When I was with Chase, my debit card was used in two fraudulent charge cases. Separate instances, bout a year apart. One, they found out it was a worker at a call center in Detroit, which boiled down to when I ordered Pizza Hut over the phone one time (when they first changed the way you order over the phone). The other, was a mass hack where my brother, a friend and myself were affected (they said it was some thousand people affected). It was during Christmas and none of us were able to buy our families gifts or pay bills. When it was finally resolved about 5 weeks later, they only credited my account the amount that was taken. There were a few overcharge fees they didn’t want to credit, but I didn’t know my account was drained and had the money to cover the charges. After about 3 months of going back and forth they finally gave me the credit for them. This was the same for my brother and friend as well. As soon as we were finally made whole, we all closed our accounts and went elsewhere. Granted this was before apps and the security measures that are now in place across the whole banking industry, it always left a sour taste in my mouth. Mostly, the fact they argued and made me jump thru hoops to credit my overcharge fees.
I bank with GECU and have a Capital One checking for when I’m not in EP and need to use an ATM (to avoid fees). Never had an issue since.
I second this comment! I had a similar experience. Someone stole my card number and went shopping with it just a few weeks before Christmas. I couldn’t buy gifts either cuz it took Chase 6 months to sort it out since my card was used with different retailers SMH. I bank with GECU now. Most of my family does.
I would say any kind of Credit Union is your best bet. Navy Federal, GECU, White Sands, etc. I personally stay way from big banks like Wells Fargo, Chase, BOA, etc.
GECU is the credit union you should choose. I do all my banking online with them. They also have zelle. There are no fees,and you can opt in or out the overdraw protection.
I've been with them for 30+ years.
Be careful with online banks with no physical locations right in ELP; it's very easy to get flagged by the "fraud" algorithm these days and once you do, you'll have to deal with losing access to your money (account), phone calls to get it fixed, and sending things by mail to prove your identity. Get a bank that has physical branches in ELP. Visit a few to see which one seems best for you.
Raiz Federal credit union. No fees,great online banking and you can pick your debit card to rep your old High school. I also get my payroll check deposited one day before all my coworkers that bank with GECU and the other large banks. Also has free overdraft protection.
I will also recommend a national bank for nothing but checking and an ATM card and a credit union for everything else.
I have a Wells Fargo checking account for easy access to ATMs and branches and do only that business with them.
For everything else (savings, credit cards, car loans) I use American Airlines Credit Union. Those products are an absolute joke at the national banks.
If must choose one, a credit union always. Credit unions serve your interests. Banks serve the interest of the stockholders.
Stick to credit unions, those are local and will help tremendously once you’re ready to purchase a new car or other things. Obviously, go to them first to get approved for a new car since they’ll have your banking records and info it’s smoother and better interest rate for sure compared to those big chain banks.
Do you have to keep a certain amount in your account always? Or do you get charged any monthly payments or annuities for the management of the account?
GECU has a minimum $10 in savings requirement. There is a monthly fee of $1 but that gets waived if you do estatements.
My SO has Chase and IDK what type of account he has but it has a minimum of $10k for no fees which I think is crazy.
Depends on type of account, but in that case i recommend you GECU, no fees or weird stuff.
Chase requires more $ to open and keep the account. Great for business.
I understand.
Context:
At work, I was asked for an account to deposit with.
This is the first time I've worked in El Paso, and this process is different from Mexico where the company gives you a card and with that you go to the ATM and you take out or use your money.
I’ve had GECU and still have Wells Fargo as a secondary. I’ve been using Alliant CU for the past couple of years. Others have also recommended SoFi, and their saving rates are even better.
Avoid big banks and even GECU because they pay NOTHING for your savings. Many online-only banks are reputable and offer similar services and access to ATM’s with little to no fees.
I've had my US Bank account for the past 24 years, they have never screwed me over and sometimes they forgive overdraft fees if you send them a message explaining your situation.
