<p>I want to open a bank account either at the local bank near NYU or at NYU Credit Union.</p>
<p>I already have an Associate Bank account...</p>
<p>Which will be the better choice?? the local bank(either B of A or Chase) or Credit Union???</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>Its really a personal choice but I would choose a national bank like Chase so you can keep the account past college. For instance, I had a Wachovia account when I was doing my undergrad in FL… now I am a grad student at NYU and I kept my Wachovia account. THe perk of keeping an account from a national bank is that you can use it in any state and one day when you go to buy a home or other large purchase, they will see you stayed with the same bank for a long period of time. Really, its a personal choice though.</p>
<p>Id highly recommend either Chase or Citi.</p>
<p>Citi is very student friendly and is 1 block from washington square (555 LaGuardia) and Chase is literally everywhere</p>
<p>Chase has been really awesome and they have good customer service. They also have branches and ATMs everywhere.</p>
<p>I second Chase. We have Wachovia, including D and it is difficult to find branches around campus.
Chase is everywhere.</p>
<p>Hi, I also want to say Chase. The College Checking Account has no monthly fees for 4-5 years. We chose Chase because we knew it was all over the place in NYC (and because of the free checking, which can save $5-10 a month).</p>
<p>I have to say though, we had a lot of hassles attempting to open sonny’s account online. Do go into a local branch with all your IDs and documentation; much more hassle free that way. </p>
<p>Honestly, I have been aggravated by the lack of knowledge of the various Chase agents I spoke to on the phone. Each one gives different info and the majority of info has been inaccurate. Finally, I got our local Chase branch manager involved to resolve their erroneous charge of fees on my credit card (used by sonny for the online application which was immediately cancelled, however, the fees and interest continued on my cc account). Then I was really given the go around on transfer of $ to sonny’s account since neither I nor my husband is a co-signer on sonny’s account (we were told it was not necessary to co-sign, but that appears to be untrue for the purposes of facilitating electronic transfers).</p>
<p>I have fared much better with Citi in terms of customer service. Little did we know hubby’s many accounts with Chase did not make it easier to transfer $ into sonny’s Chase account. We are still trying to work it out so we do not have to physically go into a Chase bank to make a $ deposit into sonny’s acct. We really prefer the convenience of electronic transfers. Still working on this. This process should not be so difficult!</p>
<p>milkandsugar,</p>
<p>Just an FYI, there is a Wachovia on 10th street. Really close to campus, I walk to it all the time from my dorm.</p>
<p>We opened accounts at Chase here locally because we knew it would be convenient in NYC. I am on my D’s accounts and they are linked to my other accounts electronically so I move money back and forth as necessary. She can check her own accounts online, but does not see mine…but I can see hers! By doing it here, it was very easy and the accounts are working fine there so far. The college account is a great deal and the savings is great for our monthly deposits to pay next semester’s tuition. We previously used a local bank (largest family owned in the nation) and loved it, but found the debit card was blocked in New York when she went for her audition trip. While it was unblocked immediately when I requested, I never felt that secure afterwards. The Chase is not as convenient for me here locally, since the local bank had a gazillion drive-ups and ATMS and Chase has two that I have found…but small inconvenience if D has better access.</p>
<p>writestuff,
So smart of you to get yourself on your daughter’s Chase account. That was my intention but I was talked out of it by a Chase phone agent. Also, I was getting weary of all the last minute details for sonny’s college education, so I gave myself permission not to be involved in sonny’s Chase application process. THAT WAS A MISTAKE! Now I am waiting for paperwork by mail so I can get my name and hubby’s name on sonny’s Chase account. I have spent way too much time trying to expedite the transfer of $ from one Chase acct (parent’s) to another Chase acct (sonny). Back to where I started off and that is just to get my and husband’s names on sonny’s acct. :(</p>
<p>Good move also to go with Chase to facilitate things for your daughter at NYU.</p>
<p>SallyNYU,
Thank you. My D does use that bank but it is so inconvenient, she has lived in several dorms furthur away from campus and it is just a PIA. Fortunately with WS, they have direct deposit and she can access cash from Rite Aid, Dagostino and other places that have cash back at the registers. Freshman year she got socked with ATM fees from using non Wachovia ATM’s. She has learned her lesson.</p>