How sad is this. I'm moving my money again.

In the early 1990's I had an account at a local bank called "New Jersey National Bank" based in my hometown. It was bought out by CoreStates which was in short order bought out by First Union. I decided to move to another local bank.

I moved to Farmers and Merchants National Bank, based two towns over. It was bought out by Hudson United Bank, then by TD Banknorth. We moved to another bank.

We moved to Commerce Bank, NA, based out of a city 30 minutes from me. They were bought out by TD Banknorth.

After too many bad experiences with the resulting no-longer-local bank, we're moving our money again. This time to Capital Bank of New Jersey. For a change, however, this one is based two miles up the road from me, purely local once more.

The question now is, how long will I be able to go without having another too-big-to-fail giant conglomerate swoop in and eat up my little bank, forcing me to move again? And when are we going to do something to protect the customers of these little banks from further consolidation and conglomeratization?

credit unions you could join in your area? i joined a credit union, and get free checking, and lots of other perks

You need to be employed by a member company. As someone technically unemployed, I don't qualify.

Minnesota. Not much help for you, I know, but credit unions have loosened their membership requirements in recent years.

one. At least it won't be bought out by some big banking conglomerate. (Hopefully)

But they're all closed shops around here. Capital was recommended by MoveYourMoney.info, though, so I'm pretty confident.

say that you have to be employed by so and so etc. etc. but will accept applications from local residents.

http://clarkhoward.com/

And even more on other consumer items. There are only a few banks he recommends... mostly he likes credit unions. Lots of good info on his site.

they are building a branch nearby and i may move my account from M&T to there. it may not be completely local, but we have no such bank here and at least the credit union is member oriented and gives dividends and such.

I would much rather do business with a credit union. And doing business with them really pisses off the big conglomerates.

Teddy Roosevelt is rolling in his anti-merger grave.

I've been with one for years, and they have been very stable.

I live and work on the road, moving every three weeks. I have found a small community bank to keep my meager amount of money in... It is not always easy but I have found that I am able to function even though the bank is often thousands of miles away. You possibly could find a credit union or bank outside of your community??

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then we'd have to pay a check cashing place to cash a paycheck every two weeks. And not everyone takes cash (places that aren't local, for example).

a gun next to your head.

Better to have a bank account, well I meant to say credit union account.

I've had the same one for 15 years; just took out a home equity loan from them at great rate.

They are a little backwards (we only just got on-line bill paying) and old fashioned in some respects when compared with the conglomerates, but I think its worth it.

I was with a local credit union for a while (business account for the movie theater) and their fees were just as high as the local banks. And for some things, higher.

No fees where I've been for the past 24 years.

the only drawback would be ATM charges at other banks, but I usually take out my cash during supermarket or drug store transactions so it's not often an issue.

And yes, getting cash back works too :)

I am amazed that people still patronize large banks when there are credit unions.


mark

In addition, if you live, work, attend school or worship in Ewing Township, you can also join Credit Union of New Jersey. Also, if you live in parts of Burlington County or Trenton, you are eligible to join.

If you don't see one particular group that you are affiliated with, please contact us to help you find a way to join Credit Union of New Jersey.

http://www.cunj.org/site/membership/eligibility.html

we're with a credit union - and they are wonderful! - mine just lowered my visa rate again!

People keep thinking of New Jersey as if we were just suburbs of Manhattan. Actually, New Jersey is longer from North to South than Pennsylvania is, and only 50 miles shorter than Virginia.

Besides, not every person in the country can join a credit union. We still need to protect people who can't join them or prefer banks.

one that works for us, take it or leave it...

but here's one closer to you, and they only have a fee to join per their site.

South Jersey Federal Credit Union - www.southjerseyfcu.com
106 West Landis Avenue, Vineland - (856) 691-1603


(oh, and we know NJ - quite a diverse and interesting place)

However I know from just three seconds at the website that they can't be trusted. They're advertising to get people to "opt in" for "overdraft privilege." That's a bankster cash cow where if a debit card transaction is even .01 over, they get to charge you $40.00 for putting it through anyhow. Then that $40.00 fee makes everything else you do that day be overdraft, and have to have a $40.00 fee attached to it. That's one reason I'm leaving TD Bank.

If I wanted to serve on the Board of Directors of our Credit Union all I'd have to do is ask.

Unlike a lot of us here. I concur with the others. Find a credit union ASAP.

It's going to mainly be eaten up by groceries and past due bills, but we'll have a little left over in the end.

Every credit card I had- through the alumini association, REI, a favorite NGO- each one sold their damn account to MBNA, which I then paid off and dumped.

The last time I did any banking with a big bank was the 1990s.

Local banks are generally safer. They're more tied to the community. You'll never be more than a number to a big bank, and you'll never know if your bank officers and tellers will be there when you return. They go through a lot of employees.