3.5 stars across
114 reviews
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terrible rates, high fees, awful customer service
This review is for: Bank of America
I've been a Bank of America customer for 32 years. Originally a Baybank customer, they got bought by Fleet, which got bought by BankBoston, which got bought by BoA.
Over the years, the rates kept going down and the customer service got worse and worse. I continually moved more of my money and banking to another bank (Schwab) and recently decided to close the account completely.
The last straw was recently they changed the terms of their checking account. To get the new terms, they said I add to open a completely new account, wait for it to be activated, transfer my money, and then call back and close the old account. If I forgot to close the old account, I'd be charged a low balance fee.
Not worth my time. The only reason to have a BoA account is for their ATM network, but Schwab (and many other banks) reimburse fees and treat their customers better. In addition, I'm now getting 0.50% on my checking account (my BoA account had 0%) and 1.25% on my savings (BoA was 0.20%).
Posted by drew -- July 23, 2010
Bank of America Hit or Miss
This review is for: Bank of America
My experience with Bank of America has been hit or miss. I have been a Bank of America customer since 2007. I opened an account when I moved to San Antonio because I already had my auto loan through Bank of America and because they offered “safe send” whereby I could send money to family members in Mexico for no fee. Those features have not disappointed me; however, other inconveniences have disappointed me with their service.
There are several features I often use with my account that make it very convenient. For instance, Bank of America recently installed ATMs that accept cash and check deposits very quickly and easily. I use this for almost all of my deposits now because I work banker’s hours, making it hard to get to the bank before they close. Now I do not have to. Additionally, I can easily transfer money to other Bank of America customers (like my husband and my mother) and I can send money to my husband’s family in Mexico without a fee.
Bank of America has disappointed me lately, however. First of all, with their standard account, Bank of America does not offer debit cards with rewards programs like some banks (i.e. Chase). Also, when I recently changed my name to my married name and opened a joint account with my husband, it took three trips to the bank to make that happen correctly.
Overall, I do not have many big complaints about Bank of America, but I also do not feel like they have done a lot to convince me that it is the best bank for customer service.
Posted by jenaglick -- Feb. 22, 2010
The name of the bank says it all!
This review is for: Bank of America
Initially, I was nervous when I first pulled into the parking lot of Bank of America for the first time. I had heard great reviews about the bank, but I was still not too sure about my decision. I had never opened my own bank account so I was anxious on how to go about the whole process. Nevertheless, immediately upon walking into the bank I was greeted by the wonderful staff who, then and now, have never failed to answer my constant stream of questions. The woman who actually opened my account maintained a smile the entire time she helped me and seemed just as excited as I was. She explained the several different programs that Bank of America provides to help their customers save money whenever possible. The program that I enrolled in is called Keep the Change.
Keep the Change is a basically self explanatory title for the program. Think of when you go to buy gum, a muffin, etc. Generally we just throw the change to the bottom of our bags or somewhere in our car. Well, this lost change accumulates with Keep the Change. Each time that you use your bank card, the change transfers from your checking account to your savings account, thus allowing the change to add up in your account over time. Still, it gets better. For the first three months after opening your account with Bank of America they match 100% of your savings. For example, if my total at the supermarket came to $9.01, 99 cents would be transferred into my savings account and another 99 cents would be given to me from the bank. I assure you, this program has no flaws and it is something you should definitely consider upon opening an account at Bank of America.
Since opening my account with Bank of America, I have received excellent customer service, security for my account and a great savings program. I have called the customer service line a couple of times since opening my account and I am always pleased with the promptness and assistance that I receive. I am thrilled with my choice of this bank and I recommend it to anyone looking to open a new account. While I have yet to go beyond my checking and savings accounts, I am positive that Bank of America will continue to provide me with excellent service in the future.
Posted by kcook9592 -- Feb. 22, 2010
Bigger can be better
This review is for: Bank of America
I originally resisted having an account with Bank of America. A long time ago, when I was in college, Bank of America was a scapegoat for all things bad with society. (Think Goldman Sachs today, but less real-life blame.) However, I was tired of the savings and loans going under and branches disappearing, and there was a Bank of America within a mile of my house.
In all honesty, the experience has been just fine. In fact, I went from a checking account to that account plus a money market checking, a savings account and two certificates of deposit. Plus, I have two Bank of America issued Visa cards (one personal, one for business).
There are two things wrong. Someone recently hijacked one of my B of A Visa cards, and it wasn't discovered until I received my bill (over $8,000, mostly in gas station charges). I thought they should have caught it, since it was a card that generally didn't have more than $300 or $400 a month in charges -- and I never filled my tank with gas 20 or 30 times a day!
Secondly, the telemarketing is excessive. I don't need all the extra credit card protection, insurance policies, etc. I know the people calling are working hard to do a job, and I know they have scripts to say, "Yes, I understand, but...." However, Bank of America can tell from my records what my financial issues are and are not. And, they should only telemarket products that might be right for me. Just today, I had a call for some service I didn't need -- again.
In all, though, I'm pleased with the Bank. The staff is friendly and helpful, they open lines when it's crowded, and they've kept my money safe and secure. According to my check re-order form, I've been with them for 23 years. I trust that's right.
Posted by chip1222 -- Feb. 22, 2010
Lots of locations, but terrible service!
This review is for: Bank of America
I first opened an account with Bank of America in 2007 because I was moving back and forth between my hometown in Massachusetts and my college town in New Hampshire. Bank of America had locations in both towns which made it a convenient choice for me. I was excited to be able to have access to such a large, efficient bank. However, I soon found out that Bank of America's service wasn't all it was cracked up to be!
The best thing about Bank of America is probably the numerous locations it has in virtually every area of the country. No matter where I go, it's usually very easy to find a Bank of America branch or ATM, which is extremely convenient. However, despite this, there are far more negative things about the bank which overshadow the positive.
The worst thing about Bank of America is its constant fees. If one doesn't use a Bank of America ATM, not only does the ATM being used charge a fee (usually $1.50-$2.50) but Bank of America charges its own $2.00 fee as well, meaning you spent about $5.00 just to withdraw money from an ATM that wasn't owned by Bank of America. Even worse than the ATM fees are the overdraft fees. If you overdraw your account by more than $10.00, even once, you are charged a $35.00 fee! If you don't pay back the overdraft in 5 days, you are charged a second fee as well. The problem with this is that Bank of America will often put your transactions in an order that MAKES you overdraw your account! For example, I once deposited $40 into my account. I then went to the store and bought something for $30. The bank took out the $30 first and deposited the $40 second, making me overdraft and then charged me a $35 fee - even though I had deposited money first!
The problems don't end there. The customer service at Bank of America branches is terrible. The tellers are constantly pushy about giving their sales pitches. For example, every single time I go into a Bank of America branch, I'm bombarded with the same questions every time. They ask if I would like to enroll in "keep the change", which I always deny, and then they ask if I would be interested in a credit card. They don't pay attention to the fact that I'm a poor college student with barely a dime in my account - do they really think I need another credit card?! Even the same tellers at a branch I repeatedly go to, despite knowing me by name, will continue to ask these questions to the point that it becomes annoying. Even worse, Bank of America representatives call your house phone repeatedly to ask you to take customer service surveys. I received 5 calls in one day at one point. I had to ask for upper management just to make the calls stop coming.
Overall, Bank of America is a great disappointment. Yes, the various locations are convenient and the larger size of the corporation make it easy to move around without changing your accounts. However, it truthfully is not worth it since I have to deal with horrible customer service and outrageous fees each and every day. I will be canceling my account with Bank of America very shortly!
Posted by xxCookie_07xx -- Jan. 21, 2010
I love my bank
This review is for: Bank of America
I have used Bank of America for the last two years. I haven't had any major difficulties with them. They have been more than accommodating while I was out of work and in school full time. The measly per Diem pay checks I was bringing in barely paid my bills let alone the overdraft fees if i went over my balance. I called Bank of America Customer Service and they reversed the overdraft fees. I am almost 100% sure that any other bank would have said tough and continued to hit me with overdraft fees and extended overdraft fees. Bank of America is a bank with a heart. They continually try to make things better for their customers. Bank of America offers many different options with their account and there is an account for everyone. They have debit cards for every personality and every possible type of interest. Bank of America caters to the consumer and runs their business the way a business was meant to be run. I want to personally make it known that I love my bank and fully trust that they will continue to help me make my money work for me. Thank You Bank of America! You truly are America's Bank
Posted by pjvacemt06 -- Jan. 21, 2010
Bank of America checking account
This review is for: Bank of America
I have held an bank of America checking account for over three years now and i am really pleased with it. Opening an account is really simple, and can be done online. I opted for a free My access checking account, which is very useful if your salary is deposited directly to your account. As long as there is at least one direct deposit on your account, you do not have to worry about any account maintenance charges.
I have an savings account linked to my checking account so i do not have to worry about overdraft fees. Also customer care is usually quick to respond, and i have often gotten a reply to my query in a few hours. The only problem is when you try to contact cust care by phone. The call waiting times can be rather long, because of the high frequency of calls. But once you get through to an agent, you can be rest assured that they will try to resolve your issue as quickly as possible.
The online banking facility makes it easy to access your checking information anytime you want. You can also change your account information, and set alerts for your account. You can also opt for the 'Keep the change' option that rounds up any purchases made on your debit card, and deposits the money in your savings account. The money does add up nicely.
Overall Bank of America is a good option for those looking for a nice checking account with plenty of features.
Posted by webknight18 -- Jan. 20, 2010
Mixed Reviews...
This review is for: Bank of America
I had to get a Bank Of America account about 6 months ago due to my family having to move to a different state. My old bank doesn't exist in our new hometown, so I had to get an account with a bank that was more widespread. My answer to that was Bank of America.
My husband and I have some friends that have used Bank of America for about a year, and they always rave about how much they love it. So, we decided to give it a shot.
I signed up for the account completely online, and we got our paperwork in the mail about a week later. Everything was great so far. I had signed us up for the Keep The Change savings account, and we were pretty excited about building up savings with it.
We used the account with no problem during the weeks before our move, and then we actually moved. When we first arrived in our new town, we went to the Bank of America located there. I deposited a check from our old bank account and we went on our way. After we got to our new home, and I got online to check our account, I noticed that the check that I had just deposited had a 14 (business) day hold on it. Not to mention it was a long weekend, so it would really be 17 days. That was upsetting, especially since the check was written from me, their member! I couldn't believe it.
We have also had some trouble finding ATMs of theirs that are open all the time. The main one that we had planned on using is only open during business hours.
The Keep The Change account is definitely the best part of Bank of America. They match 100% for the first 3 months, which is great, however they don't give you the money until your anniversary date.
Overall Bank of America is pretty good, despite the drawbacks. We will continue to use them.
Posted by jenniferkawaii -- Jan. 19, 2010
Skank of America
This review is for: Bank of America
I have been a member of Bank of America since 1988. I originally chose it because that is where my parents banked and they wanted me to set up a savings account to start learning to manage my money.
I warn everyone to stay away from doing business with this bank. They are horrible. In this day and age, banks are scheming for ways to steal more money and BofA is at the top of the list here. I loathe this bank.
The best thing about this bank is that there are ATMs and branches located all over the country to retrieve money without paying surcharges.
The worst thing about this bank is twofold:
1- I have a credit card with BofA with a $5000 limit and my balance was recently $2500. After the economic collapse, BofA lowered my limit to $1500 creating an over the limit charge which they were charging me bi-monthly for having. They are crooks!
2- I deposit my paychecks bi-monthly, every Friday. Due to recent tough times, I would become tight on my money and would need the check cashed asap. I analyzed the banking patterns and they would wait for up to 7 days after I deposited the same check I always deposit before clearing to my account when it was probable that I would overdraft my account. When I was well over my balance, then my check would be cleared sometimes in the same hour I deposited it. Again … crooks!
The customer service is terrible, but that is standard with most companies nowadays. It takes an average of 45 minutes for me to reach a human being when calling in for help. However, when I am finally attended to, they do help me as much as possible to all my needs.
I do not recommend this bank and give it a grade of F. All my reasons above should explain why.
Posted by jonathanjbarnes -- Nov. 18, 2009
Good Customer Service
This review is for: Bank of America
I had to switch over to Bank of America from Wells Fargo in 2006, because I was moving to Arkansas from California, and there were no Wells Fargo branches in Arkansas. Bank of America had a branch in the city I was moving to.
I was surprised to find they use real live tellers at the drive up banking. I would deposit a check and if I had my dog in the car with me, the teller would give my dog a bone.
I love Bank of America's Online Banking too. It’s very convenient to check my balance. It's easy to know how much money is in my accounts.
I recently had a problem with my checking account being overdrawn, but I had deposited money that day. I called customer service and explained my situation, and they agreed to waive the overdraft fee. The customer service person was very helpful. She even suggested that I tie my Bank of America credit card to my checking account for overdraft protection. I thought that was a wonderful idea.
I love Bank of America's service, but I am worried. With all the bank failures and bail-outs I wonder if Bank of America will make it. I would be forced then to switch banks to something local. That wouldn't help me when I travel out of state. My best wishes to Bank of America for continued success.
Posted by smogzilla -- Nov. 18, 2009
BOA and Their "Wonderful" Overdraft Fees
This review is for: Bank of America
Horrible and wrong are the only words I can think of to describe the banking experience I have had with Bank of America. It happens to us all, we overdraw our account by accident because we think our check has already cleared the bank. One account I can recall was when I overdrew my account by $2.00 and was charged $35 because of that which put my account further in the negative to which they added at additional $35 fee to repeatedly forcing my account deeper into the negative numbers so that by the time they were done I ended up spending almost $200 in overdraft fees plus having to put enough money in to cover the negative balance. Then they still charge me another $35 fee saying that it was a pending overdraft fee...whoever heard of such a thing. Another occurence that shows how uncooperative this bank is...my husband owns his own business and he deposited a check from a customer for $2,000 in a different bank account (we weren't married at the time). They didn't tell him they would put a 5 day hold on that check and he wrote me a personal check for $945. Since the check at his bank was on hold the check he wrote me bounced after I had already spent money that should've been there. Well Bank of America charged me overdraft fees for it which my husband's bank offered to reimburse me for if they could get a letter on BOA's letterhead stating what happened. They refused when I called customer service and when I went up to the local branch personally. Completely horrible.
