<p>What bank is the best to use while a student at Dartmouth for:</p>
<p>1) using ATM
2) proximity to campus (or even better - on campus?)
3) debit cards
4) getting a credit card - no fees
Thx</p>
<p>Bank of America is pretty good because it's just down Main Street. I think there's a local bank with an atm in the basement of Collis but I don't know anyone who uses it.</p>
<p>I remember I saw a citizen's bank during dimensions?</p>
<p>Ledyard....</p>
<p>Thx. 10 characters</p>
<p>Definitely, Bank of America.</p>
<p>Free student checking.
If your parents also have a bank of america account, they can transfer funds to your account in a matter of seconds.
If you are banking outside of Hanover, you can very easily find a branch of your bank in the U.S. or a member bank if you are studying abroad.</p>
<p>You are all extremely helpful. What do you recommend for credit cards?
I looked up credit cards in students names only - but they have extraordinarily high costs if you are late making a payment - like $40 on a $250 balance and then the rate jumps from 0% to 24%.</p>
<p>Do parents typically add on a student and get them another credit card but with a lower credit line? Are debit cards accepted for plane tickets, bus tickets, books,and restauarants? This is all new to me.</p>
<p>Thx.</p>
<p>Because college students are shifting to adulthood and there is a need for you to establish and build your own credit, in out house D has credit cards through bank of america and has had her credit line increased due to prompt payments on her bill. Adding a child to the parents account does not help them to build credit and it can be harder for them to get credit after graduating, so IMHO it is best that they start building it now and learning how to use credit wisely.</p>
<p>
[quote]
if you are late making a payment - like $40 on a $250 balance and then the rate jumps from 0% to 24%.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>this can be very easily solved by:</p>
<p>Not charging anything that you can not pay in full when the bill comes.</p>
<p>always paying your bills on time.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Are debit cards accepted for plane tickets, bus tickets, books,and restauarants? This is all new to me.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Yes. The good thing about debit cards is that you will not spend more than you have in the bank. However, this does not help toward a student building credit.</p>
<p>Bank of America has an excellent program for new college kids, and the bank in town just loves Dartmouth students. Even with zero credit, the bank will give your a credit card with a $500 limit to start; you can ask for one with a pic of Baker Tower on it. If you make timely payments, they will raise it later in the year. It's a great way to start your own credit history. BUT, PAY THE BILL IN FULL EACH MONTH. DO NOT INCUR INTEREST CHARGES!</p>
<p>BofA's checking account is free for college students, btw. You can also open a college checking account at your local BofA branch.</p>
<p>My D uses Ledyard Bank, and has been happy. We picked Ledyard because it has the ATM in Collis. We do not have B of A in our state, so there was no advantage to using B of A, Ledyard had some of the other perks, only it is local.</p>
<p>I signed up for a Bank of America student debit card while living in DC and plan to add a credit card when I turn 18 in November. In NYC, there are Bank of America offices EVERYWHERE... it's almost comical (incredibly convenient, though).</p>
<p>Bank of America REJECTED me for setting up a checking account and savings account - believe it or not - saying I need to contact a credit agency to find out why I was rejected - which is amazing to me as I just turned 18 like 2 days before I applied and have no credit history whatsoever. The only thing I can figure is I didn't want their credit card and maybe that's really the only reason they offer college students the free checking.</p>
<p>Galwain, that can't be. My son also applied a couple of days after his 18th birthday. He also refused their credit card. He just opened a checking and a savings.</p>
<p>Go to another branch and try again. And if they "reject" you again, make sure they tell you why. Never heard of people being rejected for checking or savings account.</p>
<p>galwain,</p>
<p>worse case scenario, you can always open an account in Hanover.</p>
<p>For people who have work-study as part of their aid package; sign up to have your paychecks directly deposited into your accounts when you get to campus. Also don't forget to bring either your passport or your birth certifcate + ss card, as you will need to fill out your I-9 forms before you can start working.</p>
<p>galwain:</p>
<p>Son's was also rejected, and we've been BofA customers since the dark ages.</p>
<p>The checking account and credit card are different, and, since BofA bought a different bank's credit card division last year, the credit card division is still being merged into BofA proper; credit card apps run through a different division. However, you should call and inquire why the credit card was rejected. In my son's case, if I recall, they said no job/income, no credit card. However, when I showed them the finaid papers, which was 'income' of sorts to them, they said no problem and issued the card within a week.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the helpful replies. I will go to these 2 banks in person when I arrive in Hanover. When I tried calling to ask - I just was transferred to Trans Union and tape recording that said send copies of drivers license, SS card copy etc to find out why I was rejected - but it will take ltoo long to get a reply in time for the upcoming semester.</p>
<p>I also am receiving some financial aid and work study (have applied for jobs - not heard anything yet..) I will have to send away for a birth certificate now as I also just applied for a passport - and as part of the application process - they required a birth certificate - which they'll mail back in December when I receive my passport in the mail. I have a SS card and drivers license but no extra copies of my birth certificate...</p>
<p>Yes, you can use your license and your SS card.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.formi9.com/i-9.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://www.formi9.com/i-9.pdf</a></p>
<p>Thanks Sybbie719!!! You know everything!!!</p>
<p>galwain:</p>
<p>one other suggestion. Go down to the BofA branch where you originally filed your credit card paperwork and ask them to call and inquire what your app is missing. Bankers have other numbers to call into so they don't have that long of hold time.</p>
<p>Thanks. I will definitely do it. When I was making my inquiry on line - it came up with a multiple choice question asking which of 4 companies did I have a mortagage with - and the answer was none - but that wasn't a choice. I want to double check to make sure no idenity theft has occurred. I will stop in.</p>