<p>is there a bank on campus where i can start a checking or savings account? or within hamilton?</p>
<p>There is a bank across from the last fraternity on the walk downtown that many people used. I don't think you can have an account anywhere on campus, but should at least be able to cash checks there.</p>
<p>There's only Oneida Savings (the one across from Theta Chi frat) and another is Alliance Bank, which has a ATM in the COOP.</p>
<p>I have BoA- I just take out enough cash to last me until my next break to use for anything that I can't use my GateCard for. I use my credit card to put money on my Gatecard. If anyone sent me a check, I would just hold onto it in a safe place and tell that person next time I see them that I would give them my account number or they could at least wait until I have a chance to go off campus to deposit the check.</p>
<p>My daughter (class of 2010) will also have a Bank of America account as they offer student accounts when parent/s have an account. It works well with an older sibling in the midwest- any checks that need to be deposited are mailed home and I deposit it, and an ATM is used for cash at school. I'll likely get a Gate card for her as well...</p>
<p>I think the Gatecard is used just about everywhere. TMP, correct me if I'm wrong, but I think you need a GateCard to do laundry.</p>
<p>That's correct- no quarters for laundry!</p>
<p>Unless you plan on holding large amount of cash on you throughout the semester, the way to go is to open an account with one of the two local banks. I use Alliance Bank since they have an ATM in the coop. I know people who use Oneida Savings, but it is just more of a pain going there to use their ATM. </p>
<p>The problem with use a national bank like BoA is that you are going to get hit with surcharges with each withdraw. If you are running short on cash, you're going to go to Alliance's ATM on campus. They charge $2 for non-members. You'll also get hit by your bank's non-network charge, $1 or $2. If you take out $40, thats 10% in fines. If you plan to mail checks home, there are costs and the hassle with that too.</p>
<p>What I recommend, and what I also do, is to do the following:
1. put money on gatecard (student ID), at least $400 for the first semester if you are paying for books with it. You can spend over $300 for them. Since adding money is easy and fee-free, you don't have to add it all at once. I use this to pay for a lot of stuff. </p>
<ol>
<li><p>open local bank account. Use this just for getting spending money from ATM. I deposit my work checks here. Since this will probably not pay interest, keep this balance low. On campus, you'll need cash for food deliveries, bars, picking in to buy stuff with others, etc...</p></li>
<li><p>other financial accounts. Whatever you are investing the rest of your money in or if you want to have another checking account at home.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>This works best since I have a source of income at school that I use to pay for my misc. expenses at school. My parents could add money on gatecard if I need it.</p>