Which Bank would you choose?

[AlexElder]

Which bank do you bank(s) with?
What do you like about it the most?
Do you think it is the "best" bank out there?
What is your definition of "best"?

These are just a few questions that come to mind when choosing banks. A lot of people feel very passionate about banks because basically their product is your money.

I just wanted to start a discussion about this because I know a lot of people who hate this or that bank without knowing why or love this bank for no reason either.

Also, does anyone know if rfd supports polls?

[letmesearch]

Which bank do you bank(s) with?
What do you like about it the most?
Do you think it is the "best" bank out there?
What is your definition of "best"?


I bank with BMO, TD (free iPod), ING and soon to be PC.
I hate BMO, charges for not consolidating my monthly statements, charges for depositing US cheque, charges for not having my chequing as my "primary account" - basically they use my lack of knowledge about all their hidden fees to nail me.
I only stay with BMO for teller service and because my mom banks there so we have a banker there who will cut us deals on most things.
Best bank would have to be ING if they added teller service.
Best for me is a bank with both teller and online service. The online service needs to be well implemented. I also would want teller services on Saturday should the need arrise.
I think TD's banking hours and teller service, ING's online setup and PC's interest rates and accounts would be the "best" bank. :cheesygri

[pitz]

I found the one with the best customer service I could find (TD), and then figured out how to get their service for free (Line of Credit).

On the brokerage/investment side of things, my favourite is Interactive Brokers. But they have very strict elgibility criteria.

[angelove]

TD - despite their high charges they're basically EVERYWHERE I go! Talk about convenience (that could be a bad thing...) and service. Their customer service is really excellent and the free ipod deal right now is an interesting incentive.

I walked down Queen St. and passed 3 tds and couldn't find one cibc/pcf. XD

[simms]

If I wasn't cheap, TD.

Otherwise I'm surprised there aren't more PC fans in here..

[lesnar]

http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=288207&highlight=bank

[Cas77]

If I wasn't cheap, TD.

Otherwise I'm surprised there aren't more PC fans in here..


I guess I'm cheap too since I'm with PC. I have a big problem getting around the idea of paying someone to hold on to my hard-earned money.

Mortgage is with RBC as they offered me the best rate.

[bananaman]

I like TD because the web banking is very convenient. I am able to check my Mutual Fund portfolio, pay my visa bill, monitor my checking account, and quickly transfer money without having to leave this chair.

It also helps that if you're a long time customer. I've been able to cut out some deals such as free cheques and no fee chequing accounts.

[nites]

I have been dealing with scotia bank for past 3 years and ever since they cjanged their staff at square 1, horrible. They are not gud at keeping existing customers. Switched to TD. Very good so far. Good service!

[cdnNick]

I switched to PC when I was a student, I was sick of BMO service fees for basically nothing since i used online/ATM banking. I'd pay about $15-20/month in service fees, now I spend about $5-6 every few months and I get some interest that I can notice, not 2.5 cents.

[daveinmtl]

I used to use National Bank but switched to CIBC a few years ago... they give me great service!

[CSK'sMom]

TD for us. Their online banking is really good and I can't remember the last time it was down. I can do everything from here and hubby really likes the branch hrs. No more rushing to the bank on payday. We have our mortgage with TD as well.

[myapple]

I switched to PC when I was a student, I was sick of BMO service fees for basically nothing since i used online/ATM banking. I'd pay about $15-20/month in service fees, now I spend about $5-6 every few months and I get some interest that I can notice, not 2.5 cents.
um..you do know BMO gives student FREE banking, right? All you have to do is ask for the discount at your local branch.

[YnD]

Scotiabank for its customer service, easy online banking, and unlimited transactions for maintaining the monthly amount in your account.

Great student plans too.

[89fan]

I agree with the above poster regarding Scotiabank.

However there are some things I don't like which might cause me to switch.

*Scotia Mutual Funds suck compared to TD and Royal
*There hours suck, I moved my investmenst and account to a branch that is open till 8 on thurs and Fri, However I have just discovered only the tellers stay till 8, not the bankers >:(

If I switch it will probably be to TD, unless I happen to move to a neighbourhood that has another bank close by that has good hours.

[gqbluez]

I've got 4 different accounts. but my main account is with TD. Love the service and the convenience of having one just around every corner. They are like starbucks! Plus if I maintain over $1500 a month I get my fee waived even though Im a student and would pay half of the 7 bucks anyways.

I will soon be moving a large sum of money to PC for their new high interest savings account though. Probably within the next two weeks.

[CSR]

I've got 4 different accounts. but my main account is with TD. Love the service and the convenience of having one just around every corner. They are like starbucks! Plus if I maintain over $1500 a month I get my fee waived even though Im a student and would pay half of the 7 bucks anyways.

