[silver.bullet]

We currently live in South Carolina, will be moving to TV next year and have Sun Trust accounts. Since their merger with BB&T, the new account fees for checking will run as high as $ 20.00 per month. Are there better options including local banking in TV?

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by silver.bullet

We currently live in South Carolina, will be moving to TV next year and have Sun Trust accounts. Since their merger with BB&T, the new account fees for checking will run as high as $ 20.00 per month. Are there better options including local banking in TV?

Not sure what you mean. I have had BB&T accounts for more than 20 years, and never pay any fees for the accounts. I have a free senior checking account that even provides free checks. I also have a BB&T rewards VISA credit card with no annual fee. It is very convenient to pay the credit card bill by just transferring money between two BB&T accounts online.

[Stu from NYC]

We get a better deal with our old bank in Virginia so plan to stay with them for now.

With remote deposits and everything being paid with CC have not found a need for a local bank.

[retiredguy123]

If you are going to change banks, I think the most accessible bank is Citizens First. They seem to have the most branches, and they also have ATM machines at some of The Villages mail pickup stations. I cannot imagine having to pay $20 per month for a checking account. Not me.

[vintageogauge]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

We get a better deal with our old bank in Virginia so plan to stay with them for now.

With remote deposits and everything being paid with CC have not found a need for a local bank.

It's nice to have a banking relationship locally if for no other reason easy wire transfers as they are hard to initiate out of town, no charge bank checks, free fax service, free notary public service, easy to cash a check if the need arises, lots of little things like that.

[Velvet]

I like Citizens First, myself. They call me if a large check is written, make sure I was OK with it. They keep fraud as much at bay as possible. They always answer the phone in person even during Covid. Because I travel extensively I have 3 US banks at present and 5 foreign banks but I like Citizen’s service best and Wells Fargo the absolute least.

[CWGUY]

At one time free apples! Now just

[retiredguy123]

I once got a set of Corningware to buy a CD. Those days are gone.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by vintageogauge

It's nice to have a banking relationship locally if for no other reason easy wire transfers as they are hard to initiate out of town, no charge bank checks, free fax service, free notary public service, easy to cash a check if the need arises, lots of little things like that.

Thanks have considered most of that.

Easy to do wire transfers with them from here, no cost for checks and can easily transfer funds electronically.

Can fax by computer using an interesting service called efax. Allows me to send and receive faxes anywhere in the world.

The only thing we are missing is safe deposit box and we are considering purchasing a safe.

[davem4616]

Our primary banking institution down here in TV is the Campus USA Credit Union. We use this bank for all of our incoming direct deposits and for our 'bill payer' activity. There's a branch near Brownwood on Rt 44 and another just over the line in Summerfield on Rt 441/27.
We still maintain accounts with a Credit Union up north, as that's were my business accounts are and this makes it easy to transfer $$$ when needed between them.

When we first relocated full time to FL we only had the credit union up north...once and awhile scanning checks in became a hassle and we needed a bank with a safety deposit box nearby....so eventually we made the leap and went local

We have 'mad money' in People's First Bank in TV, lots of branches...we also rent a safety deposit box from them. When we had a mortgage we used them.

We have had accounts with Chase and Sun Trust since relocating to TV but we didn't care for the 'big bank' experience so we closed those accounts.

[Dond1959]

Have used VyStar credit union for over 40 years as primary checking and savings account. Have one branch on 466a but a large network of free atm’s. Never had any issues.

[Villageswimmer]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

If you are going to change banks, I think the most accessible bank is Citizens First. They seem to have the most branches, and they also have ATM machines at some of The Villages mail pickup stations. I cannot imagine having to pay $20 per month for a checking account. Not me.

Same here. No checking account fees. Free notary service. They couldn’t be nicer.

[vintageogauge]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

Thanks have considered most of that.

Easy to do wire transfers with them from here, no cost for checks and can easily transfer funds electronically.

Can fax by computer using an interesting service called efax. Allows me to send and receive faxes anywhere in the world.

The only thing we are missing is safe deposit box and we are considering purchasing a safe.

And notary service not to mention free popcorn.

[Mleeja]

I like Citizen Bank as well. In addition to agreeing with the other posters, if you have an issue with your debit or credit card and call the bank you are working with someone local.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by vintageogauge

And notary service not to mention free popcorn.

My old bank offered free cookies on Fridays, when we are able to visit they will owe me quite a few cookies/

Have nothing to notarized so not something we need