Best Bank in NYC?

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FACS

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I need to open a bank account in NYC. Anyone have a preference for which bank offers the best rates/terms for a checking account? Any info would be much appreciated.

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i think citibank is pretty good

i see a lot of branches everywhere which would make it convenient at the very least!
 
HSBC.

Interestingly, in Chinatown in Manhattan, there is an HSBC that looks like a pagoda or a Chinese temple, with all the lettering in Chinese save for "HSBC". This is interesting because HSBC is the "Hong Kong Shanghai Banking Corporation" - they have a symbol that you will see during many Jackie Chan movies, and the US national headquarters are in Buffalo NY - where the Sabres play WAS the Marine Midland Arena, until HSBC bought MM out, and now it's the "HSBC Arena". On the very top, there is this same HSBC symbol that is visible to planes flying overhead.

180px-Hsbc.png


maps
 
Why support Hong Kong when you can put your money in the oldest bank in New York, Bank of New York.

Plus it has the coolest acronym ever: BONY. 🙂
 
I like Washington Mutual.

Open an account with $1 (which is more than most M4s are worth).
Free checking.
Free check printing.
Free ATM withdrawals from other people's ATMs (but you still pay the surcharge, i.e. Wamu doesn't charge you).
Based in Seattle (which gets less rain than NY), but branches in NY and the close in tristate area (but not upstate, southern NJ, central CT, e.g.)
Friendly staff.

www.wamu.com

Could always go with one of the humungo banks like:

1. Citi (local, has high rate internet savings account something ~4.5%, must be opened online)
2. Chase (local)
3. HSBC (HK via Buffalo, also has high rate internet account must - open online)
4. Bank of America (Charlotte, NC, has free checking with direct deposit)
 
free checking and free check printing? thats awesome.

does wamu have free online bill pay as well?
 
Ok so i just checked the WaMu website.

Free checking details:
no monthly fee
no minimum balance
free check printing for account life
free atm withdrawal on wamu's side of things
free online banking and bill pay
free outgoing wire transfer
no interest earned on account

My plan is to open a WaMu account for all bill paying and day to day banking needs.

For earning a percent return on savings, open a savings account either at wamu or at some other bank. Checking accounts dont usually pay much interest anyway.
 
inositide said:
For earning a percent return on savings, open a savings account either at wamu or at some other bank. Checking accounts dont usually pay much interest anyway.

Just open a linked internet savings account at ING Direct or Emigrant direct. They are both around 4. something ish.

www.ingdirect.com
www.emigrantdirect.com
 
FACS said:
I need to open a bank account in NYC. Anyone have a preference for which bank offers the best rates/terms for a checking account? Any info would be much appreciated.
I am a new yorker, i like to make things as easy as possible, so no matter what interest rate the bank offers(they are all almost low anyway), i pick the bank that has an ATM inside the hospital that i work. See, i eat out a lot, and constantly need cash. So during residency it would be nice to have the ATM's bank account to save the extra charges. Also, most banks in NYC are pretty good, security wise. I have gotten robbed twice, credit cards stolen, mugged, but the banks took care of it easily.
 
citibank would be the best bank to open in NYC... you can link to their on-line savings account that is now paying a whopping 4.75%... way higher than ingdirect...
 
GoPistons said:
citibank would be the best bank to open in NYC... you can link to their on-line savings account that is now paying a whopping 4.75%... way higher than ingdirect...


4.75% ? That IS good. Is it a permanent rate or a short term offer? How long have they been offering it?

Do they charge a monthly fee for a checking account? Opening fee for a savings account? Tell me more.
 
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