How often do you actually go into a bank, and why?

[project15]

About once a month to get quarters for laundry.

[project15]

My bank (USAA) allows me to deposit checks at home usings my scanner and the money goes straight to my account. My loans with them are complete over the phone and fax. They they also reimburse me all atm fees so I really have no reason to set foot in a bank anymore, and it is fantastic.

Wow, that's trust!

[Daylily]

My primary bank account has a branch in my grocery store. I only stop in there about once a month though.
I visit in person only when I have checks from my odd jobs. I also use the bank when I want to deposit coins. Other than that I do everything online or with ATM.

I'm to the point where I don't like to visit the teller. Everytime I make a deposit and then they look at my balance the tellers try to 'sell' me a service or a CD or try to get me to make an appointment with their investment rep. No thanks. I know that the tellers get a bonus for making a certain number of referrals a month or for opening a certain number of CDs.

[Taribor]

Wow, that's trust!

They have earned my trust over many years. I don't think you will find many USAA members with much negative to say about them, and if there is a better, more robust package of services (financial planning advice commission free, all insurance, money market, checking/savings, brokerage, etc...) offerred by another bank/credit union with a higher emphasis on customers service, I would have to see it with my own eyes.

[disneysteve]

So far, I'm reading that folks go into a branch to cash checks, get change, get candy for the kids, pick up a free pen, and various other things that create zero income for the bank (it actually costs the bank money to provide these services). That still leaves me wondering how they support all of these new branches that they keep building.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

My husband goes to the bank about three times a month. Usually he uses the drive through ATM, but sometimes the drive through teller, and sometimes the inside teller. Most such visits are to deposit small checks or to withdraw a little cash.

Personally, I have done none of the bank visits in two years. When I used to do it more often, I would drive through probably half the time. My young son would try to scrunch down in the back seat. He did not want to be seen because he did NOT want the teller to send out lollipops to him. Funny kid.

The thing that most cut down on my use of the bank was to stop paying cash for groceries. (Credit card now for the rebates.)

Four years ago I cashed a relative's checks though my account, as he did not have a bank account. That kept me going to the bank regularly, and always inside so that I could address questions, show i.d., get the balance verification, and request certain denominations more easily. They seemed less suspicious when I went inside to cash these checks. I guess it took extra time and they did not like the drive through lane getting bogged down either.

Last time I was in our bank was one year ago when we needed their free public notary service as we were re-financing the house.

[gotalkmoney]

Great question. I only find myself going into the bank if I need to make a bigger deposit or I have a specific question. I always find it easier to get an answer from a live person rather than a phone call.

99% of the time, I do all my banking on the ATM

[collegemomma]

Well, I usually go in when I have a rare check to deposit (usually for the kids or a refund of some sort), need change for a yard sale, and when one of the boy's accounts reaches $505 I transfer $500 ($5 stays in to keep account) to a CD. As for using the ATM...it's at the branch so it doesn't take that much longer to just go in. If I want cash, then I request cash back when I'm at a store.

[DebbieL]

I don't even have a bricks and mortar bank. I use ATMs for deposits, withdrawals, etc. I do everything else online or on the phone. I don't miss live tellers at all.

[DebbieL]

They have earned my trust over many years. I don't think you will find many USAA members with much negative to say about them, and if there is a better, more robust package of services (financial planning advice commission free, all insurance, money market, checking/savings, brokerage, etc...) offerred by another bank/credit union with a higher emphasis on customers service, I would have to see it with my own eyes.

I think they meant it was trust on your bank's part (trusting your scanned checks).

[dardhel]

My bank is also in TX and I live in NJ. I haven't physically been in a bank in years. With the latest online banking innovations like online deposits I can do everything from home. Quite easy and pain free...

[Jazzmint98]

Prior to this week, I have been doing bank transactions online and through the ATM. I recently went to a brick and mortar bank for probably the first time in over 5 years to cash my payroll check. After some of the employees' payroll checks have bounced, I decided that I would be better off just cashing the checks from now on at my employers bank although I don't have an account there. Before this incident (which luckily didn't affect me...yet), I have always deposited my payroll check through the ATM.

[BabyBear]

I actually have 3 accounts at three different banks:

1 personal account at a bank about 15 minutes from home, but it's the "big city" where everything is where I go anyway (Wal-Mart, fast-food, grocery store, etc). Also, the company that I work for banks there.

1 personal account in my small town where I live.

1 account where I am treasurer of our local youth bowling association.

I go to the first bank at least 2 times a week for my company to make deposits. I also use this personally for deposits about two-three times a month since my ING account is tied to this account. I also use this account for my debit card.

Bank #2 is used to deposit payments for household payments (mortgage, utilities) I use this one sometimes to get change for my company since it's easier for me to stop there on my way home. I get paid weekly so I am there every Thursday depositing househould payment money. I have really gone to mostly using cash so I deposit some money and use cash for everything else.

Bank #3 is only used a couple of months during the year (mostly August/September when bowling leagues start back up). I go several times a month to deposit money. Then after that I rarely have to go since I only write about 5 checks a year from the account.

[jodi]

I actually go into a bank about once a month, on average, usually because I have forgotten to bring my ATM card with me. I usually deposit checks and make withdrawals through the ATM solely. I have also gone in to purchase savings bonds or to correct an error/ask a question about my account. DH went in yesterday to our bank to correct his SS number - they gave him the hard sell on a credit card while he was there (and we already have a cc with them). That certainly doesn't make us want to do any more transactions in the bank itself.

[bucketheadmn]

I have been to a bank branch one time in the last 2 years - deposit all my change to ACH the funds out. I have actually not used a "bank" in over a year as I do everything through my brokerage account including paying bills, cash from ATMs, direct deposits, mailing in deposits of checks....