Posted by tex_mex_05 -- Nov. 18, 2009
Great in the States, difficult when traveling
This review is for: Bank of America
• I've had this account for a year and a half, I have savings and checking’s account with Bank of America. I opened a student account. I like how easy it is to use Bank of America, the bank online is user friendly and it does appear to be very secure, paying bills and making transfers to other accounts is easy and fast.
However if you want to use your debit card abroad you need to inform the bank that you are traveling to other countries otherwise your card might not work. I traveled to Japan for 3 weeks and when I needed money from my account the ATM informed me that I could not withdraw money because of the location. I had to call to customer service and talk to a represantive, convinced them it was me and that I traveled abroad in order to be able to make any kind of withdraw. I think that is the only part of the service that needs to be checked. It never happened to me before with any other bank.
Overall I am satisfied with bank of American, inside USA you can find it everywhere. I recommend this bank to open your first bank account.
Posted by anya_d -- Nov. 17, 2009
Great Bank for handling Mortgage
This review is for: Bank of America
We have done all our banking at Bank of America for a number of years. They have always provided great service and their online banking makes life so much easier. Our best experience was when we decided to buy a home. Being new at the whole process we were a little intimidated and unsure what the process was. My husband had heard from a friend at work that it was best to talk to our bank first to see what we could really afford and to get a lot of the paperwork out of the way before we started looking at houses.
We made an appointment at the branch office near our home and Julie, the loan officer warmly greeted us. We explained our dilemma and asked for her help. Right away before jumping into the details of what and how she took some time to just talk to us about her first home buying experience and what she had learned along the way. It did a lot to make us more comfortable knowing that she had once been just like us. From there she helped us find a reasonable price range we should shop in and helped us do the preliminary approval paperwork for a home loan. Just this would have been a great story, but there’s one more part that I think really shows the commitment to customer service that Bank of America has. About a week after we had been in to see Julie she called just to see if we had any additional questions and offered to help us find a good real estate agent if we needed it. Our story has a happy ending. We found a great home and Julie made sure that all the financing issues went through without a hitch. We’ll always use Bank of America for our financial needs.
Posted by oldlady664 -- Nov. 4, 2009
Convenient Banking but Monitor Funds
This review is for: Bank of America
I have used Bank of America now for about a year and a half. I originally choose them because of the ease of signing up for checking and savings account online. In addition, they advertised free checking which was nice. There are many things that I do like about the bank. First, the local branch seems to have a friendly and helpful staff; however, I mainly use online banking and make most of my deposits through the ATM so interaction with staff is rare. They also have “keep the change” option which automatically rounds purchases up to the nearest dollar and transfers that money into my savings account. Although sometimes it is just pennies, it can really add up over a period of time.
There are a few downfalls however. I only get paid once a month so my account balance fluctuates greatly from beginning to the end of the month. After almost every deposit I make, they place a hold on my check only releasing a small portion of the funds immediately. Sometimes the holds last for a week and half. This has definitely caused some stress with getting bills paid on time. In addition, I had an overdraft with a few pending charges. It seemed they cleared everything the same day leaving me with over $100 ($35 a piece) in fees. I tried to negotiate with no avail. Since they are such a large bank, there are many convenience factors with using this bank but definitely monitor account balances so fees are not endured.
Posted by som18 -- Nov. 4, 2009
great customer service!!
This review is for: Bank of America
I switched to bank of america about 4 years ago and have absolutely no complaints! The benefits are great ,especially if you a have a savings account and a check card with them. They have a keep the change program that whenever you use your check card , they round of the amount and deposit the change into your savings account. You can also earn cash back on internet purchases through major retailers when using a Bank Of America check card or Credit Card on line.
Their customer service staff is great. We had an automatic withdrawl from our account that came out earlier than expected that caused an overdraft. I called and explained the situation, they waived the Over Draft fee as long as I made a deposit that day to cover the withdrawl!! 134 They also explained to me how I can link my savings account and credit card to my account so if this ever happened again, the funds would automatically be withdrawn from that account to cover the difference. I'm sure that other banks offer some of the same things, but not too many customer service reps would go out of their way to explain it.
The only down side is their credit limit on their credit cards was not as high as I hoped, but I am hoping that will change when the economy picks up.
Posted by liswal940 -- Oct. 25, 2009
Bank of America puts their customers first!
This review is for: Bank of America
I first opened my Bank of America account two years ago. I was having trouble with my previous bank: they would hold check and money order deposits for over a week at times, would apply excessive fees on the account without notice, and had all around inconvenient locations and business hours for anyone who works for a living. I was fed up from paying them in penalties for cashing my payroll checks 10 business days after deposit. Here’s where Bank of America came in.
When I decided to look for a new bank, it was hard for me to miss Bank of America. They had a location on my block, a location near my job, and an ATM that I could deposit checks in around the corner from my school. I stopped in the branch by my house and met with a wonderful employee about opening up a new account. She laughed with me about my troubles at my old bank and set me up with an account created for students. It included free checking and savings accounts, two free overdraft forgiveness cards, and a program where my check card purchases were rounded up, with the extra change placed in my savings and matched by Bank of America on an annual basis. They deposited over $50 in my savings for free on my one year account anniversary!
I only have good things to say about my account with Bank of America. I can deposit checks at the majority of their ATMs 24 hours a day, making it easy for me when I am busy with work and school. They give you access to the first $100 of any deposit on the spot, helping me out of many tight situations where I just needed a couple of bucks for gas or food. I have never received an overdraft fee, and even if I did, the kind women who set up my account activated overdraft protection to pull the money out of my savings instead. They have even helped me get my credit on track by building up a positive score.
After two years with Bank of America, I can give nothing but a positive recommendation. I highly suggest banking with them if you are a student looking to open your first real account on your own, but I am sure they extend the same great service and features to any customer.
Posted by bmore86guy -- Sept. 20, 2009
Seriously, The Best Bank in America
This review is for: Bank of America
I have had a checking account with Bank of America for about one year now. Honestly, I went with Bank of America because of the fifty dollar bonus they were offering to new customers at the time. Bank of America is a great bank with numerous locations where I live, Memphis. I have the simple checking account, and I couldn’t be happier with it. The greatest feature of my checking account is definitely the Keep the Change program, which puts the change left over from check card purchases into my savings account. Though that may not sound great, it definitely is because Bank of America matches those change deposits one hundred percent for three months and then five percent after that. My one complaint about my checking account would have to be that when I try to transfer money into a bank account outside of Bank of America, I am charged a fee. Customer service is quick and simple at Bank of America; they will get your account set up fast and answer any questions you may have intelligently. In my case I had a new account opened with them over the phone in about five minutes. I would definitely recommend this bank, it is the largest in America, good customer service, and they are giving you money just to sign up with them. You can’t lose here.
Posted by nlenow -- Sept. 20, 2009
Good bad and Ugly
This review is for: Bank of America
I originally chose Bank of America because everyone in my family had a BoA account. The reason I still have one though is because they are everywhere. I live in San Diego but no matter where I travel there is a Bank of America ATM. I know the 2 dollar fee from another ATM isn't a lot, but it still annoys me so it's nice to have a bank that is everywhere. The only downside is that being a big bank they sometimes try and screw you over by how they reorder your purchases. As long as you make sure you have enough in your account though you'll be ok. Plus if you call their help line you can sometimes get the charge reversed. Pretty much a good bank if you travel or move a lot.
Posted by johanne.overdose -- Sept. 19, 2009
My new bank
This review is for: Bank of America
I was grandfathered into Bank of America as a result of various buy outs. So I am fairly new to the organization. I originally started with NBD (national bank of Detroit) because my family has been using NBD for years. Because it is the institution I have trusted for 13 years, I chose to stay with Bank of America. I have had no complaints in the service I have received. I now have both a savings and a checking account. I really like 'keep the change' transfers. I am collecting extra bits of money in my savings account without making transfers. I also really love online banking. Online banking allows me to check my account frequently and to make transfers as needed. I also like having bill pay. It makes it easy for me to handle my bills and remember to pay them! Finally, I like that I don't have to give the bank teller my account number, I only need to slide my debit card at the counter. The thing I don't like about my bank is that if I call, I don't get to talk to a real person at THAT bank, instead I get the corporate system that requires I push a hundred different buttons. Also I was unable to find a branch in Toledo, Ohio which was very frustrating cause I had to drive to Michigan. I have tended to visit the same branch. I have found that the staff at my branch in Monroe are very nice, patient, and helpful. They also offer quick service and I rarely have to wait for service. I recommend this bank for people looking for ease, convenience, and quick service. There are bank of America branches around every corner, so finding one is rarely a problem, except for in Toledo.
Posted by carynflowers -- Sept. 19, 2009
Glad I signed up
This review is for: Bank of America
I've had my Bank of America (BOA) account for about a year. It was really easy to set up and they accepted me in spite of my bruised credit.
I've had no problems with my bank. I understand that there's overdraft protection and they recently lowered fees if the overdraft is less than $5. I haven't overdrafted my account so I haven't had to deal with it, but I haven't had any mystery charges that would mess up my account and put me at risk of overdraft either.
I have both checking and savings, and the Keep the Change program has been wonderful. I've started building a small savings because of it.
I love their e-banking. I have excellent, instant control over both of my accounts. It easily linked to paypal so that I can use my bank online without putting my account at risk. It's also been easy for me to find an ATM and I have a local branch right on the way to work.
When I've had to use the drive-up teller, the employees have always been helpful and friendly. I've never had any issues with withdrawals or deposits getting messed up.
I'm glad I chose to go with Bank of America and I'd gladly use them again.
Posted by lookinforpals -- Sept. 18, 2009
Lots of locations, but terrible customer service
This review is for: Bank of America
I originally chose Bank of America due to its proximity to the college I was attending. It was one of the only banks that had an ATM on the campus, so I must admit that Bank of America is great in terms of having multiple locations in a nearby vicinity. It also has a convenient online banking setup, as well.
However, that's where the great things about Bank of America end. The customer service at Bank of America is some of the worst I have ever seen. First of all, representatives from Bank of America call whatever number you provide them with at ALL HOURS (usually dinnertime) to ask you to "take surveys" or "tell you about offers". Needless to say, when I signed up for a bank account, I did NOT sign up to be harassed by telemarketers. After telling them numerous times to take my phone number off of their list, I finally asked to speak to a higher-up and finally the calls stopped.
In addition to this terrible telemarketing practice, Bank of America is relentless when it comes to fees. I have only overdrafted my account once, and it was only by 50 cents - not even a whole dollar! - and was charged a $10 overdraft fee which the bank would not remove. $10 is a little excessive for 50 cents, especially for someone who had previously never overdrafted their account. The customer service representatives that you talk to on the phone are obnoxious and are constantly bombarding you with offers. The tellers at the branches even do the same thing. It's one thing to offer me a program like Keep the Change, but when I say no, I mean no, and the tellers are notorious for continuing to insist on what a great deal it is.
In short, although Bank of America may be a convenient choice in terms of availability, the customer service is a far cry from adequate. When I graduate from college I will surely be switching to a different bank and hopefully will have a better experience than the one I've had with Bank of America.
Posted by czx7 -- Sept. 18, 2009
Poor Rates and Poor Service Equal Poor Bank
This review is for: Bank of America
I wish I could give Bank of America a positive review because I have had such a long relationship with the bank. Sadly the bank both in services and in rates is no longer competitive with other banks in the Phoenix area. I had originally started with Seafirst bank in Seattle when I was in elementary school and stayed with them through the merger with Bank of America. The customer service was always great and the rates while not the best, were still competitive for savings accounts and CD’s.
Of late however the rates on any savings instruments have simply become non competitive. In addition the customer service either on the phone or in person has become terrible. I have been left to sit longer and longer on hold if I call in. In my last phone call which was I had a simple question and had to wait on hold for 9 minutes. Once the person finally does answer the phone they place me on hold for an additional 15 minutes. A simple question took almost a half hour to complete. Customer service in the bank is hot and cold as well. It seems the employees change daily inside the bank and are not trained adequately in how to solve customer concerns. Overall while I hope their service improves I cannot recommend Bank of America at this time.
Posted by craigaspden -- Sept. 18, 2009
Convenient and Helpful
This review is for: Bank of America
My local branch of Bank of America is just a few blocks from my house. I've been a customer there for nearly four years there, and have my main checking and saving accounts there. It's so convenient to go there to use the ATM (which they recently upgraded).
Since my paycheck is automatically deposited, I don't usually have to go inside the bank. However, recently I had an issue where a car loan was paid off (from another company), and they drafted an extra payment from my account.
After waiting just a short time in the bank lobby, I was referred to a Personal Banker, who took my information, made a phone call, and arranged for a stop payment on that draft very quickly.
The banker was knowledgeable, courteous and seemed really interested in taking care of my problem. Within three days, they had credited my account and informed the other company of the stop payment notice.
The extra bank draft caused an overdraft of my checking account, so Bank of America transferred money from my savings to checking, with their automatic overdraft service. This transfer caused my savings account to drop below the threshold required for a free account, so I incurred a monthly maintenance fee. I transferred money back to savings, and Bank of America immediately reversed the monthly fee. Good service!
Bank of America has never made a mistake on my accounts, and I would recommend them to anyone looking for a bank.
Posted by mikkiec -- Sept. 18, 2009
Convenience, convenience, convenience
This review is for: Bank of America
I have been with Bank of America for 8 months now. I chose Bank of America because when I moved across country the bank I used to use did not have many branches near my current location. Bank of America has at least 3-4 banks within a 5-mile radius of my current location.
I think Bank of America is great because of the convenience factor. No ridiculous fees for having an account with the bank. The ATM machines installed at the bank make it very easy for customers to deposit their checks. The ATM machine scans the checks and starts the transaction process. I don’t believe this feature is offered at any other bank. I think this helps me because if I need to add funds to my account quickly I don’t have to wait for the check to clear after I have paid a visit to the bank counter and deposited the check to a cashier.
Another feature which I think helps me in saving money is the “keep the change” program. If comes with all checking and savings accounts. Basically, it takes the leftover change from a purchase and deposits that change into your savings account and for the first three months Bank of America will also match a certain percentage.
I think the customer service is great. I have called a few times regarding some charges on my account and they have helped me get the contact information of the business that charged my account and help me resolve the issue without any problems. Other than the friendly service inside the bank I have no complaints regarding their customer service.
The only thing I don’t like is that they have an optional plan to monitor your credit. It is not a free option; it costs $8.99 per month for the service. I do appreciate this service because I get credit reports and any changes to my credit score are reported to me immediately. This helps me because I am a worrywart when it comes to my credit score and I like the fact that someone is watching my credit score.
