<p>I went to our bank here in MD, and I learned that D can get a checking account now that she is 17.5 years of age. Our bank offers a student account with all the appropriate bells and whistles. Still, I want a bank for her that has an ATM and a branch close to where she will be living so she won't rack up ATM fees.</p>
<p>What ATMs are most available on and near campus?</p>
<p>Also, does anyone know of any promotions any banks are running for new student accounts?</p>
<p>Thanks!!</p>
<p>Cindy</p>
<p>The ATM in Wawa is charge free for every bank. That’s pretty much the extent of my knowledge of this.</p>
<p>Most people have Wachovia I think…there’s an ATM in the UC (Sadler Center), and one within (questionable) walking distance along Richmond Road. I would definitely recommend Wachovia.</p>
<p>Re: deals, I’m not sure, but I think last year there was some sort of one where if you signed up as a student you got 50 bucks or something. I have no real idea though. Go Wachovia though.</p>
<p>Oh right, I just remembered that during the first week you are on campus there is a little fair in the Sadler Center where various banks and other organizations set up booths. You may be able to find something there.</p>
<p>banks do come to campus at the beginning of the semester…</p>
<p>There is a Sun Trust a block or so into Colonial Williamsburg.</p>
<p>There is a Wachovia on Richmond Road, which is probably about a 10/15 minute walk from the Sadler Center. There is also a Wachovia ATM in the Sadler Center.</p>
<p>There is an ATM at Wawa that doesn’t charge (but your bank might).</p>
<p>There is a BB&T slightly further down Richmond Road than the Wachovia.</p>
<p>Wachovia is the most convenient, IMO.</p>
<p>My daughter got a good deal at Wachovia when she got her account two years ago. Talking to other parents at the time, I realized deals differ by area and over time. I’m sure they’ll tell you what they’re offering if you call. I wonder how things have changed due to the financial crisis…</p>
<p>Wachovia. We used to bank with them, but they were consumed by Chevy Chase. Does anyone know if the ATM in the Sadler Center is Chevy Chase now? Some old Wachavia sites around here are now PNC.</p>
<p>I plugged in Williamsburg on the JP Morgan Chase branch locator website and got:</p>
<p>No Branch locations were found within a 50 mile radius.</p>
<p>I really think the best thing to do is to open a checking account with Wachovia and just get a nice check/debit card.</p>
<p>If able to open a USAA account I would suggest that. They have no ATM fees and actually reimburse you up to 10 times a month for local ATM fees.</p>
<p>I’d go for Bank of America. Not only is BoA amazing and brimming with great options for students, but there are TONS of banks and ATMs right nearby. There is a bank on Richmond Rd, for example, and and ATM not even a block away from the ancient campus area. There might be a bank there, too, but I couldn’t tell using Google Maps…</p>
<p>You know, we will get there on a Friday for orientation. I think we will just go to a bank during business hours and handle it that way. Then we can take advantage of any incentives being offered.</p>
<p>And I was wrong. Wachovia still exists. I forgot I no longer bank with them so I didn’t realize they were still alive.</p>
<p>Wachovia has the most branches nearby, with, I think, BB&T next. I’ve noticed a couple of others nearby, but their names haven’t “stuck.”</p>
<p>You may find that both using the same bank is most convenient, since money transfers are usually instant and painless, (well, “painless” aside from the obvious and inherent pain - “what do you mean, you need more money? Already!?”) while interbank transfers seem to take longer to post.</p>
<p>The Bank of America would be quite a lengthy walk (~30 minutes each way). I didn’t see a Bank of America ATM on their locator closer than the Richmond Road branch (<a href=“http://www.bankofamerica.com/findit/locator.cfm[/url]”>Bank of America Financial Centers and ATMs). Most students will end up using the Wawa ATM since it’s centrally located and fee free. (And lets face it, chances are they’re at Wawa when they need money anyway.)</p>
<p>If all you plan on doing is withdrawing money from an ATM, then you can choose from a wider selection of banks. But if you need a full-service branch from time to time, the only two in a reasonable walking distance are Wachovia and BB&T. There’s a Chesapeake bank a little further up the road too, and I think there’s now a Langley Federal Credit Union on Richmond Rd where the Big Apple Bagels used to be.</p>