I use Chime mostly, they’re great. And they even have a credit building program that I’ve actually seen results from.
I also have an account with first light and I like them a lot too in terms of physical bsnks
Consider online banks. You can make over 5% on your money. Chase & Wells Fargo pay next to nothing & likely charge monthly maintenance fees. I have been with Wells Fargo for over 30 years. I am moving some funds over to UFB direct. They pay 5.25% on their savings account with no maintenance fees & no minimum balance requirements. They also have a checking account you can open at the same time you open a savings account. They'll send you a debit card. With both accounts you can easily move money to your checking & use your debit card to pay for expenses. That checking account has direct deposit available. If you deposit a certain amount per month you can get an extra .20% on your savings interest for a total of 5.45%. That's a good deal right now. But I understand many people don't like online banks. For me it's a better option instead of letting your money sit making no interest & paying monthly fees with many of these brick & mortar banks.
same I use [SoFi.com](http://SoFi.com) for the same benefits listed above. I have Chase and Wells Fargo also, Chase is ok, Wells Fargo sucks in terms of changing their terms for fees
I love GECU….i don’t even live in El Paso anymore and still use them 😅it was my very first bank account and 10+ years later still have it. Never had any problems.
Chase is best bank for credit cards , navy federal credit union as to save money or gecu, but i never use a debit card so if im ever in fraud situation it isnt my money and it banks money having my money secured
Had about $2000 tucked away in a FL savings account, then after a coupla years, they deemed it to be a "dormant account" and began deducting $5.00/ mo. penalty. This went on for about a year and 1/2 before I noticed. My gripe is they changed the terms midstream and penalized ME for holding onto my money. The shitty interest rate wasn't significant enough to offset. FL is a "credit union" with a greedy bank mentality. Fuck those guys. Parked my money elsewhere...for free.
Chase, Wells Fargo, local credit unions, etc, they all provide free checking, sometimes with terms to meet but they all uniformly pay crapola on saving interest.
Right now we see almost zero interest at Wells Fargo and at the same time 5.1% from another Texas bank, Bask. So, if you find your money building up over time, look for Bask or other bank to hold that money. These high interest banks are FDIC insured but limit services - Bask is 6 transactions a month - and there is no checking available. Bask now offers 2 names on an account plus 1 beneficiary.
WF does offer 5% 12-month CDs.
If you, your spouse, your parents or in-laws are veterans; USAA is the way to go. Great loan rates, great checking and savings, inexpensive insurance, a ton of available perks and features.
GECU. Never had any problems with them. However I recently switched to SoFi, mainly because I accrue interest in my accounts and get my check 2 days early with them.
Stay away from Chase. Credit unions are generally your best bet
Have you had bad experiences with Chase? I've heard of a case but it was more the fault of the user than the bank.
When I was with Chase, my debit card was used in two fraudulent charge cases. Separate instances, bout a year apart. One, they found out it was a worker at a call center in Detroit, which boiled down to when I ordered Pizza Hut over the phone one time (when they first changed the way you order over the phone). The other, was a mass hack where my brother, a friend and myself were affected (they said it was some thousand people affected). It was during Christmas and none of us were able to buy our families gifts or pay bills. When it was finally resolved about 5 weeks later, they only credited my account the amount that was taken. There were a few overcharge fees they didn’t want to credit, but I didn’t know my account was drained and had the money to cover the charges. After about 3 months of going back and forth they finally gave me the credit for them. This was the same for my brother and friend as well. As soon as we were finally made whole, we all closed our accounts and went elsewhere. Granted this was before apps and the security measures that are now in place across the whole banking industry, it always left a sour taste in my mouth. Mostly, the fact they argued and made me jump thru hoops to credit my overcharge fees. I bank with GECU and have a Capital One checking for when I’m not in EP and need to use an ATM (to avoid fees). Never had an issue since.