I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for more convenience from his or her bank and with competitive interest rates.
Posted by jobi.mathai -- Aug. 27, 2009
Good Customer service(phone) and Internet Banking
This review is for: Bank of America
We (husband & myself) came to this country last year and our friends here suggested to choose B of A as this is one of the best bank with huge network.
After building a good credit record, we requested to change our secure credit card to a normal credit card through phone. The response was great! We got the credit card immediately. But one thing to say on the negative side, the bank seems to be more stright in terms of credit limits even though we have an excellent credit records. Other than that, the bank is simply great!
Posted by usha_amarnath -- Aug. 27, 2009
Fairly Decent
This review is for: Bank of America
I have only had an account with this bank for about two months, and I chose it not only since it is the bank that has the most ATMs near my house, but also because it has ATMs across the country. This convenience is probably the best thing about my account -- I know anywhere I go in the city, I will find a Bank of America ATM if I need it. The only downsides of B of A are that the teller service has not been as warm and friendly as the last bank I used (understandable since it was a local bank), and there was also the inconvenience of having to wait four or five weeks to get my first set of checks. I do want to point out that the service I received while actually setting up the account was very good, and setting up the account was a very simple process. In addition, the telephone customer service is top-notch. The customer service representatives are easy to understand, friendly, and helpful, which is not always the case with companies nowadays. I would recommend this bank to other consumers, since they have ATMs throughout the country, wherever you may live, and also because they are large enough to (hopefully) weather any financial storm that may come our way in the future.
Posted by edclu87 -- Aug. 27, 2009
High Fees
This review is for: Bank of America
I have had a checking account with this bank for years but honestly would like to eventually leave it due to overdraft fees of $35 per ATM overdraft, the failure of the bank to transfer funds from the savings account to the checking account when they are linked, and at times excessive holds on checks. I also am disliking the other fees that it imposes on consumers.I like the bank staff and the ability to see balances on line... but its fee policies are horrible.
It is not a consumer friendly institution. When I talk with friends and relatives, they all talk of high fees, mix-ups and poor service over all... I would not recommend this bank
Posted by goodvoicewoman -- Aug. 26, 2009
setting up with bank of america
This review is for: Bank of America
I have been using bank of America for a little over a year now and I am very pleased. The reason I switched to Bank of America is because I moved away to college and the only bank in my school’s town was bank of America. I came up to visit the college campus for the second time last summer and that day I set up my account at Bank of America and it only took a little over a half an hour to get everything set up. I am able to transfer money from my checking’s account to my savings account instantly online whenever I want and their website is very user friendly. Also whenever I go into bank of America to take care of any business the employees are very welcoming, friendly, and willing to help you with whatever it is that the customer needs.
The only problem I have found with being with bank of America is that when I come home from school there is not a bank located by me which can make it hard for me to get money out and conduct any sort of business with them other than online. Other then this problem I have encountered bank of America is a very good bank and one that is also very easy to trust.
Posted by sokoljo -- Aug. 24, 2009
Banking with B of A
This review is for: Bank of America
I have been banking with Bank of America for almost 7 years now. I have to say that my overall experience has been a positive one. When I visit the branches the tellers and other staff members for the most part are always helpful. What I enjoy the most is that are so many locations that wherever I am a B of A is not that far away. Also I am very happy with their online banking system. I love how it is so interactive and how it helps to guide me on my spending with charts and other features. It almost feels that they are leading the way and is up to date in our modern world, where other banks are trailing behind.
However there is one negative issue I need to point out. That is the overdraft fees. If there are not enough funds there should be a limit to how many times they will cover you. Another issue that really irritates me is when tellers have a question when servicing my account and acts like there is something terribly wrong or that I did something wrong. I will be in the middle of a transaction at the bank and the will just walk away without saying a word and go talk to some person, assuming the manager and they keep looking up at you. Finally they come back the manager types a few things in, followed by is there anything else I can help with you today.
Posted by s.mancillas -- Aug. 24, 2009
The Best Place to Bank
This review is for: Bank of America
I have been banking with Bank of America for almost four years, after loosing by trust on the bank with a sun. At the time, location and service was my priority. Bank of America built a branch a block in front of my home, fascilitating me with the decision to switch my accounts due to the location. As of today, I visit their branch at least once a week, and the service from the manager and the personnel is at tops. A morning cordial smile and the efficiency of their service has been of great satisfaction. It feels like a community bank were they know who you are and what your needs are. To my advantage, I have a 24 hour bank service, 60' away from my front door administered by a group of people that protect my money interests.
Posted by jona1115 -- Aug. 20, 2009
I love Bank of America
This review is for: Bank of America
I have been with this bank for about 3 years now and have been satisfied with most things and only have a few quirks with them. The first thing that I truly love about Bank of America is that there are so many. I think it is either the largest Bank in America or one of the largest. This means that there are ATM's everywhere, which makes it very convenient to withdraw funds from wherever you may be at. Another thing that I love about Bank of America is that they allow you to deposit cash and checks directly into the ATM. This makes it very convenient so that you do not have to spend a lot of time filling out a deposit slip. I also love the fact that whenever I use my debit card it generally posts immediately and you have no surprise mistakes because I keep up only with my account on-line. Also, love on-line bill pay with them. You can pay for almost any bill through using their on-line services. The only problem that I have had with them is that my overdraft protection did not work automatically. I had to go into the bank and get it fixed inside. Other than that this is a great bank to use.
Posted by jpropes777 -- Aug. 18, 2009
Bank of America, MY Bank
This review is for: Bank of America
I have been with Bank of America for over ten years, I originally opened my checking account with them when I relocated and I have been very satisfied with the service that they provide.
What started out as a simple basic checking account has grown into my personal home mortgage, my business account and commercial loans, plus brokerage services.
My local branch manager knows me by name and I can tell that he sincerely cares about me as a customer and he treats me as a friend. When ever I have had an issue or concern he has been there to resolve my problems.
As an example of his commitment to me as a customer, once I had an overdraft on my business account from a large check I received that had not cleared yet, he personally called me and made me aware of the overdraft so I could transfer funds before any fee’s could be charged to my account.
Bank of America’s constant commitment to keeping my business and helping me grow my business, even in these trying times has been a source of confidence, because I know they will be there in the future as they have in the past.
Posted by modman1957 -- Aug. 18, 2009
Pretty Good But Not Perfect
This review is for: Bank of America
I give Bank of America 4 out of 5 stars. This is the first and only bank I have used and I have been a customer for 2 years. I became a customer because of the free my access checking account they offer. I didn't want to have to pay fees just to have my money in an account. I talked to employees at the bank about the "free" checking account and all details before opening the account just to be sure there were no hidden fees. For a short amount of time there were no fees, then all of a sudden monthly charges started showing up at around five dollars and sixty four cents. This is a low charge, but when you don't put much money in the account, only use it for online purchases, and were told repeatedly that there were no fees you get a little frustrated. Free is not free unless you have direct deposits each month according to Bank of America. I recently went in to the bank for other matters and after talking to a manager about this fee they were happy to take it off the account for a year.
Any time I have an issue with my account or charges I can call their number and speak with customer service. They are always able to explain things to me and help me in any way they can. There was one occasion in which a company had charged me for something I was not supposed to be charged for and it put my account in overdraft. I called the bank and told them that the charges were not approved by me. The bank wouldn't take the charges off because the company had my account information, but they did take the overdraft fee off and I got the company to remove their charges. I don't think the bank really cares about each customer because it is such a big business, but if you reach the right person they should be able to help you in any way they are able.
I like that I can look at my account online and see all charges, deposits, and information about my account twenty four hours a day. Also there are so many locations that finding an ATM shouldn't be hard. Also the bank has good hours and the location I go to most of the time has twenty four hour ATM's that are indoors for ensured safety.
Posted by sarah20xoxo -- Aug. 17, 2009
A convenient Bank
This review is for: Bank of America
I have had an account with Bank of America for 8 years. I chose bank of America because being a college student away from my parents, I needed a bank with locations where I was located and where my parents were located so that they could make deposits for me. The customer service is pretty good for a bank. I once had to call because I overdrew my account by thirty cents thinking my parents had made their deposit. I called and explained the situation to the representative and she could see where my parents had made a cash deposit that very next day. After speaking with her supervisor, she waived the overdraft fee as a one time courtesy. I have other accounts at other banks and this would never have been permitted there. Bank of America recognizes that their customers are not just account numbers, but real people that make real mistakes sometimes. This is the reason I have chosen to keep this account. Had they not reversed the fee, I would have closed the account as soon as I could have. I can't really think of a negative experience I've had, since I try to control my finances and not have to call them. Overall, I would recommend Bank of America to others because of their many locations and their willingness to work with their customers within reason.
Posted by fancherlatoya -- Aug. 16, 2009
Only Positive Things to Say About Bank of America
This review is for: Bank of America
I have been a Bank of America Client for 9 years. I have never had an account with another bank, nor do I feel the need to. I have everything I need with Bank of America and have nothing but good things to say about this company.
In the past, I was worried about using my debit card online due to the possibility of identity theft or unauthorized charges. I have had a couple of ocassions over the past 9 years where I signed up for free trials, and then cancelled them within the timeframe given and still charged. After immediately contacing Bank of America, an investigation was started, and the money returned to my account. That was that. I did not have to do anything else other than sign a form sent to me in the mail authorizing the investigation and then return the paid envelope to bank of America.
All of my experiences with customer service have been nothing less than pleasant. Everytime I call and have an issue or concern, the representatives treat the problem as their own, and do everything in their power to get it resolved as soon as possible.
I have never felt more at ease with any other company and most everything I need to do can be done from the comfort of my own home. Thanks Bank of America!
Posted by freeforalicia -- Aug. 16, 2009
Why I left Bank of America
This review is for: Bank of America
I had been a Bank of America since 2001. Initially, I had just a checking account and a credit card simply for overdraft protection. After a short period of time I was persuaded to apply for another credit card that provided a higher credit limit and would not be directly tied to my bank account. The next year I worked for Bank of America for about three months and had transitioned my checking account from regular account to employee status and then back again once I quit. When my husband and I decided to get married in 2005 he was also with Bank of America and had been so for at least a few years. We decided to close our individual accounts and open a joint checking and savings account. We were provided an account without fees because we had direct deposit. Over time we determined we would like to use the credit card I had for some time. The limit was thousands of dollars and since we had a long and good reputation with the bank we were confident in using the card. In looking into further details for the card we realized the interest rate is over 20%. Again, having a good reputation and relationship with the bank and even having worked for them I thought with a phone call I would be able to discuss receiving a lower interest rate. Bank of America was completely unwilling to budge on the rate. I have just shy of excellent credit and had an established relationship with all my business at this bank and I could not get someone to cut my husband and I a break on the interest rate for our credit card. When I found a Chase credit card that was willing to offer no interest balance transfer and a 9% interest rate I called Bank of America again and they offered little to nothing in comparison. As a result we switched our account to Chase and are very pleased since 2007.
Posted by rose82d -- Aug. 16, 2009
After 15 years, it's time for a divorce Bank of America
This review is for: Bank of America
After being a customer of Bank of America for over 15 years, I'm ready for a divorce. I originally became a customer because that was where my parents banked and it had a local branch where they knew us by name & those working there were always very helpful. Though, even back then I knew I wasn't getting the best deal with them, so I kept my savings account at the local credit union that paid higher interest.
Through college and about 5 moves to different cities, I actually enjoyed using Bank of America because it is everywhere. That is a definite plus for them - the convenience factor.
It's after I graduated from college that when it all started to going down hill. I don't know if I just started paying more attention, or if their fees really did jump up and their service go down. All I know is every time I looked at my statement, it seemed like there was some random new fee. Like one day I got charged a fee for making too many transfers from my checking to my savings account. Seriously! They are reprimanding me for saving money - you've got to be kidding!
As in any destructive relationship, you finally hit a point where you just can't take it any more -- hence why I am divorcing Bank of America. I've given them a chance to earn me back and to make a mends, but when talking with customer service, it is very apparent that they are only allowed to read from the prewritten scripts in front of them. Even 5 years ago their customer service was helpful and they would do everything they could to fix whatever problem I was having, or get rid of the new fee they charged. Now, I feel like I am just talking to a robot. It's over B of A.
Overall, I would not recommend Bank of America, yet here's a quick rundown of their pros and cons so you can decide for yourself:
Pros: Convenient (they are everywhere), wider variety of accounts available for business owners; can use accounts internationally; good website & online access; some branches have very helpful associates, yet it is hit and miss
Cons: One of the highest fees of all the banks (and increasing); hard to get a hold of customer service over the phone (average wait 20 minutes); non-helpful customer service; one of the lowest savings account and cd rates of all banks; put holds for 7+ days on most larger checks, even if you deposit ones that size fairly often; must call them every time you travel internationally so they can flag your account
Posted by hdooley77 -- Aug. 14, 2009
Worst Bank I've EVER HAD!
This review is for: Bank of America
I have had Bank Of America now for about a year. They were great in the beginning, everything seemed great. Then the fees came. They show you your balance when you go online but that doesn't actually have anything to do with your available balance. You have to go to a separate area but after accruing fees on 3 separate occasions and calling each time to understand it finally took the third time for them to tell me how to accurately check my account. They have rude customer service personel and ridiculous fees left and right. BEWARE!
Posted by r.mollichella -- Aug. 12, 2009
Solid Checking, Despite a Few Inconveniences
This review is for: MyAccess Checking
I just opened a Bank of America MyAccess checking account recently (July 2009), and so far I’ve been very impressed. I opened the account online to avoid the monthly maintenance fee (something I felt was a very nice perk to encourage online banking, and I wish more banks would offer incentives like this to use their online banking systems), and received my check card and PIN information in the mail very promptly. There is not a Bank of America branch in my town (though there are ATMs and there is a branch in a town fifteen minutes away should I really need to visit), but the options for direct deposit, moving money from accounts online, and depositing by mail really don’t make this a problem, and the fact that they have so many branches and ATMs nationwide really makes them preferable for me to a local bank despite this.
My only criticism of the account is that it’s the only checking account I’ve ever had that did not provide a starter set of checks upon opening the account; I actually had to call and order them. With checks become less commonplace this is only to be expected, but it was still a hassle as checks are still necessary for some things, like rent and utility payments.
