I had Simple for a while and that was great. I got push notifications instantly for every single transaction. I could transfer money to other Simple users with no fees. Their app was fast and intuitive. And importantly, they had no overdraft fees. Their budgeting tools were awesome too. When I was overdrawn, I’d actually got a push notification from support in the app asking if everything was alright with me financially. No more bullshit phone calls and no phishing attempts because they’d only ever communicate by certified mail and by the app chat.
Then they got bought out by BBVA. Then BBVA got bought out by PNC. PNC is absolute dogshit. Shit app. Overdraft fees. If your account is empty on the first, they charge you $7 to keep the account open. Just fuck all of this corporate merger shit.
I have ADHD. When the pandemic hit, I had my bills and paychecks on such an efficient autopilot from years of trial and error that I got depressed and ignored all of my bills for 6 months and when I got my shit together, my account was in the positive. The stimulus checks helped with this, but still. It was a system that worked for me that I’d put a lot of work into and helped me avoid the pitfalls of ADHD, which are frankly the things that make it feel most like a disability rather than just a neurodivergence.
So… I want to switch banks, but they just all look shitty. Any advice?
A credit union is probably going to have the fewest things like overdraft fees, but their app is probably going to be mediocre. At least you'll co-own the place.
They also have lower interest loans, but usually they have lower credit caps or ask for more collateral.
All my local ones have overdraft fees and it pisses me off because this seems like otherwise good advice
Gonna drop this here
Most credit unions with more than 1 branch are part of that shared network
My credit union still charges overdrafts, but at least they're not named after one of the most ruthless robber barons of the gilded age.
What your bank really does with your money
Like Nagarjuna said, credit unions are the least awful. But they tend to be regional, so if you need to do anything other than use a debit card, you'll want to make sure the physical locations are accessible to you.
I use a local Credit Union that is part of a co-op network, https://co-opcreditunions.org/ (you can find atm/bank locations on their site).
They claim you can use any co-op member location the same as your local location, but I've never had to try it. My Credit Union mobile app is decent, deposit checks and transfer money easy.
I didn’t even realize that non-regional ones were an option. I’ve been operating branch-less for years
Fidelity/Schwab offer a great bank with no physical branches really.
Reimbursed ATM fees at any bank in the world, free checks, no minimum balances or fees. Free infinite stop checks too.
However, overdtaft is self-funded.
Currently there is a relatively easy $100 signup bonus.
Alliant credit union has been fine so far. The app and website are fine
