Banking

[New Englander]

If I wind up buying in TV, I would need to open a checking/savings account with a bank located in TV. I'm looking for recommendations on what bank there gives the best deal to us seniors?

[New Englander]

Why would you have to open a bank account in TV? Don't u do online banking?

Yes I do online banking. But if I moved to TV to live year round I would want a local bank.

[redwitch]

Citizens First. Almost everything is free there. Excellent service, great popcorn. No minimum deposits, no direct deposit required. Lots of ATMs and branches in TV but nothing outside. SunTrust another good local bank with branches throughout the South.

[dbussone]

Yes I do online banking. But if I moved to TV to live year round I would want a local bank.



Perhaps the bank you use now has a branch here, if it is a major bank (like Bank of America).


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[stan the man]

Citizens First. Almost everything is free there. Excellent service, great popcorn. No minimum deposits, no direct deposit required. Lots of ATMs and branches in TV but nothing outside. SunTrust another good local bank with branches throughout the South.

I am not complaining about the bank, or its services. Its just amazes me every time I enter one of their banks I have never seen a male employee.

[manaboutown]

Citizens First is the developer owned/controlled bank and of course has conveniently located branches and ATMs all over the development. To obtain cash from its ATMs one can use a Schwab card so you will be refunded the out of network ATM fee. It feels to me that the major banks are a stretch to get to unless one resides near a commercial area.

[villagetinker]

While I love TD bank (used them up North), the closest branch is a 45 minute drive...We use Citizens First, they have electronic banking, a Quicken interface, and ATMs in many locations. There is only one branch that is open on Saturday, Colony if I remember correctly.
As for loans and such, around 18 months ago I went out for a home equity loan, Chase (I am a long time card holder) was the highest and had the longest wait time, Citizens (existing customer) was next, and CBT was the lowest rate and could do the loan (for a new customer) in two weeks which met my needs.

[starflyte1]

Citizens First has ATMs at the mail stations. That is the reason I bank there.

[billybye]

Bank of America has treated me well, both online and at branches locally.
Platinum customers don't pay to use competition's atm's.
No need for local bank - most online use anyway

[charmed59]

Wells Fargo is pretty convienent in the Villages and seems to be very prevalent throughout the rest of the country. There are branches at Pinellas, on Parr near 466, and near Lowes on 41. The first two of those are golf cart accessible.

If you don't need a bank outside of the Villages, Citizen's First is everywhere.

[Chatbrat]

I use Chase, if you are a certain category customer, everything is free--you can use a non affiliated ATM & Chase covers the cost- and their Credit card deals are great as far as cash back is concerned

[rjm1cc]

Once you move here look for the closets bank to your home if you are just looking for a place to cash or deposit a check. Do you want a safety deposit box?

[Carla B]

Why would you have to open a bank account in TV? Don't u do online banking?

If you want to have a safe deposit box nearby you need a local bank, and close to your house, I would think.

[NYGUY]

Have used Bank of America for 27 years in Florida and have been very satisfied.

[Nucky]

Be aware of FDIC rules for the limit of $insurability$ on your funds. Check with the bank you select for a very clear explanation. We use Chase and Citizens First but at the end of this year we will decide on one or the other. Both are great but Citizens is clearly the choice if you use the ATM often. Best of luck to you on your potential move.

Almost forgot, Chase bank is offering $500 for new checking & savings accounts with a lot of small print on the agreement. Check it out, you can print the needed paperwork at home and bring it to the bank they will not print it for you.

[bandsdavis]

We have used BB&T for many years including before we moved to TV. There are a number of locations in and around TV (as well as throughout the Southeast), and at least 2 are golf cart accessible (Colony and Southern Trace). I really like their online banking, very easy to use in all respects. We have a Home Equity line with them also and it was very easy to obtain and an excellent rate.

[New Englander]

Thanks to all for your helpful information. I'm pretty sure Citizen's First would be the bank I would go to.

[SKIMAN]

moved here 5 years ago from Connecticut opened a savings account an checking with Citizen's . Have been very happy with them do not pay my bills online write a check every month works for me keeps the U S Post office working.

[JerryLBell]

Citizens First. Almost everything is free there. Excellent service, great popcorn. No minimum deposits, no direct deposit required. Lots of ATMs and branches in TV but nothing outside.
I was initially a little leery about banking with a bank owned by the Morse family. I mean, I paid them enough for the house and the CDDs and the amenities and for movie tickets at their theaters (though actually the prices are very fair), do I have to bank with them as well? I reluctantly joined because our bank (Wells Fargo) has only two locations in the area, neither all that close to our house where the Citizens bank has locations all over and lots of ATMs, including one at our mail stop. But now that I've dealt with folks at a couple of locations for several bits of business, I have to admit that they have some of the best staff I have ever encountered at any bank anywhere. And my wife likes the popcorn. So we heartily recommend them.