Posted by m.hoolehan -- Aug. 10, 2009
Perfect for a student low on cash
This review is for: CampusEdge Checking
I opened this account mainly for buying things online. Being a bit careless I bought something online unaware that I had no money on my account. I called up Bank of America and they forgave the 35 fee. This is mainly because I am a student and they recognize it from my "CampusEdge" account. This has happened several times and my bank has always forgave my overdraft fees. It's a great account to have because they realize you're young and you don't understand money too well...so if you are a bit frivilous with your money, this is the account for you!
Posted by deaglemck -- Aug. 10, 2009
Great Option for Students, Beware of Fees
This review is for: CampusEdge Checking
This account is a great option for students mainly because it is free and has no . I have usually always had great customer service with this bank. My only negative experience was when I had recieved overdraft charges on my account simply because my check was deposited later than it usually was. Although Bank of America did take off 2 of the 4 charges, it took me about an hour on the phone and having to talk to a supervisor. It was upsetting because I have had Bank of America Accounts for the last 10 years and it was my first time overdrafting. I have heard that they are more lenient with regular checking accounts although I am not sure of this. The only other negative of this bank is that it does often get busy so having to go in and talk to an actual representative can be time consuming. Overall, I would reccomend both this account and bank as long as you can consistently remain on top of what you are spending which you should anyways! :)
Posted by summer05todie -- Aug. 8, 2009
A wise option to choose
This review is for: Regular Checking
I am an international student studying at Lamar University. I came to United States in July 2008 and I opened my regular checking and regular saving account from Bank of America to keep track of my money spendings.
When I first opened an account with bank of america, they offered me with a $10 as appreciation for opening the account. The greatest option that I find with bank of america is the online banking. It's really great and helpful to full extent. They also have a customer care service available at all the times and online chat representative to help you at almost all the times. The representatives at the bank are very helpful to customers.
Once I lost my debit card and I didn't notice. After a day I called to a bank representative and complained about my lost card, but I found some transactions through my card after it was lost. Regarding this I filed a dispute in the bank of america and they returned my money back to me. That was really a appreciable thing.
The way the bank of america posts the transactions on the online banking is really great and easy to access for any individual.
One more best thing about bank of america is the Keep the change transfer, therefore you don't loose your change during purchases.
The only thing I don't like about bank of america is the overseas transactions. They charge you a lot for each transaction you do overseas.
I suggest, recommend and refered most my friends to open an account at Bank of America.
Thank you BANK OF AMERICA
Posted by swetha_reddy_bits -- Aug. 6, 2009
Horrible customer service!
This review is for: Regular Checking
I had a checking account with BofA for almost 5 years. I originally got the account when I was joining the Air Force, and I chose it because of it's nationwide availability and large amount of locations. However, overall, they treated me horribly! They were rude, seemed to be trying to charge me extra fees on purpose, and didn't want to help me when I had special circumstances come up. It seemed that all they cared about was making money! I do not recommend that ANYONE use Bank of America, unless they enjoy being treated badly.
Posted by jnnfr965 -- Aug. 5, 2009
Bank of America not consumer friendly at corporate level
This review is for: Regular Checking
I became a Bank of America customer when they acquired Barnett Bank, the bank where I held my original account. I held this checking account for many 5+ years. Because of the nature of my compensation, there were some times when my account was short of funds. Even though I had overdraft protection, the overdraft would be drawn from the wrong accounts, or charged to high interest credit lines. This would result in high penalties and transaction fees that I would have to go and straighten out in person as I could not get the corporate sites to cooperate. The local tellers and branch managers were always polite, helpful and able to correct the mistakes, but the fee charging and mistakes became so frequent that I terminated all my savings, credit and checking accounts. I now bank at a local credit union and my checking account now bears interest and is much easier to handle.
Posted by ca6120 -- Aug. 5, 2009
An Amazing CD
This review is for: Risk Free CD
Bank of America's Risk Free CD is just that - risk free. I first signed up for this CD about eight years ago when I received a fairly large sum of money from an inheritance and didn't know what I was going to do with it.
The Risk Free CD was the perfect answer -- I could earn interest on my money (at a rate better than those Bank of America offered for other short- and medium-term CDs) and still withdraw all or part of the money at any time without penalty. Over the years, I have allowed this CD to roll over repeatedly, and as I have needed cash for one thing or another, I have simply moved money from the CD into my checking account. More than anything, the Risk Free CD is like a passbook savings account with CD-level interest. The only negative thing I can think of is that you can't transfer funds from the CD over the internet, you have to go into a branch to do it. However, considering all the benefits of this account, it's a small price to pay. When I have gone to a branch (one of two near where I live) the customer service has been quick, efficient, and painless.
I cannot recommend this account highly enough.
Posted by ravnewmark -- Aug. 5, 2009
Biggest bank but watch out for fees
This review is for: MyAccess Checking
I've been banking with BofA since the early 90s. We have several accounts with them. One thing I like about their customer service is they have the online chat, but the available time is very short, 10AM PST.
Bank of America is pretty much every where in the States, so you shouldn't have a problem of getting to a branch when you're traveling.
When traveling, you MUST give them a call ahead of the travel time, they WILL limit your card usage when they detected 'unusual' activities on your account. Of course this is never thought of before hand, you only get to encounter the hassle of not being able to withdraw money at an ATM. Frustrating, to say the least. Then after you've been home, you'll need to call and go through their verification process before the limitation is lifted from your card.
The other thing I don't like about their system is before you can get transferred or to the right person, you'll have to go through the verification steps with the person that picks up the line. Then you'll have to go through the verification steps AGAIN when you get to talk to the right person. Now this will happen every time you're transferred, to the right person or not.
Of course the fees are pretty standard among the banks, but they WILL treat you differently based on the amount of money you have with them. If you have over $10,000, it's a completely different treatment than having a few hundreds.
Posted by daisy_bnt -- Aug. 5, 2009
Not All It's Cracked Up To Be
This review is for: MyAccess Checking
When I first enrolled in the Bank of America checking account 1 year ago I was so excited. I had seen all the commercials on television that basically made it seem like this is the best bank in America. I was also thrilled about the Keep the Change program. What they don't tell you is that Bank of America has some of the highest fees out there! Also, their customer service is horrible. Now, every now and then you may get a nice representative on the line, but the majority of them do not care about their customers and/or very rude. The average hold time that I experienced was 10 - 15 minutes of waiting for a representative to come on the line.
Now for the good stuff. I do like that they have so many ATM's and Branches and that they are a national bank. So no matter what state you are traveling in you can find a Bank of America. Also, I have never had an error on my account thankfully. Oh and I also love that when you use your debit card it automatically shows up on the website instantly. So to sum it up I am cautiously looking for another bank while at the same time hoping that this one gets better.
Posted by azizahtaheera -- Aug. 3, 2009
Excellent Bank In Spite of Reputation
This review is for: MyAccess Checking
I know some of you don't like Bank of America but I have to totally disagree based on my personal experiences. I have nothing but great service from this bank. Ranging from online banking services to customer service at branches and on the phone. I have had fees waived for overdraft and duplicate copies of returned checks. There was this one error by online banking that was made to pay my property tax. The county did not receive payment and charged me 10%. I contacted BofA and they got on the phone with the County, with me on the phone, and proceeded to correct the issue by discovering that the APN number was cut off from the check. The County found where it was credited said they will refund to the bank if they would reissue a correct check and the 10% penalty. BofA issued a new check and said they will cover the 10% penalty. I don't know of any other bank that would cover a 10% penalty for a $4k property tax. As I said great experiences with this bank and lots of ATM across California and the USA (at least where most people would travel).
Posted by Steelers79 -- Aug. 2, 2009
The benefits using a Bank of America checking account.
This review is for: Regular Checking
After conducting extensive research on the best accounts available in the market, the Bank of America regular checking account, seemed to be one of the best. I kept this account open for approximately three years and was fortunate to have had a good, stress free, experience. To me personally, reliability, convenience, adequate security, are key reasons for choosing a bank and this company, in these areas, certainly gets high marks.
It offers a wide variety of features, including paperless statements for current balance details. Each time, the balance changed, an email message was sent to a designated personal email address. The option to have your statements accessed online, is certainly a welcome feature, especially when all personal financial information on the bank's website, including checking account information, is constantly protected by an advanced security program, that seamlessly is running in the background.
Additionally, the overall access to my account through ATM machines or by phone, always was smooth, without any problems. The user friendly features on the website and over the phone, made it very easy to not only access information, make withdrawals, deposits, but also all transactions were properly recorded within any given cycle.
There are two layers of security, when attempting to access the account, which certainly illustrates their ongoing commitment to keep their customer’s information safe and protect their records from hackers. The customer service department was always helpful, well informed as to the various products they offer and eager to effectively address any concerns.
Sometimes when an overdraft charge was assessed to the account, an email was always sent to my personal email address. However, the charge itself was rather large and on occasion, when attempting to dispute these charges with the customer service reps, was unsuccessful in getting them reversed.
While on vacation in another country, the debit card was used to make purchases. A local merchant overcharged the debit card. When the bank was contacted and informed of the transaction dispute, they investigated the matter and credited the account. I would definitely recommend this specific checking account, offered by Bank of America to consumers. This bank has a proven track record and stands by it’s products.
Posted by jkplease -- July 31, 2009
MyAccess Checking
This review is for: MyAccess Checking
My first MyAccess checking account was opened on June 15, 2009. I opted to link it to a savings account and enrolled in the "Keep the Change" program. This has worked out great, as I am able to save money without even trying and, since I use my debit card more than cash now, I can actually keep real records of my expenses.
Since then, I've opened another MyAccess checking account. This time though, it is a joint account with my mother. When I was transferred to New York for work, I had to leave our beloved pets behind. Getting money to my mother before was an expensive pain with wire transfers, WesternUnion, etc. Now, all I have to do is transfer money from my account into the joint account and voila! Mom gets pet support money instantly and I save money too.
When either my mom or I have needed help, the customer support in person and over the phone has been great. I highly recommend both this bank and this type of account.
Posted by cjsmonnie -- July 30, 2009
Best Customer Service - Maximum Security
This review is for: Regular Checking
I have been Bank of America customer since Aug 2008. When I moved from India to USA, I was suggested to go for BOA which has maximum ATMs throughout the USA and easy to open. I found it was very convenient and easy to open a bank account in BOA and Staff was very cordial.
The features I liked the most are two levels of security with sitecode and password, complete paperless procedures, easy way to deposit the checks, no of ATMs, excellent customer service. Also we can pay almost all the bills online . Once I had a problem in logging in to the BOA site, I tried and failed several times and finally I had to change the password several times and finally gave up. I did not have phone in reach and I need to open the account immediately so I decided to take the Live chat help. I could found the help in few minutes and all set and no more holding the phone till I get a line to talk to bank officer. Also every time BOA comes up with new feature set to surprise the customers. I got good reference bonuses when I refer a friend also I got good opening bonus. My overall experience with BOA so far is very satisfactory and I would recommend 100% to go for BOA.
On the other side this bank provide less number of checks to the customers to encourage online bill payment which sometimes becomes disadvantage for some people.
Posted by snv.karri -- July 29, 2009
Great Bank!
This review is for: MyAccess Checking
My husband and I have had an account with Bank of America for about 6 years. We've been very satisfied with our service. The few times our account has been overdrawn the customer service reps were nice enough to offer (once a year) to waive the first overdraft fee.
We've avoided having to pay the other account fees by using direct deposit. The online bill payment feature is great as well.
We've also been able to get personalized check cards- with our favorite charity represented on it(at no charge).
We like to go to the ATM now to make deposits with cash and checks. It even gives us a print out of the check(s) we've deposited. And in Texas we have until 8PM to make deposits at ATM machines and the deposit will be processed that same day.
We're very satisfied and have no plans on leaving Bank of America any time soon!
Posted by stitchinmomma -- July 29, 2009
Excellent Account
This review is for: CampusEdge Checking
I have 2 CampusEdge checking accounts and I think they are the best accounts available. I have had no troubles with them at all. Plus, with Bank of America, you can access your accounts from almost anywhere. They have so many mobile applications to access your accounts from your phone or computer. I love the fact that the account does not expire for 5 years so even if I graduate 2 years from now, the account will still follow me until that 5 years is up. Even when it expires and changes to a regular checking account, I have direct deposit which makes the normal checking account free as well. Bank of America has been completely helpful every step of the way. There is a $25.00 minimum to open the account but that money only has to be in the account overnight. After the account has been fully activated overnight you can take out the money right away. I also love how I was able to choose the image that appears on my debit card. I had a Citizens Bank account and I was stuck with the normal green debit card that they issue to every checking account member. I thoroughly enjoy this account and I would recommend it to any student.
Posted by pzero24 -- July 29, 2009
Decent Starting Account
This review is for: MyAccess Checking
I got this account originally as a student, when I went off to school. I've had the account now for about 7 years and I still maintain it, although I'm currently living out of the country, so I don't access it on a regular basis. In general, I've been happy with Bank of America as a whole. Despite the recent financial issues, I still have confidence in the bank. That said, I think I could do better as far as a checking account goes. The pros of this account are unlimited check writing, visiting of tellers, and included online banking. The online banking itself is pretty slick and easy to figure out. The major downside to the account as I see it is not having an interest rate associated with the account. Many checking accounts are now paying interest, and since it's free money, I'm thinking of switching my account to one of these types of accounts. If you don't care about earning interest on your checking account (or if you carry just a small balance) than this is a good account to start out with.
A word about customer service: They are on top of their game as far as looking for fraud, but be sure to warn them if you're planning to use your card outside of the country. I've had my debit card cancelled at least 4 times because they thought the card had been compromised.
Posted by snash_03 -- July 28, 2009
Not So much
This review is for: Regular Savings
My savings account experience had not been that great. I have the over draft protection and it will only take a in increments of $100. While I love this add on, i don't like the fact that you cant choose your amount to be takin out... Sometimes I just balance my checking account wrong and i barely go over, but it still takes out $100 to take care of a few dollars. While I know that I can transfer it online, its still annoying to have to do it. Plus they charge you for it so its not really any help. I do like the fact that you can view this account online though. Another thing i dont like is the fact that they limit your transactions out of that account. I like to put the money for my bills in my savings so not to use them before the bill is due. Unfortunately if I do this to many times, it will force me to make it a checking account. Overall this account is great for people who are not wanting to touch there savings or who are not ones to let there chaecking get too low.
