Which bank?
Well, I think BofA just put a nail in its coffin with me. A 20 year affilliation, all the way back to Barnett Bank will be coming to an end.
They pissed me off when they began working with illegal aliens. Taking bailout money. Now I learned that they were responsible for helping the Obama campaign take foreign donations for his '08 election!!!! And, the end of ends, their corporate policy is not to work with the gun industry, ala McMillan Industries.
I'm done. Ashame I just ordered a box of checks or I would be moving everything this weekend.
So which bank to use? No credit unions...
Chase? Wells Fargo? (prob not) Suntrust? Another?
Chase and Wells Fargo are thieving, corrupt companies...especially chase. Are you eligible for USAA? (Prior or current .mil service)? If you are they are the ONLY way to go. Free checking, free ATM (ANY ATM, ANYWHERE..even those "$3 to use it at the movie theatre" types...they will refund you any and all fees up to $15 a month. Mobile deposit and banking on android and iphone.....sweeeeeet.
Personally - I'm done with the big banks.
You must have a good local/regional option.
Customer service with the smaller banks should uniformly be superior.
Originally Posted By luvmyglock:
Chase and Wells Fargo are thieving, corrupt companies...especially chase. Are you eligible for USAA? (Prior or current .mil service)? If you are they are the ONLY way to go. Free checking, free ATM (ANY ATM, ANYWHERE..even those "$3 to use it at the movie theatre" types...they will refund you any and all fees up to $15 a month. Mobile deposit and banking on android and iphone.....sweeeeeet.
Got a link for the USAA info? I'm a credit union member but I'm getting killed by fees every month.
Another vote for USAA. Best thing to ever happen for my financial life. As a young l/cpl they helped educate me and kept me from making a lot of bone head mistakes. Now that I am out they are still just as good as ever.
+1 for USAA. They are really awesome to deal with. Check out www.usaa.com.
You do not need military affiliation to use USAA Bank. Only need military ties for property and casualty products like homeowners insurance, auto ins, renters, etc. All bank products (checking, savings, credit card, mortgage), investments, life insurance are open to everyone. Since this is a FL forum I will mention that USAA has stopped issuing homeowners policies in our state.
I'm out on USAA or prob woulda done that along time ago.
I'm kinda of leaning Suntrust. It's still big enough that I can find a branch anywhere in the state. Shying away from the credit union b/c they charge fees for a lot of the stuff I want to use like bill pay, checking, debit card....
Local Community Bank.
We use MainStreet Bank in DeLand.
Originally Posted By MJDGator:
You do not need military affiliation to use USAA Bank. Only need military ties for property and casualty products like homeowners insurance, auto ins, renters, etc. All bank products (checking, savings, credit card, mortgage), investments, life insurance are open to everyone. Since this is a FL forum I will mention that USAA has stopped issuing homeowners policies in our state.
My mistake. I forgot about not needing mil affiliation to bank there. Oops.
As far as the homeowners policies goes; I am glad. Their rates were stupid. I went with a good reputable local homeowners ins company. Thanks for correcting me on the membership info.
Originally Posted By urbanredneck:
I'm out on USAA or prob woulda done that along time ago.
I'm kinda of leaning Suntrust. It's still big enough that I can find a branch anywhere in the state. Shying away from the credit union b/c they charge fees for a lot of the stuff I want to use like bill pay, checking, debit card....
Really depends on the credit union I'd think. I've been with Navy Federal for years, no fees and good rates on loans/credit cards. There are better cc reward programs out there but the convenience of one stop online banking/bill pay has kept me loyal.
Pretty sure Suncoast Schools is the same way.
Suntrust stuck it up mine 20 years ago, so screw them.
I'm happy with Credit Unions, I'm in Space Coast, wifes in a Teachers Credit Union.
My personal take is; If they can afford a big Highrise downtown, they're getting too much of my money
No Banks.
