Samantha ([info]getpeached) wrote in [info]oberlin,
@ 2004-06-30 18:24:00
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Current mood: full
Entry tags:banks, for incoming first-years

You know the best things in life aren't for free...
What bank do Oberlin students use on campus? I have a summer job and I need to open a bank account, but to keep things simple I would like to use a bank that is also on-campus. The banks around me are PNC Bank, Citizen's Bank, Mellon Bank, National City, Dollar Bank (i.e. relatively major chain banks)...are there any of those near the Oberlin Campus that would simplify the process of switching my account from here to Ohio?

Thanks!
Samantha


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(Anonymous)
2004-06-30 03:47 pm UTC (link)
there's a few options (all the banks are very close to each other and just off campus)... whatever you do, don't use firstmerit. they're terrible to their clients. but the other 2 are fine enough, i believe.

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[info]getpeached
2004-06-30 03:49 pm UTC (link)
Haha thanks for the warning

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[info]electracide
2004-06-30 03:47 pm UTC (link)
Pretty much everything in Oberlin is "on campus," so I think you mean "in town." I use First Merit, but a lot of people don't like them very much. There's also the Ohio Educational Credit Union, and...one a bit further down the street whose name escapes me. So you have 3 options, pretty much, if you want to open an account in town.

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[info]getpeached
2004-06-30 03:51 pm UTC (link)
Hmm, your on campus/in town observation is quite true. Thanks :-)

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[info]angiecita
2004-06-30 04:03 pm UTC (link)
The Ohio Educational Credit Union has treated me VERY well. I'd go with them. You need $5 to open both Savings and Checking, you get a certain number of free non-OECU ATM transactions, and they're just generally nice.

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[info]electricpotato
2004-06-30 04:22 pm UTC (link)
i like first merit because they have the most convenient atms, and i am a lazy sack of crap. and i've never had any problems with them. i didn't even know they had a reputation for being horrible. anyway, atm location might not be the best way to make the decision, but i just thought i'd throw it out there.

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banks
[info]burdenofdreams
2004-06-30 04:41 pm UTC (link)
I am not sure if community investment will play a roll in your decision on what bank to use. In case it does:

First Merit sucks. They used to have some shady loan packages that were tantamount to predatory lending. They got fined for not fulfilling their community reinvestment obligations. It just isn't a real community oriented bank.

Lorain National Bank does a much better job investing in community projects, helping first time home-buyers, minority businesses, etc. Plus, it is one of the few independent banks left that hasn't been swallowed up by a national chain.

Out of the banks you mentioned, only National City has a presence in NE Ohio but isn't in Oberlin.





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Re: banks
[info]getpeached
2004-06-30 04:56 pm UTC (link)
I like the sound of Lorain National, I'll definitely look into it. Thanks!

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Re: banks
[info]farebellafigura
2004-06-30 09:11 pm UTC (link)
I used Lorain National and they were very nice. The only problem is they will add a service charge to your savings account if you let the balance drop too low, so I just opened a checking account (free there) and used that.

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Re: banks
[info]homais
2004-06-30 04:57 pm UTC (link)
And as a bonus, Lorain has provided nothing but good service and they've always been almost unnervingly friendly to me.

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[info]inparticolare
2004-06-30 07:28 pm UTC (link)
Do a Credit Union. Credit Unions are cooperative, meaning that the members are also the owners and employees, and the board is full of volunteers who are elected from the membership by the members. In other words:

Whereas a regular bank whose main aim is to make profit, a credit union will not fuck you over and treat you much more nicely than any other financial institution, as you are the owner of the bank.

If you're worried about distance, it's maybe thirty feet more from the other ones. You'll be walknig at OBerlin a lot anyway, and that won't seem like nothin'.

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[info]danibannani
2004-06-30 11:25 pm UTC (link)
First Merit SUCKS. They fuck you over all the time. Uhg. SO not a place to bank.

But... they do have ATMs in Cleveland and Elyria, whereas, the other banks don't. So, if you are planning on needing money while out and about, First Merit may be the place for you. Just be REALLY careful with not overdrawing.

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[info]illudwinnepooh4
2004-06-30 11:46 pm UTC (link)
Perhaps the moderator would like to save this thread to Memories?

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[info]lo_spettro
2004-07-01 12:43 am UTC (link)
I second that.

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[info]getpeached
2004-07-02 09:33 am UTC (link)
Woo my question was memory worthy! ::does a victory dance::

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[info]ilunas
2004-07-28 12:10 am UTC (link)
it is done. also check out another thread in the memory secion from last year on the same topic. intresting.

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[info]perfect_line
2004-07-01 07:42 pm UTC (link)
sigh, i already switched all my banking to first merit for the reason that it's in oberlin. they are nice to me around here at least...oh well, guess we'll see

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[info]missnizz
2004-07-02 06:13 pm UTC (link)
first merit rapes you and eats your soul.

lorain national is wonderful and does not eat your soul (or charge you 2.50 at their atm).

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[info]electracide
2004-07-02 07:03 pm UTC (link)
I've thought about switching out of First Merit, but now all the tellers know my name and are really sweet to me, and I've overdrawn a bunch of times but I've never been charged for it...

Maybe I just got lucky?

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Probably lucky
[info]mirrizin
2004-07-05 05:16 pm UTC (link)
I used FirstMerit for a while, mostly because they had the most aggressive "Come use our bank!" people at the banking session at orientation. When I overdrew over the summer, I definitely got a $35 or so fine, and later switched to Loran national, who have given me no problems since.

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