Posted by sbdillehay -- July 28, 2009
Many product offerings
This review is for: Regular Savings
I have been with Bank of America for about 10 years and have always been happy with the service and product offerings. I have seen credit unions offer slightly better savings rates but all of my other accounts, CDs, checking, auto loans, home loans are with Bank of America so there is a lot of simplicity in staying with one single bank. I rarely go inside the bank for any transactions related to my savings account so I can’t speak to customer service in person but the few times I have had to call the 1-800 number they have been relatively friendly. I like the ability to move money around to/from the savings accounts to/from other accounts I have with Bank of America. Once you get used to using their website its pretty easy. I especially like the bill pay section where you can set up recurring payments and even make payments to people without an account number. My account has been set up for a very long time so I don’t remember much detail about that process, but nothing sticks in my brain as being overly complex or cumbersome. My only concern (as with any bank nowadays) is that they stay solvent and don’t need some type of government bailout!
Posted by raneil_2000 -- July 28, 2009
Good account for students
This review is for: CampusEdge Checking
I would say that overall I am satisfied with my CampusEdge Checking account from Bank of America. I have had my account for just over a year now after starting school at MIT, a university that has a branch right on campus. I got the account because it was free for students and lasted up to 5 years. I also got it because Bank of America is prevalent throughout New England, unlike the last bank I was using.
The best things about having this checking account with Bank of America is the sheer number of branches available everywhere you go. It doesn’t matter what town I’m in, as long as I’m in the US I can almost always find an ATM.
The only bad experience I’ve had with the account thus far has been dealing with the foreign transaction fee. I recently traveled abroad to Great Britain, and a Bank of America employee informed me that if I withdrew money from their partner’s ATM (Barclays Bank), I wouldn’t be charged any fees. Well once I got back home from my trip I discovered that Bank of America had charged me foreign transaction fees, on several occasions. It took 5 customer service representatives to even understand the issue at hand when I called, but finally I was refunded the money. In general though, every service representative I talk to, both in the branches and on the phone is always very friendly and helpful, even if not always knowledgeable.
Posted by homer.tompson -- July 27, 2009
never again
This review is for: Regular Savings
So I had this account for about 2 months now and I absolutely hate it only because my money kept going missing.The best part about this bank account was the people working there they never once gave me a problem unlike Sun trust.The worst thing about it was that my money was always going missing im not really sure why so when that happened I told them I wanted my money back and I closed the account.i would not recommend this bank to anyone unless you dont care about you money.I think the bank really needs to watch what they do with other peoples money and they probably need to get a better system to keep track of it all or at least thats what I think they should do.
Posted by SoStuckUp12 -- July 27, 2009
I love BOA
This review is for: CampusEdge Checking
I originally got a Bank of America CampusEdge account because they have a deal with my university (the University of Miami) where they have several ATM locations around campus. One of the reasons I would definitely choose Bank of America over others is the fact that their ATMs take checks without envelopes and cash, and either scan the check, or count the cash, so you can be assured that the deposit will be granted correctly. I also love their account protection services. I was the victim of a fraudulent charge once for a LOT of money, and they got to the bottom of it and made everything work out well.
I also like the fact that their are so many branches of this bank to visit if I ever need to go into a bank to do something.
Finally, online banking with Bank of America is AMAZING. The charges are updated almost immediately, and you can make transfers, pay bills, change addresses, and so much more right from your computer. The security of the site is also great, with 3 different walls to get through before getting to your account info.
Overall, Bank of America is a great bank, and I would recommend their CampusEdge account to any college student.
Posted by umkvec -- July 27, 2009
MY ACCESS CHECKING SUCKS
This review is for: MyAccess Checking
I have had my account for about a year, never had an issue, then recently, I forgot to transfer my money from savings to checking. I had a total of $130.00 of debits over the amount that I currently had in the checking account. I was charged $560.00 in fees. I called to explain that I had made a mistake, as they could see, I had the money in my savings account. I assumed that since they would see that I did have the money, and had never done this before, that I would get all but about $100.00 refunded. I was wrong, and customer service treats you like you are an idiot. I ended up screaming and crying on the phone, I am a single mom, and have lost my income. The money in the account is all that I have in the world, and they stole it from me. I think that my child and myself will move in at the bank since they took my rent money.
Posted by sharonp30 -- July 23, 2009
Mostly positives, a few negatives
This review is for: CampusEdge Checking
Lasalle bank was bought out my Bank of America and I've had this bank for about 23 years. Its a great account! the best thing about it has to be either the many locations or the save your change program. You can access an ATM from almost everywhere! The campusedge checking has that keep the change program that makes it real easy to save extra money. It is a minimum of $25 to open, and no monthly maintenance fee! Pretty sweet! The overdraft fees are horrendous if you're a low-income college student like me. $35 for going under, and $35 more after a certain amount of days....which I believe is 4~5 days. BUT there's also a "Stuff Happens" card which is good for a one-time refund for something like this. It covers overdraft fees, transfer fees, ATM fees, etc. The customer service is great, just watch out for fees that they may not "clearly" explain. I had apparently agreed to a Privacy Assist program when someone called me. I had about $10 left on my account and a 6 days before payday, and a $12.99 charge came up on my account. It was Bank of America's Privacy Assist program! It brought me into the negative.....which I wasn't aware of. Three days later I saw a $35 for overdraft, and another $35 for the length of being negative. WOW! I called their customer service and she was great! She refunded my $12.99 and gave me a month free of this Privacy Assist program which monitors all 3 credit bureaus every 90 days. But not the overdraft fees of $70 total......Bank of America dropped the ball on that one. Remember to ask and be aware of all fees. Also, if a Bank of America representative calls you and offers something for free.....IT ISN'T......get clear answers!!! Other than that fiasco, this account is perfect for any college student and I definitely recommend it and the keep your change program.
Posted by Ballzizzle00 -- July 23, 2009
My CampusEdge Experience
This review is for: CampusEdge Checking
I got the Campus Edge checking about four years ago when I started college. I had been using a local bank that was not available in the town of my college. My mother used Bank of America and recommended them to me. My mother and I both received money because she recommended me. The money was soon deposited into my account as well as hers. The other reason I really interested in this Bank was the “Save your change” program. If you spend $1.05 then $.95 would automatically go into your savings account. I would try to get my gas and other purchases at like $1.01 so $.99 would go into my savings account. It was an easy way to save money. Within less than a year I had saved over $200 just from this option alone! This bank also has lots of other options for their customers. They offer credit cards with low interest and student loans. The service was usually great. The people were most always friendly and used my name. I ordered some new checks once and I told the lady helping me that I could not afford to pay for them so she waved the fee. That is true customer service! The worst thing about the bank is that it is a large bank and there was less of a personal touch as I had previously experienced at my old bank. Overall I think the service was great and I would recommend it to others. For those who have a hard time saving, I really suggest trying the “save your change” option.
Posted by jcg3a -- July 21, 2009
6 years and counting...
This review is for: Regular Checking
I first got a Bank of America checking account right before college, which was about 6 years ago. My parents and I choose to go with Bank of America because as we toured my campus, which is in the middle of the big city, we saw scores of Bank of America ATM's, almost on every corner. There was even one in the lobby of my school.
My experience with Bank of America has been great overall. I love the online banking. It is super easy and user friendly. My bills automatically come out at the end of each month.
I have recently opened another checking account with my partner. It is extremely easy to shuffle money around from one account to another. I also secured a Bank of America credit card. They all show up together on my online checking which is awesome.
On the other hand, over withdrawing from your account will cost you big. I once thought a check had gone through and ended up paying over 100 dollars in charges.
Last month my girlfriend and I took a trip to California and when i got there, I used my checking card about 3 times. We had to pay for parking, gas, snacks, etc. The forth time it got rejected, and there was no possible way there was no money in the account. I tried to call the number on the back of my card but unfortunately they had already closed.
It would have been a disaster if I really needed more money at the point but I put off dealing with the situation until the next day. When I woke up the next morning I had found they had left me an E-Mail and a Voicemail on my home phone. The security fraud had kicked in. After dealing with customer service for about a half hour I got this removed.
I would recommended Bank Of America strictly for the convenience of their location. They are everywhere throughout the United States. Another service to consider is their superb online banking system. I couldn't imagine have a bank without it.
Posted by stardanca34 -- July 21, 2009
It was ok at first
This review is for: Regular Checking
I've been a member of Bank of American for about eight years. I chose it because of it's convenience. There was an ATM on the campus I went to, and my work also banked with Bank of America. In fact, that is probably the best thing about banking with them. They are all over the place. Most cities I travel to have a Bank of America, so I never have to worry about where I'm going to get my money. The worst thing about them is their customer service. Most recently a merchant accidently charged my debit card for over $1000 when I should've only been charged $100. The correction was made within three days, but caused problems with some of my other bills. When I called Bank of America to resolve the issue, they wouldn't or couldn't. I was transferred to about three different departments with each department telling me that THEY can't do anything, and the other department can help. Frustrating. I was finally asked to call back in a few days, I asked if they can put notes in their system stating what the issue was so that someone in another department can read it and help. They said no. Apparently the system each department uses is different. There's no way to communicate the information to another department.
If this were an ideal world where banking issues never, ever happened, then maybe I would recommend Bank of America. But, since odd things can happen and Bank of America is not capable of providing good customer service, or even have systems that work together, I say go somewhere else.
Posted by abush22 -- July 17, 2009
Thieves!
This review is for: MyAccess Checking
I had an account for about 4 yrs at Bank of America. I chose this bank because it was the most local bank available. I like the fact that I had online access to my account and that I was able to add my husband to my account with secondary IDs since he didnt have a driver's license. However, as I used this bank I began to notice how they were working transaction in their favor. I get paid once a month and so I do my bill payments and any shopping I have to do then. I noticed on my online statements that they would charge my account in a certain order in order to charge me overdraft charges. For example, let's say I had $45 in the bank and I used my bank card to spend $1 on monday, $5 on tuesday, $3 on wednesday, $8 on thursday, $15 on Friday, and $20 on Saturday they would tell me that my Saturday transaction would not be completed until Monday. Then they would charge the most expensive thing first, instead of charging what I spent first. So from those $45 instead of charging the $1, then the $5, and so on, they would first charge the $20, then the $15, then the $8, then the $5, then the $3, then the $1. So by the time they charged the $20, $15, $8, they would have to charge me a $36 NSF fee for the other 3 transactions instead of charging things the way they were supposed to and only charge me one NSF fee for the last transaction I completed.
I would not recommend this bank to anyone!! Do not you this bank!! They are theives. You cannot work a person's account in your favor to make money... it's not fair, it's not legal. I live paycheck to paycheck and, yes, I know it's not good to overdraw, but sometimes it's necessary. So I made my transactions carefully and knew was the NSF fee would be. But when I noticed they did this... I closed my account and want nothing more to do with B of A.
Posted by mcg87 -- July 17, 2009
Stay Away
This review is for: Regular Savings
I had a savings account with Bank of America in 2004 and I always had so much trouble with them. My money keep going missing and it was not me using it. I was trying to save money for when I graduated later on that same year. I started it with twenty dollars my grandparents gave me. I made arrangements to clean their home every other week for fifty dollars. I put all of it except twenty in there every time they paid me. In the end I was told that they money was not deposited into my account which I knew was wrong because I am the one who did it. I ended up speaking to the manager and he said that according to their records I only had the same twenty that I started out with. I started to get very upset and counted how much I really added and came to the total three hundred and twenty dollars. At least that is what was supposed to be in there. I closed my account the same day and lost the three hundred dollars. So do not trust these people. I had my stubs from my transactions and that still did not help anything.
Posted by mommy1255 -- July 16, 2009
A Bank of America Experience from a College Student's Point of View
This review is for: Regular Checking
I have had my Bank of America checking account for almost 7 years now. I originally opened the account right before I went off to college in Florida. I choose Bank of America, because my Dad had an account there for years and it was the largest bank in my small home town. At first, I was very pleased with my banking experience. Online banking was always easy to use and the convenience of the locations and ATMs saved me a lot of trouble. However, once I decided to start building my credit history by choosing a Bank of America credit card, my experiences with my account soured. While the amenities for the account are great, they don't come without a price, and while other banks had no fees, Bank of America had some of the highest maintenance fees for a regular checking account. Along with that, once I couldn't make the payments for my credit card, the bank took away services they always provided for my checking account (e.g. while I can cash my checks at other banks, I can not do so with my Bank of America account and must cash them somewhere else and was given no explanation why). Overall, if you are looking for a reliable bank in this turbulence financial time, I would recommend Bank of America since it is largest bank in the world, at the moment. However, if you do open an account, DO NOT get a credit card with them as well, because if something happens you won't get the same quality customer service as before.
Posted by classicalalison -- July 16, 2009
good job
This review is for: Regular Savings
The Bank of America Savings account was very hard to set up maybe because of the attitude the worker was giving me but other then that it was pretty good.Also I think they need to increase there interest rate.I have had this account for about two years now and i originally chose this account because my friend told me about it. My overall feeling about this account is that it is great they really never gave me any trouble. The best thing about this account is that they always keep me updated on my savings the worst thing about this account is that they don't save all the transactions I make. An overall experience i had with customer service was good because they are very polite. I would recommend this account to anybody who would like to save money.
Posted by tiffany10243 -- July 15, 2009
Good for the most Part
This review is for: Regular Savings
I have never really had a problem with my savings account. I do wish they would raise the interest rate though. I have had my account for almost 2 years and have not received much in interest. The fees are also an inconvenience. I have 2 separate savings and one was not showing on my online management, so I wasn't even aware it was active still, and suddenly it came back up and was in the negative and now it is taking money out of my current account. I have NEVER had a problem with the customer service. All the tellers know me and are always polite and very helpful.
Posted by etgarcia619 -- July 15, 2009
My Experience With Bank of America
This review is for: Advantage Interest Checking
I currently have a checking account and a credit card account with Bank of America (BOA). The branch with which I do business is located in the Camp Creek Marketplace. I have had this particular account for about three months now, but I have been with Bank of America for at least eight or nine years, starting in Florida. The reason I selected BOA in the first place is that it was conveniently located when I lived in Florida. It is one of the reasons I stayed with it as I moved to other states.
It is fair to say the overall service has been very good. Branches I’ve visited have all had the same clean, welcoming appearance and a very pleasant, helpful and informed staff. I could easily say the staff is the best thing about the bank as I have never had a bad experience with them. They would, for example, always let me know of opportunities to earn an extra dollar by choosing a CD for a given time period.
Still, my main issue with the BOA is the rate of interest. I have always maintained that it is too low, although, to be fair, I can’t say it much different from its competitors. If I had to recommend the BOA to anybody, (and I would) it would be because it always seems to have a very pleasant atmosphere, a welcoming and very informed staff. Its customer service has been good. That is my experience in dealing with them for several years now.
