USAA

shan87

Did anyone else find it a challenge switching to an all online bank?

I am. H says I'll get use to it but right now I find switching our accounts and not having a branch to go into problematic.

lyonstm

Let me tell you something...

YOU WILL LOVE USAA!!! Their customer service is bar-none, and their insurance rates are the lowest I've come acros.  And if you are worried about ATM fees they refund you every month up to ten dollars.  I was skeptical at first but it is really worth it.  And you can deposit your checks via mobile or upload onto their site.  Give them a try, you won't be disappointed.

firsttimersluck

Not at all.
USAA was one of the best decisions EVER!!!
I love this bank so so much.. they make life so easy and pretty much everyone that works there is former, spouse, brat, etc, so they ALL know and respect you and what you do and what you're going through. the only thing that is tricky is not being able to deposit cash, but you can still easily take care of that.
I had bank of america. HATED THEM MORE THAN ANYTHING.
I had wells fargo, they were fine.
I will never ever go back to anything now that I have USAA.

Seriously, if it seems like a pain, call them. They will help you figure out anything, work around and difficulty, etc. They are incredible.

calindi

FI is nervous about it, but I hate trying to find a branch of my bank anyway so I can take out cash without paying fees.  And the service down here in general is absolute CRAP so I'd love to call up USAA and have someone nice to speak to!

I think we're going to wait until we're married so we can be on equal footing with USAA.  We currently have their car insurance, and they warned me that I basically have no rights - if FI wanted to drop my policy, they wouldn't even have to notify me.  Obviously I'm not afraid of that, but it would be nice to both have the right to access the account.

Alexhobbs

I not only second what these ladies said about the AWESOME experience with USAA, but I third, fourth and fifth it too! I've been a USAA car insurance member since I could drive, and I use several of their banking products now as well. I heart all of their services. They are THE BEST. I think I am even having them insure my wedding. You just can't do better, I promise! 

shan87

We'll I am on the accounts and every time I have called them they have been awesome. H and I are confident that I will get use to it (not having a branch). I hate my current bank so I am excited just going to take time.

kara811

This just gave me a thought, H and I are planning on opening another bank account when we PCS. We are currently with Navy Fed and love them but also would like to use another bank. I'm also with BofA, but you ladies seem to love USAA! I might look into this instead! 

We do have their car insurance and like PP mentioned, their rates for that are great! 

kyrgyzstan

USAA + Stan = Love

KatyRoseM

We have a second account with a not online only bank which we use for a few things.  USAA is great, but if you have a check for over 5000 you can't deposit it (or so they told us) and if you have cash same story.  Usually this isn't a problem, but we needed the other bank for the wedding. 

SamiJoeB

H and I were on each other's accounts since we got engaged, and everytime I had to call they would ask about our wedding planning, and then when I called to change my name on my account, they were like... "Oh it's done, and congratulations!!" They make my heart smile.

firsttimersluck

kara navy fed is good too.
FI had a checking, savings, and credit account through usaa and he just called them up and was like "hey I wanna put my FI on here, and open her own checking attached to it.. and give her a credit card. mmkaay? " and they were like "sure you got it!" 5 minutes later he hangs up and it's all done. 3 days later I have my debit and credit card in the mail. Easiest thing ever. And when we get married we just call them up and let them know to change the status to married, and change my name on the account. BAM! :P

crownsuperstar

I heart USAA!!! They have my insurance and I bought my house through them.  They even have realtors in the area that are certified USAA realtors!! I love them and will never go back.  We are thinking of moving our accounts to USAA as well.

LuluP82

USAA is awesome. Seriously. We have all car loan with them, our insurances (cars, house), an IRA, and all our banking stuff. They refund us all our ATM fees (we had $15 last month),and the deposit at home is great. You have to have a credit line with them though (H's' car loan is in just his name, so to deposit checks online I have to do it from his account not mine). My only annoyance with them is my checks and debit card say Mrs. Lulu and H's just says his name, and I kind of think it's sexist, but I'm sure if I ask for new ones, they'll send it to me. In the grand scheme of banking, that's a silly annoyance

We also have private bank accounts with one of the big banks through our old jobs (normally, for those accounts you need a HUGE net worth, but because they were clients, they gave them to us for free) and USAA is better than those, to give you an idea.

calindi

My friend literally just called me - she had her engagement ring insured through USAA just two weeks ago.  Today she's moving apartments and must have bumped against something and when she next looked at her ring, the center stone was gone!  She called USAA and they've already emailed her the paperwork to claim the insurance.  Literally within MINUTES!

crownsuperstar

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_military-brides_usaa?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:13Discussion:bd0743ea-4c18-4ec4-8063-cf706a0d7ab7Post:ad774652-fd4e-44ad-805f-c6e52f2a9990">Re: USAA</a>:
[QUOTE]My friend literally just called me - she had her engagement ring insured through USAA just two weeks ago.  Today she's moving apartments and must have bumped against something and when she next looked at her ring, the center stone was gone!  She called USAA and they've already emailed her the paperwork to claim the insurance.  Literally within MINUTES!
Posted by calindi[/QUOTE]

