re: Whitney/Hancock vs Regions

Let me give this fair warning: When I moved to BR, I opened an account with Regions because (1) wife had account and (2) it was the only bank in my hometown and in BR. I'm normally a credit union guy.

I moved here, got married, and then opened a joint account (so 3 accounts total). I immediately realized that Regions charges $10/mo each account unless you direct deposit something like $800/mo into EACH account. That wasn't a huge deal, but...

My wife had her purse (all cards/id/a check book/etc) late '12. Regions suggested that she put a hold on her account related to stolen items, which was no big deal because we had the joint she could use. Unknown to us, the power bill kept trying auto-draft and somehow Regions kept letting it ping. For some reason, Regions fined us for trying to use an account on hold each time. It got to a point where the damn power company was trying to auto-draft every other day! The total fees from Regions reached $300+ and we were even talking with a Branch Manager while we got charged another time.

Long story I know, but basically what we learned was that when it comes to handling personal/non-normal issues with Regions... It can only be handled by the Branch Manager of the Regions branch the account was started at. No matter if the account was started 20 years ago and 1000 miles away, you have to put boots on the ground and walk in the bitch to get anything resolved. God help if the branch is closed.

The best thing about Regions is that you wont (I didnt) have a limit as to the amount you can withdraw, walk out with cash in hand, and deposit into another bank.

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Most credit unions now are linked in some way. A lot are with Credit Union Service Centers. This means that you can transfer/withdraw/do business at a bunch of locations, instead of just a few in town. If I would have known this when I first moved here and got married, I would have never opened a Regions account.

This shows 142 credit unions in LA that use Credit Union Service Centers

EDIT: Forgot to conclude, Regions would not remove their own fees totaling ~$350. The branch the account was started at wouldn't even help. I had to pay the fee in full in order to withdraw and leave Regions.

frick REGIONS