<p>i've recently decided that i need my own checking account and debit and credit cards. i have my own savings account...i just need to switch services. i've researched a little and have gotten pretty good reviews for wells fargo but not bank of america.</p>
<p>but credit unions seem to get the best reviews for students because of their fewer and lower fees. i know that ucsd has one on campus, the USE. are undergrad students allowed to use it? i read somewhere that we're not and only grad student employees of the school and staff are allowed to use it.</p>
<p>i'm anxious to get this sorted out, but i don't know if i should just get an account for a bank while i'm still in los angeles before school starts, or whether i should wait to move in and check out the banks/credit unions around sd for myself. any suggestions/advice?</p>
<p>I’m pretty sure undergrads can open accounts at USE credit union. I remember getting pamphlets from USE, trying to get me to open an account. </p>
<p>Also, I’m not sure if you’re aware of this, but different credit unions across the country share their ATM’s (they’re part of the Co-op ATM network, or whatever it’s called…). So if you have an account at a credit union in Los Angeles, you can take out money and make deposits at virtually any credit union-operated ATM in the country (including USE’s ATMs on campus). I’m a member of a credit union in Sacramento, and I would deposit my paychecks and take out money (free of charge) at USE’s ATM on a weekly basis, using my Sacramento credit union debit card. So that could be a good option for you.</p>
<p>By the way, I thought I would mention that USE isn’t operated by UCSD and isn’t affiliated with the campus administration. They just have a branch on campus.</p>
<p>I personally have BOA for more than a year and I have had great service from them. Not only there savings plan is actually useful because they match the saving for about 3 months or something.</p>
<p>As far as credit unions go, I use local federal credit union and they have some good services for members. So that’s useful as well, but I am not sure of UCSD’s credit union. I am sure though they have some communal benefits too.</p>
<p>is it better to go with like the local credit union or a big bank like BofA that has branches all over the country? wouldn’t it be more convenient ultimately to do big banks in case you decide to move? so you wouldn’t have to change banks when you change location?</p>
<p>I don’t see any reason to rush. You may find that your current bank works just fine for you here. I’ve never had a personal BofA account, but I had to deal with them when I had a military BofA account. I hate BofA. Hate 'em.</p>
<p>well my bank account right now i got through my mom and it’s a korean bank. i don’t speak korean very well. therefore…i figure it would just be easier for me when i need to do things if the bankers could speak english to me. cuz financial talk is hard enough to understand without having a language barrier. even a slight one at that.</p>
<p>Military dad? If so, Navy Federal for sure. Also, strongly consider USAA, especially their insurance. My insurance with them is probably $100 less a month than anyone else. Reps from other companies give up when I tell them I’m with USAA.</p>
<p>I’m no to the military dad…I’m not really sure, but I’ve heard good things about some bank with Island in the name. I’ll have to ask my sister. She used to work at another bank and she had a very good opinion of this ‘Island’ bank.</p>
<p>i just had a thought. if i change banks this late before school starts, will it affect my financial aid at all? i know i should contact my loan lender people…but if i’m just changing transferring services and money from one bank to another, isn’t it okay to just change it? like change the routing number and things like that on direct deposit, etc?</p>