I hate big banks.
I loathe them. I think that more often than not they're claiming to provide services that are designed more fleece the general consumer than they are providing any kind of useful service to them. I recognize the need for the large banks in our economy, but believe that for the most part they're more interested in providing service to larger accounts while they use the peons for fodder.
Certainly the current reaction to the tightening of credit laws is evidence of this, IMNSHO.
I believe that for the average consumer, everything that they'd want from a bank can be more reasonably arranged via a credit union. And with a little investigation it's usually easy to find a credit union that will have nearly as much selection of local ATMs as any of the big banks.
Personally, I've hated big banks since M&T closed my account when my direct deposit stopped because I was fired. Without notifying me. And then accepted a several thousand dollar deposit, in cash, to that same account. And held the money for a week, because it takes that long to get it out of a closed account, apparently.
But that's neither here, nor there.
The one problem I have with the small community credit union I use is that they don't have any cash in the office. They have ATMs, and agreements with several other banks/CU in the area for free ATM use, but they cannot simply withdraw funds from your account and then have the teller hand you cash.
Nor can they change your $10 bill into a roll of quarters.
So for laundry day I need some quarters. My building has a small laundry facility, but no dollar bill changer. No problem, just have to get the quarters ahead of time. Normally I go in to a convenient bank, and exchange an engraving of Alexander Hamilton for a roll of embossed metal discs honoring George Washington.
Today I went to Holy Shit! The British are Coming! for this minor exchange.
And spent five minutes, once I got the discs, trying to explain to the teller that I don't care to get one of her bank's credit cards. Nor do I wish to open an account with them. Nor do I need to open a money market account. Nor do I want to refinance my mortgage. :Shake:
I think that they have just become an inconvenient bank, for any future purposes.