Posted by salgud -- July 15, 2009
A Checking Account with both Positives and Negatives
This review is for: CampusEdge Checking
I opened my Bank of America CampusEdge Checking account when I was a student and thus, this is why I was able to get the CampusEdge account type. The best part about the account in the "keep the change" feature. The way this works is anytime you use your debit card for this checking account and the purchase isn't a whole number ($10 or $48 for example), they will round up and put the difference in your savings account. It's a cool way build up some savings even though it's actually just your money. However, the catch is that for the first 3 months you have the account, Bank of America will match these amounts 100% so you do make some free money. After the first 3 months they will match 5% which doesn't end up being much unless you spend a ton of money.
Another nice feature of the account is the online banking feature. I no longer get paper statements in the mail and can control everything online. I pay my bills and make all transfers online which is very convenient.
The one major problem I have had with the account is overdraft fees. The overdraft fee is $35 and if you make another purchase before you realize you have over drafted, Bank of America does not stop you and charges you another overdraft fee. This happened to me personally 3 times and only once did would they take the charge away.
Another negative about the account is ATM fees. When you use another bank's ATM that bank charges you and then Bank of America will usually charge another $2.
Overall, this is a decent bank account. However, I'm sure there are better bank accounts out there. especially for people who don't have much money and might overdraft. The question is can you beat the amount of ATM's Bank of America has available in addition to their online banking services.
Posted by lsnyder1 -- July 15, 2009
A great experience
This review is for: Regular Checking
I've had this account for 12 or 13 years and never had any serious problems. The account is basically free, as long as you use it to direct deposit your paychecks and don't need to talk with tellers very often. Anytime I've had issues or felt I was inappropriately charged a fee, the customer service people were attentive and always waived the fee. I use this account for all my online banking needs and it's really easy and reliable to use. You can link it with online savings accounts and transfer your money easily and rapidly. I use it to pay all my bills, and have never had any problems. However, I would caution people against using online banking to send money to a private individual or small company -- to pay rent for example. BofA holds payments to see if others are paying to the same person or business, so they can batch the payments together. That means your rent payments will probably be late. This happened to me -- and it was really annoying to have to go back to writing a rent check again! But other than that small issue, I've never had any problems with the account, or Bank of America in general.
Posted by carlosmentos -- July 14, 2009
Okay service, but fees and low rates
This review is for: Regular Savings
Although Bank of America's locations are widespread and convenient, their savings account rates are poor and there is a monthly charge if you do not meet a minimum balance. I have always had good service at Bank of America branch locations. Tellers are polite and upbeat; however, there are frequently long waits at peak times like weekends and evenings. This is mostly made up for by their new ATMs which scan checks for you on the spot and automatically read the deposit amount off of the check.
I originally signed up for this account during college because Bank of America was in both my home town and my college's town. My savings account charges me $3 per month if my balance dips at any point below $300, even for a single day. This fee is incredibly frustrating. The interest rate on the account is practically non-existent and not at all competitive with online savings accounts. This means that I just keep the basic $300 in the account to avoid the fee and just use my checking account and keep all of my savings in an account with better yield for my money. I wish the interest rate was higher.
Posted by ajo223 -- July 12, 2009
The Biggest Bank Helped Me Decide to Continue My Credit Union Relationship
This review is for: Regular Checking
I opened this account 18 months ago because I wanted an account with a national presence since I often travel for business. I was also tempted by the $25 bonus offer for opening the account and the Keep the Change 100% match at the one-year anniversary of the account opening.
BoA has grown too big for its own good and many of the items in the member agreement appear bank-friendly as opposed to facilitating a strong customer relationship. I have only incurred one overdraft fee because of my fault and I accept full responsibility for it.
The fee structure is draconian and opportunistic. Fees for extended negative balances, for example, only bring in more money for the bank and do not help those who made a simple arithmetic error. The onus is always on the customer to ensure sufficient funds are available, but to impose an additional fee for a negative balance after three days seems almost predatory.
I am grateful I am so conscious of my spending and accounting that I have only been assessed one of the many fees BoA has available.
The best aspects of BoA are 1) they can be found in many locations I travel, 2) their Keep the Change matching program provides extra cash, 3) their online banking interface is intuitive, 4) the wide variety of products and 5) the ability to customize cards.
The worst part of my BoA relationship is knowing if I make a mistake, there are a number of fees the bank can assess, digging those who are financially struggling even deeper to cure their negative account status.
Also not high on my list of negative aspects of banking with BoA is the long wait meet with a teller. On average, I can listen to an entire song and one half on my iPhone before I reach the head of the line. This equates to approximately 6 minutes I could be doing something else. This does not involve the travel time nor the time to perform the requested transactions.
Two positive experiences were receiving my matching Keep the Change contribution on my anniversary date when I had forgotten about it. I woke up one morning and discovered an extra $200 in my account. Very nice.
Also, I had the NSF charge credited to my account after I politely requested it from their customer service department. There was no hesitation on their part and, to their credit, they offered to link my checking and savings accounts to avoid overdrafts; however, there is a fee assessed to use funds from the linked savings account.
If you need a national presence bank, never make a mistake with your accounting and have the funds to make this your primary account, then I recommend beginning a banking relationship with BoA.
If you are not perfect with your record keeping, averse to a laundry list of fees and prefer to have minimal wait times, I suggest another bank or, even better, a local credit union.
Posted by michael.estoy -- July 12, 2009
Love it!
This review is for: CampusEdge Checking
I’ve had CampusEdge Checking for a little over a year and got it because it seemed like the best account from someone who would be going off to college soon. It took me just a few minutes to open this account at a local Bank of America Branch and the employee there told me everything I needed to know about it. It was my first debit card so I was excited and nervous but the people working at the bank were friendly and helpful and put all my worries at ease.
I like this account a lot because it is extremely easy to use and keep track of, plus there are so many hidden benefits. I love how I can see a complete list of my spending history online so I can always check how much I have in my account. I would greatly recommend using the online checking service simply because it can sometimes be hard to keep track how your money and you don’t want to end up paying the $35 overdraft fee. That happened to me once, but luckily they have a one-time overdraft refund so I’ve never lost any money! I would also recommend getting the e-mail/text alerts they offer when you’re balance gets low.
Since I use it as a debit card I don’t have to worry about paying any interest. I’m a student and I’m BROKE a lot of the time but my parents can easily transfer money to my account making it extremely convenient to have this account. I would recommend this account to high school and college students because it’s worked great for me!
Posted by monicam1991 -- July 12, 2009
Not the Best Account I Have Had
This review is for: Regular Savings
After recently moving to the Los Angeles area and firmly out of the local area of the credit union I have been a member of since college, I decided it was time to finally give Bank of America a try for my savings account. The process of opening the account was fairly straight forward and the new accounts person was very polite and friendly. Unfortunately, after that first experience, things started to go downhill pretty quickly. It took several weeks for my account balance to equal what I had deposited despite the fact that my initial deposit was a cashier's check. I also found it very difficult to make transfers and bill payments from my savings account to even my pre-existing Bank of America credit card account. I would select an automatic payment for a certain date and it would either not happen at all or happen a day after the date requested. While this shouldn't be a major problem, I actually ended up getting hit with a late payment fee on one occasion. I was able to call and get it taken off the account, but it left a really sour taste in my mouth.
At present, I maintain a fairly small balance in the account as I think the interest rate is pretty terrible and I really don't like going into my local branch if I can avoid it since it is always packed. Using the computerized banking options are great, but I probably will eventually transfer the funds to another bank down the road that is a little more flexible and frankly not so large and impersonal.
Posted by bmcphail -- July 8, 2009
Campus Edge
This review is for: CampusEdge Checking
I have had a Campus Edge account with Bank of America for 3 years now. I originally chose to open this type of account because I was 17 when I entered college and it was the only independent account I was able to open at the time. The account lasts for the duration that you are in school and it doesn't have an upkeep fee. I am glad that I chose to open the account because it is very secure, safe, and trustworthy. There have been instances in which I have been charged for unwanted items and the Bank of America staff is very helpful in removing any questionable charges as long as you have adequate proof that there was either a mistake or an injustice. There is also a 'Keep the Change' opportunity in which the change from purchases is transferred to your savings. The only thing that I don't like is that if you don't have at least $300 in your savings you are required to make a monthly transfer of $25 tfrom your checking to your savings. I would definitely recommend this type of an account for any student that doesn't already have an account because it is very reliable, easy, and can really help you.
Posted by seanrstreet -- July 8, 2009
Bank of America - Two Thumbs Up
This review is for: CampusEdge Checking
I have been a Bank of America customer for 5 years. I originally started banking with M&T bank (Buffalo, NY), and had a very horrible experience. This was also the case with Key Bank (Buffalo, NY). I decided to give Bank of America a try, and I have had nothing but great experiences. I travel 2-3 times a year, and everywhere I have gone so far there has been a Bank of America branch. It is so convenient, because you never have to worry about being charged fees to use another ATM. Also if you use an ATM that is not Bank of America, they do not charge you a fee in addition to the ATM fee. All customer service representatives, whether they are at a branch or call center have been very pleasant and helpful. There was one instance, where I overdrew my account, but with the Campus Edge checking Account, they give you one free “OOPS” card; they refunded my overdraft fee. There was also another instance where the strip wore out on my card, well all you have to do is go to a branch and they will give you a temporary replacement card that works just like your card until you get your replacement. The one thing I wasn’t too happy about was the recent change in policy of how they assess fees. But overall I would definitely recommend Bank of America as your #1 banking option.
Posted by siryessir77 -- July 5, 2009
Great Service w/My Checking Account at BofA
This review is for: Preferred Interest Checking
My wife and I have had a checking account at Bank of America since 1999. Although the ten thousand dollar minimum balance to waive the monthly service charges is a bit high, the customer service and convenience of Bank of America is outstanding. The interest rate isn’t great, but better than most other banks I have researched, and besides that, it is a checking account so you can’t expect to be making too much or a return. Since our account is pretty old in comparison to others, we have been grandfathered into a lot of perks that keep our account at Bank of America.
We can deposit our money and immediately go withdraw it from the ATM, which has helped in numerous situations. The fact that Bank of America is in almost every city in America that we’ve traveled to helps out tremendously as I like to avoid any cross-banking fees that can occur from using alien ATM’s while in vacation. We were even able to obtain Euros from our recent jaunt across Europe through Bank of America and they took back the remainders upon our return, which halted a lot of the hassle out of that ordeal. Bank of America will continue to gain my business for years to come.
Posted by mjhmturk -- July 5, 2009
CampusEdge Account is Good for Students
This review is for: CampusEdge Checking
I have had this account for four years. I first signed up for the Bank of America CampusEdge account because there were no monthly fees or minimum account balances. My experience with Bank of America has been good overall. When I have gone into the bank to deposit money or ask questions the representatives have been very helpful. When I went in to apply for a credit card, I was denied and the Bank of America representative gave me advice on how to obtain a card elsewhere. That was very good customer service to help me, when there was no benefit to him. The worst part about the CampusEgde account is that there is no complimentary savings account. The regular savings account that I use with the CampusEdge account charges fees for having less than one thousand dollars in your account or making more than five withdrawals / transfers in a month. I have also had a few problems with the online transfer system which will allow me to transfer money from my savings account to my checking account but not vice versa. Overall the Bank of America CampusEdge account is a great option for students who have a small budget.
Posted by cbp231 -- July 5, 2009
A fairly decent account
This review is for: CampusEdge Checking
I've had this account for over 3 years and haven't had any major problems with it. With the account they'll ignore your first overdraft fee which is nice. On the other hand, the overdraft fees are around $35 after that. Most of the time the tellers are reasonable, so if you've withdrawn too much on mistake and have a good reason for needing the fees revoked, they'll usually go ahead and do it.
The ATM card is a nice feature, and Bank of America ATMs aren't too hard to find at least in Florida. But if you do find yourself without one, you can get ready to pay a $2 fee from Bank of America for using a non-Bank of America ATM, on top of whatever the owner of the ATM charges.
The online banking interface is easy to use. It has bill pay and a list of transactions which are now standard for most banks. It has some basic anti-phishing features such as letting you assign an image for your account that shows up before you log in. The only complain I have about the online interface is the short time it gives you before it signs you out for inactivity. This gets annoying which when you're trying to balance two account registers.
Overall, the account is very good for students looking to get their first checking account. The web access makes it easy for them to check their balance, and if they happen to make a mistake and overdraft their first will be ignored.
Posted by yearofthegus -- July 5, 2009
Plenty of Access, Plenty of Fees
This review is for: MyAccess Checking
I switched to Bank of America three years ago while I was working in New York City. Prior to that, I had been using a DC-area Chevy Chase Bank. Because I was traveling a lot for work, I needed a national chain to avoid the steep ATM fees and to this end, Bank of America was most helpful: I could find one anywhere. But I travel for work because I'm an actor and being an actor leaves me with little padding in my account. The automatic savings withdrawal usually gets siphoned back into the checking account from which it came and the $30 overdraft fees can be tricky because Bank of America shuffles transaction posting dates to make it harder to maintain a positive balance if you live paycheck-to-paycheck. I once spent hours arguing with a customer service rep because I had transfered savings money to cover a forthcoming checking transaction, but the Automatic Savings Overdraft Protection Transfer kicked in anyway, leaving me with not one but two overdrafts. So my efforts to manage my own funds only made things worse with the Automatic Transfer options. That aside, I appreciate how Bank of America Online lets me see all of my finances at once. Their dot-com interface is very well organized and lets me toggle between and transfer funds to my Savings, Checking, Credit Card and Roth IRA very easily.
Posted by aravail -- July 2, 2009
Advantage Interest Checking from Bank of America can be costly!
This review is for: Advantage Interest Checking
Bank of America is huge, which is one of it's advantages. It can also seem quite impersonal unless you get a friendly human being involved.
I have had a checking account with Bank of America for over a decade.
It's great to find a branch on nearly every corner and Bank of America ATM's are prevalent.
It can also be very costly. The fee structure seems to be set up to grab as much money from you as possible. If you ever are overdrawn the computer seems set up to bounce as many transactions as possible and charge you as many fees as possible. So be careful!
I have pleaded with a branch manger after getting soaked to the gills with charges one weekend and she actually did back out some of them.
I would recommend Bank of America to someone who is very disciplined and keeps a balanced checkbook.. otherwise beware!