Although the glowing reviews of USAA have me thinking, since they already have my car insurance and morgage!
There are only 2 banks that haven't pissed me off too much... most well known banks suck out loud... The only possible exception is PNC Bank. I would recommend them as a reasonable general use bank. They have a lot of locations and are generally easy to find. IIRC, they did not get any "bail out" funds...
A less known bank that I happen to be rather fond of is "5th/3rd" (
link). They don't have a lot of branches and don't generally saturate the market in areas where you can find them. They are the closest thing to an old fashioned bank that I have found... They also received no bail out - they didn't need one - they stayed with tried and true banking practices when the other sheep banks were getting creative with mortgage writing during the feeding frenzy that was the real estate boom/bust.
Originally Posted By Reorx:
There are only 2 banks that haven't pissed me off too much... most well known banks suck out loud... The only possible exception is PNC Bank. I would recommend them as a reasonable general use bank. They have a lot of locations and are generally easy to find. IIRC, they did not get any "bail out" funds...
A less known bank that I happen to be rather fond of is "5th/3rd" (
link). They don't have a lot of branches and don't generally saturate the market in areas where you can find them. They are the closest thing to an old fashioned bank that I have found... They also received no bail out - they didn't need one - they stayed with tried and true banking practices when the other sheep banks were getting creative with mortgage writing during the feeding frenzy that was the real estate boom/bust.
5/3 Bank gets another vote. I used them for a long time in Cincy and never had issues, customer service was excellent. I've been with BofA since moving to FL and I don't like them at all...now that 5/3 is has a branch local to me I'm planning to open an account there very soon and begin the changeover process.
There are two things that need to be pointed out.
1. Very few banks allow guns. 5/3 for example has an official company policy that states:
"Thank you for using Fifth Third Banking and for providing us the opportunity to service your needs. In response to your recent inquiry, the safety of our customers is important to Fifth Third Bank. To limit the anxiety and concerns of the majority of our customers, we have chosen not to allow the carrying of concealed weapons in our banking centers.
Kathy H. Fifth Third Internet Bank"
2. Anne Pace from BoA made a statement that they have no policy that prohibits them from doing business with anyone in the firearms industry. Also, BoA just did 250M deal with Freedom Group.
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-04-12/news/sns-rt-markets-uscorpbondsl2e8fcdm6-20120412_1_senior-notes-high-yield-market-municipal-bonds
So, we have two different stories... Too early to pass judgement IMO.
BOA sucks for other reasons.
My wife has family in South America who travel here frequently. They opend an account with BOA to keep cash available here for when they are in the country. They put my wife on the account to administer it.
Come for a visit, go to the bank for some cash, no money.
BOA explains that they withdrew the entire account in Brazil.
No one in the family has been to Brazil. Ever. After a long and protracted battle, threats of lawsuits, BOA finally agrees to refund the money, since they can produce zero evidence of the Brazil transaction, other than a computer generated tally sheet.
Account was closed immediately, on the spot and the funds placed in another facility.
For a year afterwards, we received threatening letters that we owed account fees on the non existant account, threatening to send us to collections for past due fees, in spite of us going diligently each time we recieved a letter down to the branch, showing them the account closed statement with their own signatures on it, and their promises to rectify the problem.
Populated by incompetent idiots, screw BOA
I like PNC. Free checking although they raised the minimum balance for the premium stuff. It's only $1500, though. No problem with concealed weapons and they've had this sign on the door for years:
Fuck Trayvon.
BB&T has treated me very well. I will not bank with the BOA's, Wells, Chase, etc.
If you change your mind about credit unions, and were in the military or know someone who was, Navy Fed gets my vote!!
Fuck BOA, I left them back in 05! I left them before it was cool

We left PNC about 4 years ago. Their on line transfer policies cost us $$$$ because they had a 48-72 hour delay, which no one knew about. This was not a policy that Fidelity Federal nor National City had, it came in with PNC. Of course any money coming out was instantaneous....................
