Banks

[escargonaut]

I'm moving to Pittsburgh this summer for graduate school and am deciding on a bank. In the past, I've had better luck with smaller banks than with Bank America (or whichever local bank is gunning to become the local Bank America branch), so that's what I'm looking for. The most recent comparative listing of banks I've found is 5 years old, so I

Comments

[dellanotte]

good question,. i've been meaning to ask that as well.

[qlarue]

I have and love Dollar Bank but I don't know if there are any branches out that way. But, as a student, you will probably get a lot of recommendations for PNC.

[relena_wolf]

I concur :) Of course, I may be a bit biased since my Dad has been an employee there for somewhere around 30 years. Even when my Mom was employed with Mellon, though, we kept all our household funds with Dollar.

If you'd prefer even smaller than Dollar, check out the other banks that are a part of the Freedom Alliance: http://www.freedomatm.com/. Dollar is considered a regional bank, so they have branches from here to Cleveland, neighborhood banks will take you even more local. All of the banks on that list are regional or smaller, most offer web banking, and you can use any ATM in the network free of charge if you find there isn't a bank near you.

[a_silver_lining]

I like Iron & Glass Bank on the South Side. I've always had accounts there. The people are nice and they should have everything you need.

[attraction83]

no bank of america in pittsburgh. just wait though.

=)

[oreofuchi]

I love PNC so much that when I moved to New York, I kept it.

If you have direct deposit and pay bills online, they give you free interest checking. At a very very low interest rate, but still.