I am giving a three star rating because the account is very good, the services are good. The electronic banking is nice (and free). Billpay is great! Saves a lot of time. But you can really get charged a lot of fees with just one slip up and it can be very costly. Great services but you have to be careful.
Posted by hotspark -- July 2, 2009
Like a rock
This review is for: Regular Savings
I think this is a solid bank, that I have had an account with for 3 years. The customer service seems to be pretty solid, the ATM fees are low and best of all, they have online banking!
The branch near my house give dog treats to my puppy when I hit the drive through.
Negatives are sometimes checks not from Bank of America tend to take over seven days to clear. This can be inconvenient if you need the money immediately. I believe it had bought out several other banks, so they are expanding.
Posted by hopefick -- July 2, 2009
off and on
This review is for: CampusEdge Checking
My feelings towards my checking account with Bank of America are sort of a mixed bag. On one hand, I really appreciate all the options that I do have with my account which include online monitoring, free online transfers (so long as the other party has a BOA account) and same day ATM deposit which is my personal favorite. Same day deposit means that if I go to an ATM before 8 pm and make a deposit, that deposit would automatically be placed in my account and considered as a same day transaction.
My only problem is technically not the account, but the customer service behind it. Personally I think it’s poor; they constantly list my history of transactions incorrectly, which makes it a hassle to track my spending. And since I do a lot of spending on my checking account, my history of transactions gets manipulated a lot (meaning they don’t list my transactions by when I made them) in order to make it appear that I have a negative balance which would result in overdraft fees. They say they list transaction by when their computers receive them, but I think it’s a big lie. Overall, if you are not one to constantly check your spending, I would definitely recommend open this type of account. Their benefits out-weigh their lack of service.
Posted by libanbekele -- July 2, 2009
Fees Fees Fees, and then they also have Fees
This review is for: Regular Checking
I have had this account for a while and recently BOA has been changing fees associated with the account. It's getting ridiculous, and hard to keep track of what I pay in fees. I would not recommend BOA for any banking.
With that said, I first chose BOA because they are a national bank, and they had a branch near my house, and one near the college I was going to attend. I never really had any problems with it until recently.
When I have had problems and have called the customer service, I get mixed responses. Sometimes the customer service people will help and other times, when you are having the same problem, they could not seem to care less about you, they even will try o make you feel like the problem was your fault.
I have had the same hit and miss service from the associates inside my local branch. I recently started my own business, and BOA was not even a consideration for a bank to open my business account with because they have shown me such poor customer service. For what it is worth, if you are considering a checking account, look for a free account with another bank, it will save you future troubles.
Posted by ultimatepete -- July 2, 2009
Great online options
This review is for: MyAccess Checking
I opened a Bank of America account in 2005 after closing an account with Citizen’s after some fraud issues. I can’t remember the application process, so it must have been easy. I had direct deposit at the time, so it was free. I’ve never had a reason to contact customer service. The only time I had an issue was when I was between jobs and didn’t have direct deposit for a month, and was charged a monthly fee (can’t remember the exact amount, but less than $10). Banks and ATMs are plentiful in my area and places I travel, and staff is always helpful and courteous anytime I’ve had to go up to a window. They have new systems at most ATMs now that scan checks, instead of having to put them in an envelope. How many times have you sealed a check and then forgotten the exact amount while making your deposit? No longer an issue. I log in to my account every day to review transactions (am a little more paranoid since the fraud thing), and I find their online system very easy to use. You can download statements, look at activity from a year back, search for transactions, and see the front and backs of checks that you’ve written, which is great since I don’t get checks with copies anymore. I’m sure there’s a bunch of other features that I just haven’t explored yet (online bill-pay for example). I no longer receive paper statements, and I like that option. I’ve had no problems with transactions between my B of A and my ING Savings account. If you’re looking for personal service and a bank that will be more forgiving of fees, etc., you may be better off at a smaller local bank. But for your online banking, and simple debit card and check transactions, B of A is an excellent option.
Posted by danielajf -- July 1, 2009
Pathetic service
This review is for: MyAccess Checking
I have this account from last one and a half year now. And I chose it because they were offering a $100 gift card to open new account.
My overall feeling about this bank account is not very good. They dont even have any free checks available for the checking account. They also charge fees to wire transfer moneys to their account or to any where else.
The best thing about this account is their e-checking system. The e-checks usually arrives in three days or so.
The worst thing about this account is again, they charge fees for wire transfer, they have minimum balance requirements and also they dont provide any free checks to start with.
Their customer service is also not too great. When you call them, usually they keep you on hold for at least one hour and then there is no direct answer to your question.
I would NOT recommend this account to any one else unless if someone wants to pay for wire transfer fees and who wants to keep a minimum balance in their checking account.
Posted by falgunsurani -- June 30, 2009
Decent Account For Students
This review is for: CampusEdge Checking
I've had the CampusEdge Checking account for almost 2 years now and so far so good. I chose this account because I needed a student account that didn't charge me until after graduation. It may not be the best account out there (according to some of my friends), but I have no serious complaints. Bank of America makes it easy for you to pay off credit card bills online - just add their address once and it'll be saved for future payments. I never had any troubles with payment at all. Other than that, the reason I gave it a 3 out of 5 stars is because of the customer service. There have been a couple of times when I needed to call BofA to clarify the signed agreement for the CampusEdge account and 90% of the time, the customer representative seemed reluctant to help. S/he would speak as if you're a nuisance for asking so many questions, but I've gotten my questions answered overall.
So overall, good online account for students but customer service could be better.
Posted by ImmoralShadows -- June 30, 2009
Can't complain about this bank account
This review is for: CampusEdge Checking
I have had this bank account for 4 years now and I can honestly say that I have had no problems at all. I did not originally choose this bank account because it was suggested by the wonderful Bank of America manager.
I really like this bank account because there are no hidden fees at all. There is no monthly charge to your account if you do not have a specific balance.
The best thing about this bank account is the no hidden fee feature. Some banks would charge for everything and anything at all.
The bad thing that I have seen would be the online banking portion and this would not particularly have to deal with CampusEdge Checking directly, it was just bad that any authorization would just disappear when this caused any overdraft activity.
Customer service is great. However, I did encounter a really bad customer service representative when I inquired on the overdraft fees. I had to contact a manager and this rep still had the nerve to get her last word in, I still got my fees reversed!
Overall, I would highly recommend this account to anyone going to school. It is free and will not rip you off like so many other banks. Aside from a few bad customer service representatives, most you will find are kind and understanding. You simply cannot go wrong with choosing this bank account from Bank of America.
Posted by STorres16 -- June 29, 2009
Bank of America Checking Account
This review is for: MyAccess Checking
My hunband and I have had a joint checking account with Bank of America for almost 3 years now and are glad that we made the switch. We chose this account of course because it is their free checking account. Yes, they do charge $35.00 overdraft fees which we found out when my husband overdrafted the account on more than one occasion with many small purchases. The Customer Service representatives were more than helpful and accomidated us on more than one occasion with removing half of the overdraft fees for his silly mistake which was more than I could have asked for since he did overdraft the account and this information was told to us when we first opened the account. The staff is very helpful and always smiling. I love Bank of America! I highly suggest that anyone who is looking for a bank with good cheerful staff take a look at bank of America. Their hours are great for working people as well! I would highly recommend this bank and this account to anyone interested in a switch or even starting out when looking for a new bank.
Posted by Sammieskitten3 -- June 25, 2009
School account
This review is for: CampusEdge Checking
I've had this account for about three years. I opened it up when I needed a bank account for my financial aid money from college.
I have had no problems with this account. It was much better than my other accounts I've had at different banks.
I really like how you they give you forgiveness on one overdraft fee and how you can protect yourself from overdraft with a credit card. I also like the sophisticated and ubiquitous ATMS. You don't have to use envelopes or fill anything out for deposits. They are so quick and easy to use. I also don't remember being charged too many stupid fees.
The only drawback I can think of was having to pay for checks but that's mostly how it's done I think.
When I set up the account originally the customer service was good and efficient. They sat me down and made sure I got what I needed. I also have had to call the 800 number for customer service and the guy I talked to was very professional. He tried his hardest to do what I needed.
I recommend this account to college students needing a good account while they are in school.
Posted by zheaton -- June 24, 2009
Bank of America OK--Read Fine Print Though
This review is for: MyAccess Checking
I opened a My Access Checking account with BOA back in November of 2005 and everything started off great and things are currently okay. I originally chose this account because of convenience. Bank of America is literally EVERYWHERE so I figured I could avoid unnecessary ATM fees if I just switched to BOA. Overall I really feel that BOA is a decent bank. They offer a variety of banking options and this variety is a very beneficial thing. However, I do feel that they are monopolizing the market and really going overboard with the whole fee system they have in place.
The best thing about my account with Bank of America is again convenience. I relocated from MD to NYC and I didn’t have a problem at all with banking because Bank of America is now very popular in NYC too now. Even though my account was opened in MD I never had a problem depositing and waiting for my NYC paychecks to clear for more than a day which was very good to me.
The worst thing about my account with Bank of America is the fee system. The fees are ridiculous—truly!!! They will really stick you with a $35 overdraft fee even if you overdraft by once cent! It’s crazy! Supposedly they are changing this and this is what I mean about BOA and their fine print. As of June 2009 the fee system is supposed to change so that the first overdrafts will only be charged at $10…I know there is more to this but from what I understood this is basics.
My overall experience with Bank of America has been a positive one. The overdrafts at the end of the day are my fault because I should either have the money in the bank of at least overdraft protection of some sort. However, I really believe that Bank of America should really periodically review how there fee system is a big pain for its mainly loyal customers.
I would recommend a Bank of America My Access Checking Account…but make sure that you read all the fine print and if you don’t understand anything regarding your account call customer service and have them explain the details of the account in full.
Posted by cmj0312 -- June 23, 2009
I do not like B of A
This review is for: MyAccess Checking
My experience with Bank of America started off good enough. First, the good stuff: I do like their website - the budgeting tools and graphs are very useful and look great. The website security is top notch, and the live chat help is also good. Where B of A goes wrong is with the people who are poor starving students like me, who live check-to check, like me. B of A loves to re-arrange the order of your transactions to maximize overdraft fees. If you go over your budget by one dollar, the bank will make the largest transaction post first to eat up your balance, then let the smaller charges through, and ding you every single time with an overdraft fee of $35 on the smaller charges. Their reps are not helpful either, and there is NO WAY to turn off overdraft protection! So, I had to close my account!
Posted by AJ -- June 23, 2009
Not competitive
This review is for: Regular Savings
I opened a savings account with B of A because I already had a checking account with them and I'm a least-resistance kind of guy. I guess I deserved to be punished. 0.10% is a pathetic rate. If you already have a checking account, link it to something like ING Direct and get 1.5% instead. It couldn't be easier and your money is still FDIC insured. Or invest in a Chinese ADR and really clean up.
Posted by bennegan -- June 22, 2009
My thoughts of Bank of America
This review is for: CampusEdge Checking
I have had my Bank of America account for 8 years. I originally opened it as a student in college and have continued to keep my accounts with them because of the customer service. I have had a few bad experiences, however for the most part they have taken good care of me.
One bad experience I had was when I had to cancel my debit cards while out of town (I did it by phone). When I was finally able to get into a banking center to get temporary cards until I received my new permanent ones, they couldn’t get them activated in the system because of the way the old cards had been canceled and how the agent had placed it in the system. What an ordeal!! They were finally able to get it resolved after a lot of headache and back and forth.
One particularly good experience that they really helped me with was when an insurance company I had been with went back into my account and took out over $1000.00, three days before Christmas. The company did not have authorization to do this nor did I actually owe them that amount of money (I hadn’t even had insurance with them for 6 months!). BOA helped me deal with the company, got my money back and provided all the documentation I needed to make the company pay backs all of the fees that I had incurred because of the erroneous deduction from my account. They really showed me then that customer service was a top priority to them and that I mattered as a customer. I would definitely recommend them as a bank to someone who wants to feel like they are important as a customer and will be taken care of.
Posted by jaseensmith -- June 22, 2009
Typical Monolithic Bank
This review is for: MyAccess Checking
I've banked with Bank of America for the last 11 years. In that time, I've had several different kinds of checking accounts: student checking, interest checking, and now MyAccess. The different kinds of checking accounts are really very similar, with minor differences in fees and balance requirements.
The best thing and the worst thing about Bank of America is that it is a huge, multinational bank. On the plus side, this means that they have ATMs absolutely everywhere, making it very convenient to withdraw and deposit money whenever you need to. Recently, at least in the Boston area, they've upgraded their ATM system so that ATM deposits post the same day if you deposit by 8pm. This is a great feature, that pretty much eliminates the need to go into a branch anymore. Their online banking system is also very robust, allowing you to do pretty much anything you want from the website.
The downside of BoA being so big is that every customer is just a number. They fee you to death and don't care about keeping you particularly happy because you're just one of millions. If you're primarily an online/ATM banker, and are able to keep close tabs on your account so that you can avoid fees, you'll do well with BoA. But if you prefer a bank with that personal touch, definitely look elsewhere.
Two tips if you're thinking of becoming a BoA customer:
(1) Open your MyAccess Checking account online instead of in a branch or over the phone, that way you can get a free account (for some reason, they can't give sign you up for a free account in a branch); and
(2) If you have any kind of customer service issue, go into a branch instead of using phone or online customer service. In my experience, the people working in the branches are *way* more helpful and knowledgeable on average, plus it's harder for them to blow you off if you're standing right in front of them.
Posted by kortney.shopping -- June 21, 2009
Love this account!
This review is for: CampusEdge Checking
I have had this account open for about a year, and I love it. A promotion that the bank had running at the time encouraged me to open the account, and this has been by far the best banking decision of my life. As a college student, I especially enjoy the fact that no minimum amount of money is needed to avoid a monthly maintenance fee. The customer service at the bank is phenomenal as well - the employees are always very helpful and friendly and are willing to go out of their way to be of service. Bank of America allows many accounts to be opened online - this has proved to be very convenient for me. I have used other local banks before and have not had the same type of experience as the one that I have had with this checking account at Bank of America. I recently visited the bank to deposit money and was directed to a unique, interactive ATM for deposits that also was able to immediately accept checks - I found this to be not only time-saving, but amusing as well. I definitely recommend this account to anyone who is going to college and is looking for an exceptional account and an awesome place to do their banking.
