Browsing for a better Buffalo bank

April 16, 2007 5:36 AM

I need to find a better bank or credit union in/around Buffalo. I currently have an HSBC account which I am not happy with.

I moved here from West Virginia to go to UB. At the beginning of my freshman year (two years ago), I opened an account with HSBC; and, for various reasons, I have not been pleased with them.
I have another account with BB&T (and am very happy with them), but their nearest branch is in Maryland.

This account would be secondary, for now, to my BB&T account. I'll be using it for very basic things (depositing small checks, etc.), and it will have a low average balance. However, in a year or two, I could easily see this account becoming my main one – if I find a good enough bank.

A fee-free debit card is really, really important because I use my current one for just about everything. (And when I do need cash, I use my debit card to get cash-back from Tops.)

Currently, I don't use ATMs for anything other than deposits, but a bank that has no ATM fees and/or reimburses ATM fees from other banks would be very nice, even if it's not really needed.

I live in West Seneca (but will probably be moving when my lease expires in August... maybe to within Buffalo proper, maybe staying in the Southtowns, or maybe even moving to Canada like my Canadian boyfriend is suggesting). I would prefer a bank with locations around West Seneca or Orchard Park.

My ideal bank/credit union has:
– free checking, with no minimum balance or direct deposit required
– free debit card
– great online interface (I hate having to go into the bank; plus, my hours don't match up with banking hours, usually.)
– ATMs that accept deposits (see above)
– good customer service
– a branch in West Seneca or Orchard Park
– no fees for ATM use

I love the idea of using a local credit union instead of a huge, evul corporation.

I've looked at the websites for Buffalo Postal Community Federal Credit Union and OPCS Federal Credit Union. They both seem like decent possibilities. Does anyone happen to be familiar with either?

Can you recommend any banks that I should check out or avoid (be it a small credit union, a regional bank, or a gigantic, international bank-beast)?
Thanks!

posted by Silly Ashles to work & money (6 comments total)

What is it about HSBC that you want to avoid in another bank?
posted by grouse at 6:14 AM on April 16, 2007

Yeah, it's kind of important to answer grouse's question before anyone can give you a good recommendation. The things you ask for are relatively common in all of the big banks (HSBC, Chase, Citi)... so the real key is finding out what you're unhappy with now that you want to change...
posted by twiggy at 9:38 AM on April 16, 2007

With HSBS, I've had problems with their website (getting locked out over and over) and they've lost a $270 check that I deposited via ATM in one of their branches. I guess I'm just angry at them about that, and I don't want to have to worry everytime I make a deposit.
posted by Silly Ashles at 5:34 PM on April 16, 2007

I see. Well, you are unlikely to find a bank that never has web site glitches or makes mistakes. So the next best thing to avoid the problems you describe would be to find a bank with 24/7 support (like HSBC) and that has ATM machines that will give you a scanned copy of your deposited check.
posted by grouse at 6:35 PM on April 16, 2007

I hate HSBC as well. They took over a well-regarded regional bank, and really mismanaged it. Some of my relatives had a very long history with Marine Midland, and since the takeover, have been in a few instances been treated unreasonably poorly.

Their website is one of the worst Ive ever used. Click three times just to get into the login screen, and make two mistakes logging in (password and mousing in a PIN) and you are frozen.

For a local bank, I'd look at M&T.

At their Williamsville location, the tellers are friendly, and if you go regularly, will recognize you and greet you by name.

They have also handled their personal and business accounts well, from what I hear from my relations still back in WNY.
posted by Maxwell_Smart at 7:06 PM on April 16, 2007

I have an account at Key, but don't like them much. I have also had a BFCU account in the past but felt the credit union was poorly managed.

I guess I have nothing to offer, but I do hear good things about some credit unions.
posted by Riverine at 3:53 PM on April 17, 2007