island banking

We've had good luck with Banco Popular. There are no banks here tha are also on the mainland.

When I visit, I use the ATM at the Scotia Bank in F'sted because they don't charge me a fee on my Wachovia account. I think all the banks on STX have a web site that explain their fees and services.

FirstBank has the most branches and ATM's available on STX, which makes them a more convenient option for me than the other banks on the island. The service is pretty good at the Orange Grove branch. Service isn't quite as polite or competent at Sunny Isle, but that branch is open until 6 PM on weeknights and also has Saturday hours. Most of the other banks on the island close by 3 PM each day and wouldn't think of being open on Saturday.

We have an account at First Bank. I have only gone to the one at Orange Grove, but they were very nice to deal with.

First Bank were always able to satisfy our banking needs. The King Christian Branch in C'sted had delightful personal service from the manager down - I love Miss Bunting!

Banco Popular does have a small presence on the mainland wherever there are large Puerto Rican communities--- such as NYC, Chicago, Miami and Orlando. Before the NY Yankees were eliminated you could see their logo in left field at Yankee Stadium. I chose Bank of St Croix because they are locally owned and operated. VI Community Bank is also locally owned and operated.

Bank of STX offers great service and they are building a second branch in Peters Rest.

VI Community Bank is terrible. In the 15 months I banked with them I was only able to get the debit card they gave me to work at K-Mart. This bank is owned by the same folks that own Innovative. Enough said.

Jim

I started with Banco Popular because they have branches in NJ where I moved from, but on STX I found banking with them to be awful: long lines, broken ATMs, and dingy looking branches. So I gave up and opened a First Bank account, and I've been very happy. Few lines, the ATMs usually work, and they have a good appearance.

Just to throw another in the mix.....The Bank of St. Croix. As I live near Gallows Bay, they are very convenient, however at a price. The is a charge for billpay on line, a charge per month for the accounts, a charge for each check, a charge, a charge, a charge........

The good part of our relationship is that they are very personable, and as a small bank tend to flex rules and regulations. I am not a 'big banker', yet all of those good people skills are kind of wasted when I realized that I could have filled my gas tank twice on what was charged.

My housemate goes to banco Popular. Free paying bills online, at least I believe a certain number of paper checks processed for free, etc.

Although I hate to lose the convenience, I do like the concept of two tanks of gasoline!

Warm regards,

Dan

No strings free banking in the VI is a novel concept. VI Community Bank also charges fees comparable to Bank of STX.

Both banks calculate earnings credits and interest based on the balance in your checking account. These amounts can partially of fully offset the service charges. With interest rates being higher I often in fact get free checking from Bank of STX.

Jim

1st Bank, charges a fee on checking unless you have a minimum of around $1000.