I'm currently with BB&T and Navy Fed. Both have been go so far. Wells Fargo screwed me a few years back and I never looked back.
Originally Posted By PiercedJD:
Originally Posted By urbanredneck:
I'm out on USAA or prob woulda done that along time ago.
I'm kinda of leaning Suntrust. It's still big enough that I can find a branch anywhere in the state. Shying away from the credit union b/c they charge fees for a lot of the stuff I want to use like bill pay, checking, debit card....
Really depends on the credit union I'd think. I've been with Navy Federal for years, no fees and good rates on loans/credit cards. There are better cc reward programs out there but the convenience of one stop online banking/bill pay has kept me loyal.
Pretty sure Suncoast Schools is the same way.
Same here, I've been with Navy Federal for over 15 years and I have been extremely satisfied with all the services I've had to use.
Originally Posted By JB55:
BB&T has treated me very well. I will not bank with the BOA's, Wells, Chase, etc.
I’m done with Wells Fargo. I got a recommendation for BB&T. Thanks for answering my question before I even asked!

Originally Posted By SSMdive:
There are two things that need to be pointed out.
1. Very few banks allow guns. 5/3 for example has an official company policy that states:
"Thank you for using Fifth Third Banking and for providing us the opportunity to service your needs. In response to your recent inquiry, the safety of our customers is important to Fifth Third Bank. To limit the anxiety and concerns of the majority of our customers, we have chosen not to allow the carrying of concealed weapons in our banking centers.
Kathy H. Fifth Third Internet Bank"
2. Anne Pace from BoA made a statement that they have no policy that prohibits them from doing business with anyone in the firearms industry. Also, BoA just did 250M deal with Freedom Group.
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-04-12/news/sns-rt-markets-uscorpbondsl2e8fcdm6-20120412_1_senior-notes-high-yield-market-municipal-bonds
So, we have two different stories... Too early to pass judgement IMO.
McMillan Rifles
Phoenix, Arizona ––(Ammoland.com)- McMillan Fiberglass Stocks, McMillan Firearms Manufacturing and McMillan Group International have been collectively banking with Bank of America for 12 years.
Today Mr. Ray Fox, Senior Vice President, Market Manager, Business Banking, Global Commercial Banking came to my office. He scheduled the meeting as an “account analysis” meeting in order to evaluate the two lines of credit we have with them. He spent 5 minutes talking about how McMillan has changed in the last 5 years and have become more of a firearms manufacturer than a supplier of accessories.
At this point I interrupted him and asked “Can I possible save you some time so that you don’t waste your breath? What you are going to tell me is that because we are in the firearms manufacturing business you no longer what my business.”
“That is correct” he says.
I replied “That is okay, we will move our accounts as soon as possible. We can find a 2nd Amendment friendly bank that will be glad to have our business. You won’t mind if I tell the NRA, SCI and everyone one I know that BofA is not firearms industry friendly?”
“You have to do what you must” he said.
“So you are telling me this is a politically motivated decision, is that right?”
Mr Fox confirmed that it was. At which point I told him that the meeting was over and there was nothing let for him to say.
I think it is import for all Americans who believe in and support our 2nd amendment right to keep and bear arms should know when a business does not support these rights. What you do with that knowledge is up to you. When I don’t agree with a business’ political position I can not in good conscience support them.
We will soon no longer be accepting Bank of America credit cards as payment for our products.
Kelly D McMillan
Director of Operations
McMillan Group International, LLC
623-582-9635
I've been with Suntrust for 7 years now, and they've always been good. And they don't change names every three weeks.
Not sure what their position on CCW is, because I carry concealed and don't really care about their feelings.
Bank United dumped me after 3 years because I was in the firearms business. They knew what I did when I signed up, because I put it on all the papers. I am now with BB&T, and am VERY happy with them. BB&T went out of their way to bring me onboard and get me up and running after Bank United literally left me without a business account overnight.
