Banking: TCF or UMCU?

<p>I just finished reading the Michigan Daily I was sent and I'm not quite sure which bank to choose. I want one with a debit card and no ATM fees. Also, on both, can you access your account transactions online?</p>

<p>i would recommend national city. it's basically similar to tcf, but you get a nicer debit card :]</p>

<p>But are there ATM fees, and are they easily accessible?</p>

<p>there are atm fees with most likely every bank, but if you use the bank's own atm machine, it's free of course.</p>

<p>go here for more info:
<a href="http://www.umich.edu/%7Einfo/bank.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.umich.edu/~info/bank.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>it tells you how many branches are located in ann arbor and how many atms are on campus, etc. i did some research since i'll be coming from NJ and my friend also recommended national city :]</p>

<p>The United Bank and Trust of Washtenaw looks the best. No fee for foreign ATMS</p>

<p>National City has a lot of ATMs on campus. They have a main branch at East U and South U with an ATM, one in the Union, one at State and Packard, and I think one downtown.</p>

<p>What's wrong with TCF?</p>

<p>there's also one on jackson rd. (national city, that is)</p>

<p>nothing is wrong with tcf. all i'm saying is national city gives you the best looking check card :]</p>

<p>TCF charged me $1 at a foreign ATM. All I did was do a balance inquery, Nothing was withdrawn. And they never even asked to proceed with the inquery. I thought this was ridiculous not to disclose a fee, but then I read that whole booklet of fine print they give you and it basically sounds like TCF can charge you whatever, whenever. I'll only use them to cash a check.</p>

<p>"What's wrong with TCF?"</p>

<p>A lot. </p>

<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=203391&highlight=tcf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=203391&highlight=tcf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p><a href="http://www.epinions.com/TCF_National_Bank_Michigan%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.epinions.com/TCF_National_Bank_Michigan&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p><a href="http://www.epinions.com/finc-Financial_Services-Online-Banks-TCF_National_Bank_Illinois%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.epinions.com/finc-Financial_Services-Online-Banks-TCF_National_Bank_Illinois&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>I don't know why I went with them. I guess I thought if I were charged ATM fees they would ask me if I would like to accept them first.</p>

<p>is there any benefit of having the same bank in AA as in my home town?</p>

<p>I have a joint account with my Dad from when I was 16. We are going to keep it that way so he can make transfers from his account to mine online without the need for writing a check, a money order, or wire transfer. I guess that would be a benefit to having the same in AA as your hometown. Unfortunately, that is not my case. I need someplace to cash a check locally. I'm afraid to use my TCF card in fear that mysterious fees will build up and then I'll have to waste my time straightening them out.</p>

<p>My parents and I tend to like credits unions over banks. Unfortunately, having an ATM in my residence hall was more appealing. Just hope I don't get charged.</p>

<p>if the bank in your hometown is also at ann arbor, you should just stay with that bank. the only reason people get new accounts is because NONE of the banks in NJ are the same in michigan.</p>

<p>so if i have any problems or issues with my bank in ann arbor, i wouldn't be able to go to a branch to get it resolved. also, i would have to pay an x amount of dollars if i were to use an atm that was different from my bank.</p>

<p>so yeah, if the bank in your hometown is the same as one in ann arbor, you should just stick with it.</p>

<p>I have a TCF account, and I've had no problems with it. It seemed to be the most accessible of the banks, and you can use it with your M-card. </p>

<p>However, I just opened a new account with a regional bank back at home that reimburses other banks' ATM fees, so I'm sticking with that bank from now on. But I suppose I'll still have to make deposits to TCF since there are no branches of that bank in the midwest. Ultimately, it comes down to what forgiven said above.</p>

<p>Son will have a TCF account - and we are keeping his First Merit A/C which is linked to mine - so I can transfer money in immediately if needed. I figure its all good, we can make changes at Christmas if we need to.</p>

<p>Kmatzen, they won't even tell you if you're about to overdraw at the atm. I've never heard of a bank that does this. I later found out that you have to pay a montly fee for this 'feature'.</p>

<p>Huh!?! I guess my credit union gives me that feature for free. I thought all banks/credit unions offered this feature. I did find two ATM's on campus that will give me free withdrawls through my credit union.</p>

<p>Oh, I just reread your post. I don't mean being charged for an overdraft by overdrawing. I'm better with money and knowing what is in my account than that. I think I have something called overdraft protection up to a certain number of times per month. I mean the $1 or 2 fee just to withdraw at a foreign ATM. I was charged without even being notified if I wanted to accept charges. I just don't want there to be a mistake and be charged when I thought it was a TCF ATM. If they ask me to accept, I'll just go elsewhere.</p>