<p>1) Which is the best bank to have my checking account in?
Which one do you use and why? Which ones are located near ucla?</p>
<p>2) Which credit card do you recommend I get and WHY? I understand what to look for already (no annual fee, low apr, etc). </p>
<p>3) Should I get one right NOW or wait? (until orientation is over or until an offer i can't refuse comes up, or when else?)</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>I use Washington Mutual for my checking account. There is a WaMu branch at the corner of Westwood and Wilshire. Bank of America would work well too - there is a branch right on Westwood, very close to campus. There are several ATMs of both banks around campus.</p>
<p>As for credit cards, I recommend the Citi student cards. I have had no problems with it, and have gotten great credit limit increases in the year and a half that I've had the card. Definitely get a card as soon as you can so you can start building history (the length of which is a big factor in credit scores)</p>
<p>1) i got a Citibank checking account because my parents have Citibank and they can link my account to my parents' to waive the monthly fee (by meeting the minimum balance).</p>
<p>2) i dont know whats the best CC is. best bet would be to stick with big well known banks/institutions: Bank of America, Citibank, Chase, Capital One, Discover, American Express (though FYI, i dont think UCLA accepts AmEx)....</p>
<p>3) checking account you want to do several weeks before the sept 30th (?) deadline for BruinDirect if you're going to use your account for that. (you have to give them a week or two for them to mail you your checks so you can send a voided one to UCLA). credit card isnt as important. there probably wont be any killer offers that come, theyre usually the same all the time. its not like a store where they have a Fourth of July sale or something.</p>
<p><a href="though%20FYI,%20i%20dont%20think%20UCLA%20accepts%20AmEx">i</a>*</p>
<p>The UCLA stores do accept AMEX, but you can't pay bills on URSA or housing with an American Express (which sucks, but whatever)</p>
<p>Hmm, I noticed that they require a school address for all the student credit cards. Does anyone know when we'll find out where our mail can be sent in the fall?</p>
<p>not until you get your room and room mate assignments. i believe thats sometime in august?</p>
<p>It requires a school address? Which card is that? I dont' remember Citi asking for a school address.</p>