Originally Posted By MJDGator:
Since this is a FL forum I will mention that USAA has stopped issuing homeowners policies in our state unless you are on active duty orders or retire to the state right after active duty..
Fixed it for you. Almost got caught in that mess. Thankfully we had builders insurance on the house at the time and they allowed it to get converted. They were initially going to not do that but had a change of heart.
Dan
Originally Posted By AGR1279:
Originally Posted By MJDGator:
Since this is a FL forum I will mention that USAA has stopped issuing homeowners policies in our state unless you are on active duty orders or retire to the state right after active duty..
Fixed it for you. Almost got caught in that mess. Thankfully we had builders insurance on the house at the time and they allowed it to get converted. They were initially going to not do that but had a change of heart.
Dan
Ahhh touche. Thats what is good about USAA. I have seen several instances where they do whats right for the member not necessarily the company.
Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile
Originally Posted By Narcoholic:
Originally Posted By SSMdive:
There are two things that need to be pointed out.
1. Very few banks allow guns. 5/3 for example has an official company policy that states:
"Thank you for using Fifth Third Banking and for providing us the opportunity to service your needs. In response to your recent inquiry, the safety of our customers is important to Fifth Third Bank. To limit the anxiety and concerns of the majority of our customers, we have chosen not to allow the carrying of concealed weapons in our banking centers.
Kathy H. Fifth Third Internet Bank"
2. Anne Pace from BoA made a statement that they have no policy that prohibits them from doing business with anyone in the firearms industry. Also, BoA just did 250M deal with Freedom Group.
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-04-12/news/sns-rt-markets-uscorpbondsl2e8fcdm6-20120412_1_senior-notes-high-yield-market-municipal-bonds
So, we have two different stories... Too early to pass judgement IMO.
McMillan Rifles
Phoenix, Arizona ––(Ammoland.com)- McMillan Fiberglass Stocks, McMillan Firearms Manufacturing and McMillan Group International have been collectively banking with Bank of America for 12 years.
Today Mr. Ray Fox, Senior Vice President, Market Manager, Business Banking, Global Commercial Banking came to my office. He scheduled the meeting as an “account analysis” meeting in order to evaluate the two lines of credit we have with them. He spent 5 minutes talking about how McMillan has changed in the last 5 years and have become more of a firearms manufacturer than a supplier of accessories.
At this point I interrupted him and asked “Can I possible save you some time so that you don’t waste your breath? What you are going to tell me is that because we are in the firearms manufacturing business you no longer what my business.
“That is correct” he says.
I replied “That is okay, we will move our accounts as soon as possible. We can find a 2nd Amendment friendly bank that will be glad to have our business. You won’t mind if I tell the NRA, SCI and everyone one I know that BofA is not firearms industry friendly?”
“You have to do what you must” he said.
“So you are telling me this is a politically motivated decision, is that right?”
Mr Fox confirmed that it was. At which point I told him that the meeting was over and there was nothing let for him to say.
I think it is import for all Americans who believe in and support our 2nd amendment right to keep and bear arms should know when a business does not support these rights. What you do with that knowledge is up to you. When I don’t agree with a business’ political position I can not in good conscience support them.
We will soon no longer be accepting Bank of America credit cards as payment for our products.
Kelly D McMillan
Director of Operations
McMillan Group International, LLC
623-582-9635
Yes, you have posted why people are rallying against BoA..... My post was to show that, like in most cases, there is another side to the story.
1. BoA has no official policy against guns
2. And just did a REALLY large deal with a gun company.
I can't speak to the authenticity of either claim.... Just putting the other side out there.
Also, some claimed 5/3rd was a 'gun friendly' bank... And that is just not true.
I recommend Florida Bank if they have any branches near you. You can use any Publix ATM.
I use 5th 3rd, for my personal and small business accounts.
They know, from my LLC name, that I deal with firearms. Never had an issue.