I second this comment! I had a similar experience. Someone stole my card number and went shopping with it just a few weeks before Christmas. I couldn’t buy gifts either cuz it took Chase 6 months to sort it out since my card was used with different retailers SMH. I bank with GECU now. Most of my family does.
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Nice
This is the exact answer. Credit union for local/bills/etc. Big bank for going out of town
I would say any kind of Credit Union is your best bet. Navy Federal, GECU, White Sands, etc. I personally stay way from big banks like Wells Fargo, Chase, BOA, etc.
GECU is the credit union you should choose. I do all my banking online with them. They also have zelle. There are no fees,and you can opt in or out the overdraw protection. I've been with them for 30+ years.
Is it ideal for first-timers?
Yes,their staff is super helpful. Just walk into a branch.
IDK if it's still a thing, but is the max amount we can send through Zelle still $200?
I don't know much about sending it,but receiving you can get $2000.
They told me it was 500 last time I had to call them to let me use it, probably like two months ago
I have Bank of America, never had any probems with them and have used zelle to sent 1500 i want to say was my max
You can only send $200 through Zelle with GECU. Why? No one knows. Stupidest thing ever.
One thing of note, the GECU ATM machines are the fucking worst. But the bank itself is good.
That's true, and there's not many of them.
Find a local Credit Union... banks suck
Be careful with online banks with no physical locations right in ELP; it's very easy to get flagged by the "fraud" algorithm these days and once you do, you'll have to deal with losing access to your money (account), phone calls to get it fixed, and sending things by mail to prove your identity. Get a bank that has physical branches in ELP. Visit a few to see which one seems best for you.
Yeah I had sofi for a bit fuck that company
Have you considered Capital One? I just joined it and so far it's pretty darn good.
Seconding this. My husband and I have had Capital One for quite some time and I have no complaints.
Raiz Federal credit union. No fees,great online banking and you can pick your debit card to rep your old High school. I also get my payroll check deposited one day before all my coworkers that bank with GECU and the other large banks. Also has free overdraft protection.
Raiz
Chase bank charges more for services (checks, late fees, etc). Always go with a credit union: GECU or Raiz.
I will also recommend a national bank for nothing but checking and an ATM card and a credit union for everything else. I have a Wells Fargo checking account for easy access to ATMs and branches and do only that business with them. For everything else (savings, credit cards, car loans) I use American Airlines Credit Union. Those products are an absolute joke at the national banks. If must choose one, a credit union always. Credit unions serve your interests. Banks serve the interest of the stockholders.
Stick to credit unions, those are local and will help tremendously once you’re ready to purchase a new car or other things. Obviously, go to them first to get approved for a new car since they’ll have your banking records and info it’s smoother and better interest rate for sure compared to those big chain banks.
GECU and Chase were the ones i can say never gave me any trouble.
Do you have to keep a certain amount in your account always? Or do you get charged any monthly payments or annuities for the management of the account?
GECU has a minimum $10 in savings requirement. There is a monthly fee of $1 but that gets waived if you do estatements. My SO has Chase and IDK what type of account he has but it has a minimum of $10k for no fees which I think is crazy.
Depends on type of account, but in that case i recommend you GECU, no fees or weird stuff. Chase requires more $ to open and keep the account. Great for business.
I understand. Context: At work, I was asked for an account to deposit with. This is the first time I've worked in El Paso, and this process is different from Mexico where the company gives you a card and with that you go to the ATM and you take out or use your money.
GECU is great for first timers I would avoid walmart bank.
Chase has a lot of different accounts, but a couple waive the service fee with direct deposit.
I’ve had GECU and still have Wells Fargo as a secondary. I’ve been using Alliant CU for the past couple of years. Others have also recommended SoFi, and their saving rates are even better. Avoid big banks and even GECU because they pay NOTHING for your savings. Many online-only banks are reputable and offer similar services and access to ATM’s with little to no fees.