Posted by runnersarefunner90 -- June 19, 2009
Never had an issue with this Bank
This review is for: CampusEdge Checking
I have had this account for about a year. I chose it because they do not hold my deposit funds or the cash deposit before it is available to me. This bank is very big and because of that sometimes customer service is overlooked but so far, I have had great customer service. The best thing is that they allowed me a refund on an overdraft fee and were very polite about it. It helped me a lot financially. They also do not hold my check deposits and let me deposit other checks that people have signed over to me. My husband is not on my account so I have to deposit his payroll check into my account. The bank has never given me grief about this as others have. The availability of the customer service reps is wonderful. I love the chat option on their website and I get fast service that way. In addition, their online banking center is secure and up to date. There are also plenty of baking centers and ATMs in my area that makes banking very convenient. The bill pay option is free and saves me money on stamps and checks. I would definitely recommend this bank to others simply because I have never had an issue with them like I have with other banks. I believe they are dedicated to quality service.
Posted by apriljt79 -- June 19, 2009
A great account...Most of the time!!
This review is for: MyAccess Checking
I've had this account for over 5 years (opened in 2003). I've had my ups and downs with Bank of America. The best part of Bank of America is their fraud department. More than once I've had my debit card number stolen online and used to purchase things I did not authorize...and not once have I been held accountable. Their customer service is wonderful, easy to get a hold of, and usually very prompt. There are also banks and ATM's everywhere. They don't charge to withdraw money from 3rd party ATM's ( you would just pay whatever fee the ATM charges) and they now have ATM's at every mall in my city (San Diego, CA), which are completely free.
The downside to this bank is their fees. They have outrageous account fees, and their overdraft fees are ridiculous. More than once I've been charged an OD fee on a "pending" charge, even though some of those charges never actually go through (such as authorizations), and it IS very hard to get rid of those fees. Those fees have been enough to make me want to close my account more than once, but the convenience of direct deposit and the customer service have convinced me to keep the account open.
Posted by Theaterbelle -- June 18, 2009
Not the Best Experience
This review is for: CampusEdge Checking
I got a CampusEdge Checking account in 2005 when I first went to college. At first I was really happy with the account, there were lots of branches nearby that were staffed with very helpful people. While everyone was always very friendly when I went in I found that it was very frustrating to get anything actually accomplished. I chose to go with BoA because of how many branches they had and that the bank I came from had no branches in town but overall I would have preferred to stay with my original bank. I would often have fees when it was supposed to be no fee, and more than once the amount of money that was supposed to be in my account was not there. Getting this fixed was always a hassle. I felt like everyone was always very friendly but wouldn’t really do a whole lot to help me. The bank also returned checks when the money was in the account and refused to acknowledge this fact, leaving me with fees from them (Non-sufficient funds), fees from my landlord (returned check fees and a late rent fee) and a huge headache trying to get it fixed. It never did get fixed, despite proof that I had the money in the account. Bank of America also makes it very easy to overdraw your account. I would not recommend Bank of America unless you absolutely have to use it.
Posted by januarymosher -- June 18, 2009
great bank unless you fall behind
This review is for: Advantage Tiered Interest Checking
I used to love Bank of America, I'm in the military and they pay a day early and if payday is on the weekend that means getting paid thursday instead of the next monday! Soon i found that it was very very costly with Bank of America if you overdraw your account. It was $35 everytime even if it was by a few cents, and if you miss judge your account in one day you can eaisly rack up over $100 in fees. Overall a good account to have and getting interest on checking is great, just make sure you watch your account closely!
Posted by justapersonus -- June 17, 2009
3 years- no complains.
This review is for: CampusEdge Checking
I have had this account since i graduated high school in 2006. Bank of America is an amazing bank to have an account with. In the 3 years I've had the account, I have not been charged anything that I haven't been fully aware of. Every representative I've dealt with so far has gone above and beyond to help me solve whatever problem I've had. About a year ago, I lost my check card at a Gas Station and the next day when i was able to contact a representative, my account had 5 overdrafts. Needless to say i was very stressed out. Bank of America made the process of getting everything fixed a breeze. In a matter of days i had the money reinstated in my account, and everything was back to normal. I had the same problem with Capital One and it took over a month for them to fix it. Bank of America cares about their customers, or at least it seems like they care about me. I have no complains so far, and i'm hoping it stays that way. An incentive i was offered when i opened the account was a card to forgive my first overdraft fee. When i first over drafted, the representative helped me remove the fee, and gave me advice so it wouldn't happen again, and since then, i haven't over drafted my account. If you want an account that has no surprises, no hidden fees, nothing unexpected, then choose Bank of America. They won't disappoint you.
Posted by svchic022988 -- June 16, 2009
Big Banks won't Leave you Feeling Dwarfed
This review is for: CampusEdge Checking
I got a CampusEdge checking account back when I first entered college in the summer of 2005. I was new to a debt card and new to using a checkbook as well. There was a problem with a check of mine not clearing in time and my account being overdrawn and all I had to do was explain my situation to one of the available tellers and in no time at all the overdraft fee was waived. They have always been very courteous with me and my meager savings, but still treat me like one of their favorite account holders. When it came time to move out of state and had to switch all of my banking information the staff at the bank were an invaluable resource. In an easy 30 minute sit down at one of their branches we were able to clear though everything necessary to make an important part of my travel a little bit easier. Even though it may be a "big chain bank" they still treat you like an individual. The first time I went in I was 18 years old but did not feel as though I was being treated as a typical teenager, but with the respect one can easily come to appreciate. Trying to get in contact with a live operator can be tough, as it is for many company 800 lines, but when you do reach them they are right there to stick it out with you until any problem you have is solved. I still have the business card that I got on the day I opened my account, and it's not a card I will throw out anytime soon.
Posted by dogglesisthebest -- June 16, 2009
Happy with BA Online Checking
This review is for: MyAccess Checking
I am well pleased with MyAccess Checking account with Bank of America. Aside from regular check papers, I get to be able to pay bills online or offline. And I can track all ins and outs on my account anytime, anywhere.
It was easy applying for it. I filled up an online form including my SSN number and all pertinent details and in a few minutes, I was informed that it is on processed. A few days later, I got an email saying that I was approved and in a few days I got the package including my platinum debit cards which is automatically debited ton my checking account immediately.
I also get notice and promotions by regular mail every time as well as a bank statement periodically which I like so that I have hard copies just in case some other credit establishments need it.
I used to bank with Washington Mutual but now I have switched my major bank account with Bank America although I still maintain Washington Mutual as a secondary bank. I like Bank of America as well because they have many branches all over the United States and also worldwide so I know I can always approach them anytime I need anything regarding my bank account.
Posted by jemmerpablo -- June 15, 2009
At Least Earn Some Interest!
This review is for: Growth Money Market Savings
I opened this account about a month ago after I noticed that Bank of America stopped giving me any interest on my Money Manager account that I have had for years. After researching all of the products, I determined that this account was the best choice for the following reasons.
1. I would earn 1.00% interest.
2. I would earn 1.24% interest if I do an automatic transfer of at least $250 monthly from my checking account to this account.
3. I would not incur any fees if I keep a balance of $5,000 or more.
It's not the best deal out there, but I wanted to stay with Bank of America and the customer service rep I spoke with was very helpful in explaining all of my options to me. I consider Bank of America a "middle of the road" bank. There are banks that offer better deals and there are banks that offer worst deals. They are convenient because there are many ATMs and offices in the US, but they do not always have the most attractive deals. If you have a BofA branch near you, I would recommend them otherwise shop elsewhere. Their online and phone support are very good.
Posted by luckharm -- June 13, 2009
Good enough checking
This review is for: Preferred Tiered Interest Checking
This B of A checking is my everyday account - it's what I use for bill paying, it's where I get my work checks deposited, etc. The online banking website is pretty good, and it makes setting up bill payments easy and its very easy to keep track of when I've paid bills and how much I've paid. It pretty much does everything I need it to do.
I know there are better places to put my money (I often feel I'm getting hosed on the interest rates ), but I tend to keep a bunch at B of A simply because its easy given that its basically the hub of my day to day finance operation. The balance I have there qualifies me for the "preferred" service, and I'm not sure what that gets me other than a woman who calls me a few times a year to tell me to put money into juicier products, most of which I can't use because of the nature of my employment (trader), although I will occasionally get sucked into putting cash in 9 month CDs to boost my rates a bit.
Posted by eshigs -- June 4, 2009
My Access Checking account
This review is for: MyAccess Checking
I choose the My access checking account, since there is no minimum balance needed as long as you have a direct deposit posted to your account every month. This is my main account and, i use it for almost all of my transactions. I have my salary deposited into this account, so i do not have to worry about the minimum balance. So, far i have had very good experience with customer service, and have had any issues resolved in a timely manner.
It is very easy to access your accounts online, and view all your transactions. You can set email alerts for specific events, such as when an deposited is posted in your account, or when a withdrawal is initiated. I have set the minimum amount as $100, so i get an email alert whenever there is a transaction posted on my account. This is a very useful feature, and has helped me a lot.
This is a good account for those who will have a direct deposited posted to their account every month. You have to remember that no matter if you maintain a good balance, or have bill pay, unless there is a direct deposit, you will be charged $5.95 every month.
Posted by jaswant_kumar -- June 3, 2009
Adequate. Nothing Spectacular.
This review is for: Regular Checking
It was a dumb reason, but I chose to bank with Bank of America because they offered a Hello Kitty themed account and because I already had a credit card with them. I've heard lots of bad things about Bank of America's practices, especially the part about hitting its members with overdraft fees. However, I personally haven't had any trouble with the account or fees. My only dislike is that they require you to have a minimum checking account balance, otherwise you're charged a fee.
The customer service is easy to reach and does a good job of ensuring my account is safe. Every time I call them about my account they make sure to ask lots of security questions to ensure it's really me that's calling. The representatives are also generally polite and helpful.
One thing that does bother me, though, is that Bank of America uses my information to solicit me. I've received several calls from their telemarketers trying to sell me accidental death insurance or credit monitoring, and they continue to keep calling me even after I've said I wasn't interested.
Online banking is very important to me as I check my account balance often. Bank of America's works smoothly and I've had no problems with it. I like that they implement a personal site key image at the log-in screen to keep their customers from being fooled by fake pages.
Posted by hasu_kinomoto -- June 3, 2009
secure savings with strings attached
This review is for: Regular Savings
I responded to a solicitation I received in the mail. I received a seventy five dollar incentive to open this account. This account is an online only account because there are no Bank of America branches in the New Orleans area. The account is secure and accrues interest monthly. You can make transfers between accounts inside and outside of the bank. Monthly statements are mailed promptly. The only problem I have with the account is that if you fall below the three hundred dollar minimum balance, a five dollar monthly fee is taken from your account. I was taken by surprise when I was charged this fee. I do not remember this fee being disclosed to me when I enrolled. However, the bank is currently waiving monthly fees for unemployed account holders. This is welcome news for me. I called the bank about a week ago and asked for the fee waiver. I did not have any problem getting the customer service representative to waive the fee for me. To my surprise, the customer service representative agreed to waive fees on this account for the next six months. I like this account because I use it as a just in case account. When I am low on cash I can use it for emergencies. It is also a joint account.
Posted by halfapint74 -- June 2, 2009
Why I Love Online Banking
This review is for: Regular Checking
I have been banking at Bank of America for over 10 years. The best feature with this bank in my opinion is the online banking. Because I'm able to see all of my transactions at a glance. Whenever there is a dispute about a bill, it is quite easy to pull the records up and have a copy of any checks written or electronically sent immediately sent to me or the payee.
The thing I don't like about the bank is the always changing rules. When things were really doing good, the bank offered high interest rates, easy mortgage loans and Line of credit. When these services were really needed, the bank either changed or canceled the services.
The fees at Bank of America are extremely high and seem to get higher every year. A returned check for nonsufficient funds cost a whopping $33. There are monthly charges for having a checking account which are high.
The drive through is a really great option. You can even deposit cash into your checking account and get a picture of the money printed right on the receipt. This is a big convenience. With online banking and drive through, there are only rare occasions when I have to go inside the bank anymore. If you deposit a check through the drive in, it will read the amount and also print a copy of the check on your receipt.
The bank needs longer hours and to be open on Saturdays. Telephone support is the worse. You are placed on hold or routed to way too many people with wrong answers.
Posted by aroseteam -- June 2, 2009
MyAccess Checking, free account
This review is for: MyAccess Checking
I love this account! I originally signed up for it about a year ago, because of a promotion they were running. If I opened a MyAccess account and a savings account, Bank of America would match the savings that I had in my account!
I'd originally banked with Wachovia, and had huge problems. I was constantly overdrawn by no fault of my own, customer service was terrible, and there were identity theft issues. So I was searching for a new bank, and saw this promotion with Bank of America. I live in the Charlotte area of North Carolina, where BoA is headquartered, and so there are no lack of locations. I set up my account over the internet and was instantly approved with no waiting or need for an in-person visit. My check card and account information was sent to me within about a week, although I did have some trouble with the 6-digit PIN that they originally gave me. I had to go to a bank location to reset my PIN to one of my own choosing.
I recently called Bank of America to check the status of my promotion, which will be paid out in June (a year after account opening). Everything is still on schedule to transfer to my account, and I've "earned" about $60!
Customer service with the bank is excellent, and it seems that they're willing to give you the benefit of the doubt more times than not. For example, a company once charged my account when they were not supposed to. I contacted the bank and the company in the same day (as the charge would have put my account in overdraft), and the bank took care of the charge 3 days before the other company did! I'd recommend the bank to anyone looking for an easy to use bank account with mobile access and internet capability.
Posted by deuxceleste -- June 2, 2009
WYSIWYG
This review is for: CampusEdge Checking
No hidden fees, but no interest. I never really have enough money in it to earn material interest, so I'm more psyched about not having to pay any hidden fees and the ease of BofA's online Account Transfer system, which allows me to easily transfer money to my friends with BofA accounts.
Posted by danielpfletcher -- May 29, 2009
Pretty good
This review is for: Advantage Interest Checking
I've had a good experience with this account, but I'm going to have to make a change soon because I was laid off and can't be sure I'll make the account minimums to avoid fees in the future.
That aside, if the minimums aren't a problem, and you're not after high interest on your checking account, this is a good account. I like the online banking and BillPay over other major banks. Checks are free unless you want fancy ones. The ubiquity of BofA ATMs, of course, is really great.
I'm giving 3 stars because the interest rate is a big factor to readers of this site, due to the minimums, and because at times the size and scope of the company sometimes gets the better of its good intentions surrounding customer service.
Posted by MSawyer -- May 11, 2009
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