switching banks

My husband and I opened accounts with Banco Popular a couple of months ago. It was actually efficient service when we opened the account. We haven't had any problems so far. Only minor setback is the lines inside and the drive-thru lines are always packed. We've waited in line for an hour just to make a deposit. We've resorted to just using the ATM for our transactions now. Overall, we're happy with the bank though. It's where our employer's account is so it's really easy to take our payroll checks there too.

Bank of America is not on island, but they work with Scotia Bank so you can use their ATM's for 'free'. I loved gambling at the Scotia ATM in Havensight. I am up $30 still.

To explain, they had either thieves or idiots running the ATM machine. I would try to withdrawal $40 and get $30. They would never do anything for me. A couple of times I had to withdrawal cash for my rent. Had to go to the ATM two days in a row because of cash limits per day. Anyway, I would get all 20 dollar bills and a sometimes a 50 dollar bill instead. It was always exciting to get ahead. I don't think there is even supposed to be 50 dollar bills in the ATM, but whatever. Like I said, I am ahead $30.

We did set up an account with Banco Popular. It was fine. Just don't do any banking on a Friday afternoon. Everyone is in line to get their checks cashed. ATM's worked 8 out of 10 times. We did have days when all ATM's would go down on island - I think there is one Sprint internet line that they are connected to and if it went, they all did. Some of the new ATM's did not 'reboot' or whatever so you had to wait until they were serviced. You quickly learned to carry VISA or some cash to get you thru the weekend or a day just in case.

Teresa

They're all the same. You have to figure out the best time to be there and absolutely not lunch-time. Welcome to island life!

We use Banco Popular on STX and have had an excellent experience. Our employer is of of the few who offers direct payroll deposit and this is works beautifully too.

Our only problem is all the propoganda that comes with our monthly statement is in SPANISH. I hope aren't missing anything by saving it all until our Mexican daughter-in-law visits!! lol.

edited to make verbs and nouns agree.

Teresa, can you say more about the relationship between Scotia Bank and BOA? Does this mean if I have a BOA account I don't have to open a new one in STX with Scotia? Probably not. I should be so lucky.

The BofA/Scotia Bank relationship is strictly ATM fee related. BofA checks will not be acceptable most places in the VI. I have a BofA account stateside and a Banco Popular account here. I hate BofA for a number of reasons and have recently opened a Wells Fargo Bank account so the BofA account will be closed as soon as the automatic deposits/withdrawls are switched from BofA to WFB.

Crap, Linda J - now even our verbs and nouns have to agree???? Man, there ain't nothin' good to fight about no more.....

Can I just agree with you that B of A is horrible? Was horrible? Will forever be horrible? And can I get an Amen, Sistuh on that????

Not edited because I don't know how to make everything agree....

Bank of America is the worst in my opinion. I have had so many situations with them that I now have a 24/7 hotline number answered by a live person. First of all, they are not a nationwide bank. They are regional like all banks. I found this out when an ATM malfunctioned and ate my card in Georgia and apparently they could not give me an emergency new card because my account was set up in Kansas. The two systems don't even 'talk' to each other. They will shut off your VISA debit card anytime they feel like it and blame it on their computers. We purchased groceries with the VISA debit card in Georgia and the same day my husband used it again over the phone for a transaction in Mississippi. They shut off our card because it was two transactions in two different states. That was one of 10 times they have randomly shut off our card for no 'real' reason. We have so many auto online payments, direct deposit, VISA debit card already set up, etc. that changing banks would be too time consuming and mess up everything...but if I could find a good credit union, I will switch in a minute. EORTFL (End Of Rant Thanks For Listening)

Teresa

EORTFL - Eeyore only rites this for linguists?
B of A were dreadful and still are dreadful.
We used First Bank of PR on island (StX) and were extremely happy with their service - both for our personal and our business banking. I still hold a checking account with them even though we have moved Stateside.
I used Banco Unpopular when I lived in PR and their service was sporadic at best and their snafus were quite ghastly!!