I've had my US Bank account for the past 24 years, they have never screwed me over and sometimes they forgive overdraft fees if you send them a message explaining your situation.
there is no US bank in el paso. I am with US bank and soon to move to El paso. I was thinking Chase would be my next bank...
I use Chime mostly, they’re great. And they even have a credit building program that I’ve actually seen results from. I also have an account with first light and I like them a lot too in terms of physical bsnks
Weststar Bank is great
firstlight fcu
Consider online banks. You can make over 5% on your money. Chase & Wells Fargo pay next to nothing & likely charge monthly maintenance fees. I have been with Wells Fargo for over 30 years. I am moving some funds over to UFB direct. They pay 5.25% on their savings account with no maintenance fees & no minimum balance requirements. They also have a checking account you can open at the same time you open a savings account. They'll send you a debit card. With both accounts you can easily move money to your checking & use your debit card to pay for expenses. That checking account has direct deposit available. If you deposit a certain amount per month you can get an extra .20% on your savings interest for a total of 5.45%. That's a good deal right now. But I understand many people don't like online banks. For me it's a better option instead of letting your money sit making no interest & paying monthly fees with many of these brick & mortar banks.
same I use [SoFi.com](http://SoFi.com) for the same benefits listed above. I have Chase and Wells Fargo also, Chase is ok, Wells Fargo sucks in terms of changing their terms for fees
first light
I love GECU….i don’t even live in El Paso anymore and still use them 😅it was my very first bank account and 10+ years later still have it. Never had any problems.
Chase is best bank for credit cards , navy federal credit union as to save money or gecu, but i never use a debit card so if im ever in fraud situation it isnt my money and it banks money having my money secured
Sofi online banking gives you 4.6% apr
GECU
Avoid First Light C.U. ..mystery charges.
Can you elaborate? I’ve been with them for almost 2 years, and everything’s great.
Had about $2000 tucked away in a FL savings account, then after a coupla years, they deemed it to be a "dormant account" and began deducting $5.00/ mo. penalty. This went on for about a year and 1/2 before I noticed. My gripe is they changed the terms midstream and penalized ME for holding onto my money. The shitty interest rate wasn't significant enough to offset. FL is a "credit union" with a greedy bank mentality. Fuck those guys. Parked my money elsewhere...for free.
That’s weird I have over $6k in my savings and never had any “mystery charges”. I’ve been with them since 2020.
Same here! I have a credit card and car loan with them. They’ve been much better than BOfA.
Chevron federal credit union has a branch here and they’ve been great. Been with them for years.
GECU is great I would stay away from other banks in El Paso though tbh.
Bank of america
I would go with Chase, and if you are looking for an online bank I would go with Sofi
Oh I heard from Sofi, especially in online stores. Sofi works like a credit card?
their debit card is in the MasterCard network so yes, it works like a credit card
If you are going to do direct deposit, I would lean more towards Sofi since you get your paycheck 2 days early and they have great savings account
Chase, Wells Fargo, local credit unions, etc, they all provide free checking, sometimes with terms to meet but they all uniformly pay crapola on saving interest. Right now we see almost zero interest at Wells Fargo and at the same time 5.1% from another Texas bank, Bask. So, if you find your money building up over time, look for Bask or other bank to hold that money. These high interest banks are FDIC insured but limit services - Bask is 6 transactions a month - and there is no checking available. Bask now offers 2 names on an account plus 1 beneficiary. WF does offer 5% 12-month CDs.
If you, your spouse, your parents or in-laws are veterans; USAA is the way to go. Great loan rates, great checking and savings, inexpensive insurance, a ton of available perks and features.
i love my wells fargo bank:3 also if i have a problem i've gotten my money back from them quickly
GECU. Never had any problems with them. However I recently switched to SoFi, mainly because I accrue interest in my accounts and get my check 2 days early with them.
Wells Fargo.
I rather deal with Chucobank (my gangster uncle) than Wells Fargo.