Pinellas Plaza Banks - How did you choose?!

[lanabanana73]

With SIX banks to choose from in Pinellas Plaza, if you didn't already have an account with one of them, how did you choose which to use? We are only here for a couple of months a year, but I wanted to put some $$ here so I'd have a checking account with a local address. Any input?

[bagboy]

An account with Citizens First will give you ATM access to money throughout the Villages if that is important. We are satisfied with them, and we also have accounts at Community Bank and Trust in Pinellas Plaza. We've been very happy with their service also.

[Chatbrat]

$1000. 00 cash back between my wife & myself @ Chase for opening up 2 savings accounts & 2 checking accounts & everything else is free if your ex-military. Also the Chase preferred card has lots of cash back perks.

Finally their high tech ATM puts everything out there to shame.

[Villager Joyce]

I like crossover threads. My answer also works with the when did you know you were affluent thread. Divide your cash reserves by six and open an account in each bank. This way you are covered.

[Carla B]

I like crossover threads. My answer also works with the when did you know you were affluent thread. Divide your cash reserves by six and open an account in each bank. This way you are covered.

So, $250,000 in each bank?

[Villager Joyce]

So, $250,000 in each bank?

Math is hard :beer3:

[Chatbrat]

If you have a lot of cash on hand you're losing a lot $--zero interest--municipal bonds 5-51/2% tax free

Also you get a bigger return from some credit cards that you do by having cash in the back

5%--gas purchases
3%--dining & travel
2%--supermarket purchases
1 1/2% --everything else

[MikeV]

I chose Chase since they offered a generous cash incentive for opening a Chase Checking and Savings account.

[Villager Joyce]

If you have a lot of cash on hand you're losing a lot $--zero interest--municipal bonds 5-51/2% tax free


Where?

[Rango]

Very happy with Citizens. I'm seasonal and only need a local checking account.

[Chatbrat]

I deal with TD Ameritrade-I have a fixed income person I deal with. She knows what I like to invest in. When something pops up I get a call. There was a local person advertising muni's in the Daily Sun @ premium--I inquired & got the same bonds below par.

Do your home work--its not rocket science--stay away from commission brokers & especially annuities. Tons of good dividend paying stocks--money in the bank is a sucker play--I made more money in 2008-2009 than I did working my entire life--it was a bargain basement giveaway. Ford under $3.00 was a no brainer. Last months slide opened the gates again.

[Jim 9922]

I like local's like Community, First Avenue, and Citizens. I try not to do business with banks which have been fined hundreds of millions for crooked and illegal acts by their officers and employees!! (None of which end up in jail, they just buy their way out with shareholder's money):beer3:

[Carla B]

I like local's like Community, First Avenue, and Citizens. I try not to do business with banks which have been fined hundreds of millions for crooked and illegal acts by their officers and employees!! (None of which end up in jail, they just buy their way out with shareholder's money):beer3:

Good point!

[alanmcdonald]

We opened a Citizens account to make closing by mail easier.

Otherwise kept Bank of America and Chase accounts from previous locations.

[Chatbrat]

You're not married to banks, brokers, etc.-best service & $$'s in your pocket--don't sell yourself short for a cup of coffee or a bag of popcorn.

[KathieI]

Due to the complexity of my personal life these days, I have accounts at Wells Fargo, Citizens, Chase and TD. Don't get me wrong, not for any investments or perks, just to survive until I get my life straightened out. As far as service goes, I like the Wells Fargo customer website the best of all, I can handle it easily, its very user friendly, transfers are very easy to do and the inbank customer service is very good. The only bank I ever stay away from is Bank of America, they are a mess, in my opinion. I think if you want to be able to handle a local account from a distance, be sure the website is easy to manage and there are enough branches where you live, that you can go inside and work out problems.

On the other hand, Citizens is the only bank where my call is answered by a human.... what a pleasure.

Good luck, above IMHO.

[Brendanyc]

When we moved from NY we were using Citibank. They do not have branches in or around Central Florida. We decided to go with Chase because when we travel up north there are branches throughout the area.
We recently bought a second house and we went with a Citizen's mortgage. We could have got a slightly cheaper rate but Citizens allows you to pay money into the mortgage much like a refinance at a minimum of 10,000 without any fees. At the time of the mortgage we also opened up a Citizens savings and account so that if I need quick cash I can go to any ATM without a fee.
There is no need to be married to one bank. The key is to get to know the representatives at each bank so that when you have an issue or concern you can have a private discussion in the absence of a teller line. :)

[Sable99]

I had a Bank of America account before Pinellas. It works for me because I can access my accounts in Michigan and Florida. I'm happy they are now in Pinellas. I love BoA's online "bill pay" and that you can make deposits online by taking a picture of the front and back of a check. I've always gotten a "live person' when I've called them.

[fred53]

I chose Chase since they offered a generous cash incentive for opening a Chase Checking and Savings account.

account balance? Citizens is $100 for savings.....

[lanabanana73]

Went to First Avenue National Bank, today. As some have mentioned, it's a "local" bank and they offered all that I needed (mostly free checking). The two young ladies who helped us open the account we lovely and we had a great time. Highly recommend!

[CassieInVa]

I'm not sure if anyone already mentioned it, but Chase has a current promotion where they will give you $300 if you deposit a certain amount in the bank and then set up direct deposit. The only problem with them is they have a strange automated self serve teller system and there is usually a wait.

[Chatbrat]

Chase was also giving an additional $200.00 for opening up a checking account

[looneycat]

dead issue, op opened an account, used a local bank. no national support.