Yeah the H bought my e-ring from USAA and pretty much any jewerly that he gets me.  Like I said before...I have a love affair with USAA. 

jamie5482

Love USAA, I've had their car insurance since I first started driving and they've always been nothing but nice and accomodating. I have my engagement ring insured through them and renter's insurance too. I switched to their banking about a year ago and it's been pretty easy. I haven't had any problems and I love their mobile deposit system! No reason to go to a physical bank ever anymore. 

firsttimersluck

same. we bought our house through usaa, my ring is insured through them, and our cars as well of course. The best, with incredible rates.  hahaha shan I think it's times you accept that you have usaa... enjoy to the dark side!

shan87

I have nothing against USAA. I love what they do and I am excited to be a client and have them as a bank. My question was did anyone have problems with having online only banking.

For instance. I have a savings account with my previous bank. In order to do a wire transfer it was like $40 to our USAA account. I can't use a cashier's check because USAA doesn't accept them, I also don't have personal checks with that account since it's just a savings. It seems like any way I think of it's going to cost me money to move my accounts with bothers me. Granted I could take cash out and have my mom or FIL write us a personal check but it would have to be 3 checks, 3 different days because of their max deposit@home. I also don't want to be walking about of a bank with that much cash.


I know once my money is there I wont have problems, it's just the transition that is bugging/annoying me. 

LuluP82

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_military-brides_usaa?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:13Discussion:bd0743ea-4c18-4ec4-8063-cf706a0d7ab7Post:2ff697ef-131d-493d-949a-16c3606bf9d0">Re: USAA</a>:
[QUOTE]I have nothing against USAA. I love what they do and I am excited to be a client and have them as a bank. My question was did anyone have problems with having online only banking. For instance. I have a savings account with my previous bank. In order to do a wire transfer it was like $40 to our USAA account. I can't use a cashier's check because USAA doesn't accept them, I also don't have personal checks with that account since it's just a savings. It seems like any way I think of it's going to cost me money to move my accounts with bothers me. Granted I could take cash out and have my mom or FIL write us a personal check but it would have to be 3 checks, 3 different days because of their max deposit@home. I also don't want to be walking about of a bank with that much cash. I know once my money is there I wont have problems, it's just the transition that is bugging/annoying me. 
Posted by shan87[/QUOTE]

You can keep that account at your bank and link it to your USAA accounts. You don't have to switch all of your accounts over to USAA, and definitely not at once. We transfer money between our linked accounts ALL THE TIME and we've never once been charged (both USAA and non-USAA). Is it USAA charging you that fee or your old bank?

We have 5 savings accounts-- one with USAA, one with ING, and 3 with Citibank. We transfer money from our checking account (USAA) into ING and Citibank at least once a month, and I've never once been charged. We also transfer over from savings into USAA and have never once been charged.

I really haven't had any problems at all with not having an actual bank. I've also deposited a cashier's check to USAA when we rolled over our IRA. I had to mail it to them, but it only took 3 days for it to show up in our account.

You could also give your mom a cashier's check if you're going that route, you don't have to give her cash.

shan87

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_military-brides_usaa?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:13Discussion:bd0743ea-4c18-4ec4-8063-cf706a0d7ab7Post:232d0e6c-4ff8-47c6-bea4-2cf1b3fafb93">Re: USAA</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: USAA : You can keep that account at your bank and link it to your USAA accounts. You don't have to switch all of your accounts over to USAA, and definitely not at once. We transfer money between our linked accounts ALL THE TIME and we've never once been charged (both USAA and non-USAA). Is it USAA charging you that fee or your old bank? We have 5 savings accounts-- one with USAA, one with ING, and 3 with Citibank. We transfer money from our checking account (USAA) into ING and Citibank at least once a month, and I've never once been charged. We also transfer over from savings into USAA and have never once been charged. I really haven't had any problems at all with not having an actual bank. I've also deposited a cashier's check to USAA when we rolled over our IRA. I had to mail it to them, but it only took 3 days for it to show up in our account. You could also give your mom a cashier's check if you're going that route, you don't have to give her cash.
Posted by LuluP82[/QUOTE]

Thank you very much. I didn't know you could link accounts. I have already shut down those accounts so its too late for that. But I will keep that in mind for the future.

holthcm

I also really like USAA for lots of reasons. The customer service is fantastic. However, I still have an account with Wells Fargo and a credit union that is affiliate with my employer. I have found that the credit unions have much better interest rates on loans. My car insurance was cheaper with Gieco. However, USAA is much better than your typical bank. I just suggest shopping around to banks that are credit unions as well. 

kyrgyzstan

Shan, I have Navy Fed so I can have both a B&M bank and a credit union, just in case. I definitely love USAA more than them. They're linked to my USAA, and I easily transfer $$ in and out. USAA did just open a financial center right next to MCBCP, so I can also go there if I need to. They have a few, so check that out as well. I think it's always good to have a credit union anyway, as their interest rates on accounts and loans can often be really good, so it might be worth it to open one and link it. I would just open one that's national (like Navy Fed) so you're apt to have a branch nearish to wherever you guys end up.