during your summer (or fall) orientation, there are employees who help set up your account in a reserved room at Newcomb Hall. I think if you already have a bank account with Wachovia, you should be fine.</p>
<p>Rather than switching banks, just use your current bank and set up a checking account. Most banks give free debit cards to checking account holders. With a debit card, you can make purchases, pay for food, and withdraw from any ATM (some banks charge a fee if you don't use their own, but it's $1-2). That way you never have to carry more than $10-20 in your pocket, if any.</p>
<p>yeah and on grounds cav advantage (debit type thing that is on your UVA ID card) is the best, better than cash or anything, even for laundry!! you'll only need cash for trips to the corner/downtown, or other trips away from uva. and without a car i dunno how many of those you'll be making. i definitely used more cash my 2nd year, when i had a car, than my first year, and i used cav advantage more my 1st year when i didnt have a car. you can even put more money for cav adv online. very convenient. :)</p>
<p>so, basically, as long as you have a way to get cash when you need it, you will be fine. people pick bank of america because there are atm's everywhere on grounds, and wachovia has enough close atm's to be useful. just take shoebox's suggestions and i'm sure you'll be fine with whichever bank you choose. if not you can always switch during the semester, right?</p>
<p>Bank of America is going to be the most easily accessbile. Watch-ova-ya, I mean Wachovia, Suntrust, BB&T are all in the next grouping of accessibility.</p>