Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post

Spanxxx · 01-25-2006, 08:44 PM

I'm replying to this thread as a reply to the closed thread: http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showthread.php?t=99820

I'm not soliciting for anyone, but I wanted to throw out my personal experiences. I searched around for an online interest bearing checking account about 6 years ago and at the time, banks were paying very high rates (4-6% on average) and I found a bank that is actually a brick in mortar bank in MA (American Bank), who operates the online banking site pcbanker.com. When I signed up with them they were offering a 6.75% variable APY. It has fluctuated over the years, but as of right now, it is sitting at 3.0% when the national average today this week was 1.18%.

I've used this bank for the past 6 years. I've only had to physically call customer service 3 times in 6 years. At that, I probably didn't even need to do that, but I'm impatient and wanted an answer to some question immediately. When I did call, they answered the call personally and were very friendly.

This is an interest bearing CHECKING account mind you, not a savings account. I have my paycheck direct deposited to this account, and then I write 1 check out of it weekly to a local checking account my wife and I use to pay household expenses. I pay large bills and automatic drafts out of my online account and it works out quite well.

One of the coolest features this account has that I just can't be happier about is that they never charge me a fee to use another bank's ATM, and then they will actually REBATE me the fee the OTHER bank charges me - up to $6 worth of fees a month (* you have to carry at least a $1000 average balance for this feature though).

Anyway, for sailor who was originally looking into ING, I wanted to at least offer up first hand knowledge of an alternative. It isn't as an attractive APY as ING, but it isn't a savings account either. It is a checking account. So, as a suggestion, check out their American eChecking account if you like: http://pcbanker.com/personal/deposit/checking.asp

Also, a great place to get bank and rate information, is... amazingly enough:
http://www.bankrate.com

01-25-2006, 08:44 PM	#55 (permalink)
Spanxxx Psycho Location: Under my roof	I'm replying to this thread as a reply to the closed thread: http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showthread.php?t=99820 I'm not soliciting for anyone, but I wanted to throw out my personal experiences. I searched around for an online interest bearing checking account about 6 years ago and at the time, banks were paying very high rates (4-6% on average) and I found a bank that is actually a brick in mortar bank in MA (American Bank), who operates the online banking site pcbanker.com. When I signed up with them they were offering a 6.75% variable APY. It has fluctuated over the years, but as of right now, it is sitting at 3.0% when the national average today this week was 1.18%. I've used this bank for the past 6 years. I've only had to physically call customer service 3 times in 6 years. At that, I probably didn't even need to do that, but I'm impatient and wanted an answer to some question immediately. When I did call, they answered the call personally and were very friendly. This is an interest bearing CHECKING account mind you, not a savings account. I have my paycheck direct deposited to this account, and then I write 1 check out of it weekly to a local checking account my wife and I use to pay household expenses. I pay large bills and automatic drafts out of my online account and it works out quite well. One of the coolest features this account has that I just can't be happier about is that they never charge me a fee to use another bank's ATM, and then they will actually REBATE me the fee the OTHER bank charges me - up to $6 worth of fees a month (* you have to carry at least a $1000 average balance for this feature though). Anyway, for sailor who was originally looking into ING, I wanted to at least offer up first hand knowledge of an alternative. It isn't as an attractive APY as ING, but it isn't a savings account either. It is a checking account. So, as a suggestion, check out their American eChecking account if you like: http://pcbanker.com/personal/deposit/checking.asp Also, a great place to get bank and rate information, is... amazingly enough: http://www.bankrate.com __________________ I think that's what they mean by "nickels a day can feed a child." I thought, "How could food be so cheap over there?" It's not, they just eat nickels. - (supposedly) Peter Nguyen, internet hero