[JoMar]

Wells Fargo has treated me fairly for a bunch of years so I stayed with them. When we pruchased the "hard sell" for Citizens was a turn off. Their rates were equal at the time. As stated earlier, why would you change if you have a National Bank....most all of them are here someplace. Shop terms and rates and how technology advanced they are and then compare and pick the one you feel best about.

[pauld315]

I am thinking of leaving most of banking stuff as is. I hate to even think about having to setup all the automatic payments, direct deposits and online banking I do now again. I hardly ever have to go the bank in person for anything anymore so I don't see a reason I have to have a brick and mortar place to go to for most of what I do. I will move one small account I have down there just in case I have to cash a check, get a cashier's check or something like that. We'll see how that works out for awhile and adjust if needed.

[ColdNoMore]

While I have had some issues with Bank of America over the years, because of their size, plethora of locations and fairly easy online banking...I've decided to stick with them. :shrug:

[thelegges]

Have had BOA for more years than I can count. We also have a citizens account, however you must make timely deposits or your account is closed.

[baustgen]

Chase is everywhere. One in each section of the villages when the one opens up on 44. Also throughout the U.S..

[New Englander]

As stated earlier, why would you change if you have a National Bank.

I never said it was a national bank. My current bank is a small local area bank.

[EPutnam1863]

Once you move here look for the closets bank to your home if you are just looking for a place to cash or deposit a check. Do you want a safety deposit box?

Best answer.

[twoplanekid]

We stayed with our local Ohio bank for many things as I know them and they know me. Plus, we are stockholders. For a local bank we took Chase up on their $500 offer. They are both national and have many nearby locations.

[Boomer]

Be aware of FDIC rules for the limit of $insurability$ on your funds. Check with the bank you select for a very clear explanation. We use Chase and Citizens First but at the end of this year we will decide on one or the other. Both are great but Citizens is clearly the choice if you use the ATM often. Best of luck to you on your potential move.

Almost forgot, Chase bank is offering $500 for new checking & savings accounts with a lot of small print on the agreement. Check it out, you can print the needed paperwork at home and bring it to the bank they will not print it for you.

My guess is that somewhere in that small print it might say that "signing bonus" is taxable.....

I know someone who took Chase up on one of those offers, and months later, when she had forgotten all about it, an unexpected 1099 showed up. Just in case -- and I have good reason to think I am right (blush) -- you might want to make a note of it in your tax prep file so you don't already have your taxes all finished -- or almost -- and then along comes a 1099 you were not expecting and then you have to say a whole bunch of bad words.

[justjim]

We have used BB&T for many years including before we moved to TV. There are a number of locations in and around TV (as well as throughout the Southeast), and at least 2 are golf cart accessible (Colony and Southern Trace). I really like their online banking, very easy to use in all respects. We have a Home Equity line with them also and it was very easy to obtain and an excellent rate.

Another vote for BB&T. Although, no popcorn 🍿 there!

[New Englander]

Be aware of FDIC rules for the limit of $insurability$ on your funds. Check with the bank you select for a very clear explanation.


I assume you're referring to the 250k limit. I'm well aware.

[PennBF]

If your husband (and or spouse) has a credit card and you are not the primary but an agreed upon another user as a spouse then you essentially have NO credit rating and if you wanted an individual CC for yourself you would most likely be denied as you have no individual credit rating. Further as an example if the primary cc holder dies his/her spouse is responsible for the cc balance. Since at the risk of being labeled as sexist I would guess that most primary users are the husband therefore the wives have no individual credit rating and yet held responsible if they inherit the estate. Allegedly this is the case even if the spouse does the majority of the usage of the card. Am I wrong in thinking this is kind of wrong? Would appreciate it if someone straighten me out if my thinking is distorted. :ho:

[Chatbrat]

Also Chase is offering $300/$100/ cash back on some of their credit cards if you charge $500.00 in the first qtr of use--just got $337.00 cash back also you can set up auto pay-they are current giving 5% cash back on grocery purchases

Its very easy to get $2000/yr free money by using the right credit card @ the right time for almost all purchases or expenses

[Nucky]

My guess is that somewhere in that small print it might say that "signing bonus" is taxable.....

I know someone who took Chase up on one of those offers, and months later, when she had forgotten all about it, an unexpected 1099 showed up. Just in case -- and I have good reason to think I am right (blush) -- you might want to make a note of it in your tax prep file so you don't already have your taxes all finished -- or almost -- and then along comes a 1099 you were not expecting and then you have to say a whole bunch of bad words.

Thanks for the reminder Boomer. Great tip. :bigbow:

[Chatbrat]

The cash back on credit card purchases is no ntaxable

[Nucky]

The cash back on credit card purchases is no ntaxable

The one with the cash back is the Freedom Card correct? I think that's the card that replaced the Hess Card? More good info. Thanks.:clap2: