Where do you bank...?

[Snow]

This is bananas.

Maybe I'm just spoiled, but here in BC we have this wicked Credit Union called Coast Capital Savings. They have this wicked account called a Free Chequing, Debit and More account. Basically it is what is claims... Unlimited cheques, unlimited debit transactions, unlimited ATM withdrawals (even from other banks/institutions... The other institution might charge you $1.50 but Coast levies no extra fees). You can set up as many chequing and saving sub-accounts as you like. Free online bill payments... Online banking... Telephone banking... Everything. It's great. I haven't paid a single bank fee for years.

Here's my dilemna. I'm moving east as I've previously mentioned and I'm going to need to start going to another local bank since Credit Unions don't cross provinces. I looked at TD... RBC... HSBC... BMO and a couple others and I just don't get it... Why would I give the bank $25 a month plus "applicable fees" levied when I decide to use my money? It doesn't make sense. They are using my life savings to invest, loan etc and they keep the profits and pay me %3 per annum (if I'm lucky in a high-interest savings account).

Anyways enough about my ranting and raving and more about my question for you... Where is the best place to bank in Ontario? I'm moving to the Waterloo area so something near there would be cool. Hoping someone can point me to a bank or Credit Union who isn't going to charge me half my TV bill in banking fees every month.

If I can't find a legit bank I might just have to hide it all in a mattress or hollow out a door because I'm pretty sure every other option at this point is about as entertaining as a vasectomy.

[m_melen]

I don't know how it works in Canadia, but my bank is Chase. Free checking, free savings, unlimited transactions etc. I'd look into them, they work for me.
I absolutely refuse to pay for a checking account. I dumped BMO because of $8 a month lol

[Bignoga]

PC financial my friend bet way to go. Able to use cibc machines and such. zero fees

[RABBIT]

Yeah I rock pc too

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[beacher1B0]

Yeah Pc banking is good. But in my region there is no PC tellers. All banking has to be done by phone, web or ATMs.
Im a CIBCr, they treat me good if I can keep 1500+ in an account. No fees then. Which makes no sense, making the poor, poorer.
Meridian is one of the largest Credit Unions in Ontario and are pretty good, but not the same as it used to be. They r also bout to merge with Dejardins also.
Credit Unions used to be awesome in Ontario, Profit sharing and referal discounts. The province should never have let the unions take away those perks!!!!!

[Snow]

Well apparently I can still use my CCS card everywhere... Including in ATM's all over the place and that. If I don't want to pay even the other banks fees I just have to find a Credit Union on the same network ("Exchange" etc.) and then it will be entirely free.

TBH I never go into the bank anyways... I usually use ATM, online banking etc. The only snag I could hit would be with a mortgage since they can't mortgage property outside of BC, but in that event I think I will just get a mortgage broker to help me out in that area.

I will have to look into Meridian since I know CCS does some work with Desjardins and it seems to have turned out ok... But that's just their credit cards.

Otherwise PC it is I guess.