I will soon be moving a large sum of money to PC for their new high interest savings account though. Probably within the next two weeks.

You can get the value account which is a min. of $1000 only.

[gqbluez]

You can get the value account which is a min. of $1000 only.

I need the extra transactions.. :)

[me2]

I need the extra transactions.. :)


I like the Value account.

But since you want more transactions, go for the Value Plus account.
You'll get 25 trasc but will have maintain $2000 every day of the month.

[ramaslamma]

I am a fan of TD a great bank. They were the first bank to offer me a credit card and they increased my limit easily within moments when I requested the change. IMO their online banking is the most convenient, but a bit laggy for not showing many transactions. Their rates are cheap as well. No thanks to crappy BMO which charged the hell out of me for tiny little things and their ****** service of wrongfully debiting/crediting various funds in my account when I made several bill payments. Oh the head ache. The only good thing I've seen from BMO is their Air Miles promotion, Air Miles which allowed me to get my first Console/............Xbox.

[AG300]

I use TD for my main chequing, line or credit and use BMO for secondary chequing, savings and mortuage. Overall I like TD better because they are eveywhere and have longer service hours at Branches than BMO, which closes at 4pm! :mad:

[gman]

I use CIBC. I had Royal bank, TD, BMO, CIBC when I was student. There was no charge for having many bank accounts back then.

Right now, I only use CIBC. I dislike Royal Bank and BMO.

I use CIBC because their ATM is everywhere in where I live and work. They provided good service to me so far. I don't know if other bank would do the same thing but CIBC send a lady to my home after hour to arrange my mortgage. I have no complaint about their service.

[maniacshopper]

TD is alright, but if you're an employee, they treat you like $hit. No smile, just do ****, very little talking.

I don't bank with TD anymore. TD tends to screw people over.
examples. TD acquire Canada Trust, cut late hours to close early.
TD Waterhouse acquires Ameritrade, cut early mkt and afterhour trades, replace with $hit webbroker. While in the states, they have TD Ameritrade. Raised commission from 10.99 to 14.99
I moved my account.

CIBC tends to screw things up in their backoffice, which pisses current and new clients off. Anyone hear of the faxes that went to a scrap yard in the states, was on CTV a couple of years ago.

I bank with PC. But problem is no branch/teller support. All DIY, meaning ATM, online. Which is alright, they have telebanking. So far, happy.
They won't certify cheques.

RBC charges fees, no minimum balance to waive fees.
Mortgage rates are good. Many ways to pay your mortgage, good with loans, especially student loans. At least for me.

BMO is ok. Not too many problems with them, just the ATM near my home is always out of order. Looks like it came from the 70's, any I wasn't even walking yet.

[blink]

My vote is for Citizens Bank!

I have a Chequing/Savings account and an Ultimate Savings account... combined, I get all the benefits of no-fee banking, with higher interest (always 0.05% higher then ING) with free cheques. I think I only get capped at machine withdrawals at 4 per month per account (so 8 in total) but I rarely do withdrawals for cash anyhow. It is just like PCF except you don't have to wait for your money to transfer between your own accounts (PCF is at least 24 hours for savings -> chequing), you can actually do bill payments straight from your ultimate savings account and no holds on deposits (I hear some people have that problem with PCF). Plus, you get the peace of mind that they have your community and environment in mind (4% of their pre-tax profits goes directly to charities the members vote on).

I still have my PCF account b/c I can easily transfer between the two accounts. I also have an ING account. My TD account was closed long ago d/t service fees and minimum balances.

Edit: Granted, there are more CIBC ATMs then the credit union circle that I use for Citizens Bank. But there is a credit union right next to my place, so I can't complain about that.

[ilfsoy]

TD is alright, but if you're an employee, they treat you like $hit. No smile, just do ****, very little talking.

I don't bank with TD anymore. TD tends to screw people over.
examples. TD acquire Canada Trust, cut late hours to close early.
TD Waterhouse acquires Ameritrade, cut early mkt and afterhour trades, replace with $hit webbroker. While in the states, they have TD Ameritrade. Raised commission from 10.99 to 14.99
I moved my account.

CIBC tends to screw things up in their backoffice, which pisses current and new clients off. Anyone hear of the faxes that went to a scrap yard in the states, was on CTV a couple of years ago.

I bank with PC. But problem is no branch/teller support. All DIY, meaning ATM, online. Which is alright, they have telebanking. So far, happy.
They won't certify cheques.

RBC charges fees, no minimum balance to waive fees.
Mortgage rates are good. Many ways to pay your mortgage, good with loans, especially student loans. At least for me.

BMO is ok. Not too many problems with them, just the ATM near my home is always out of order. Looks like it came from the 70's, any I wasn't even walking yet.

You do know PCF is part of CIBC, right?