Which Bank?

If you really want to know I can find out. I think it's $10.00. It doesn't make sense to tie up $900.00 I don't have to in a bank here. That's a lot of money. I'm afraid to ask what they charge for checks.

I waited a month and a half for the checks First Bank ordered me to arrive. 2 weeks later I saw a charge on my statement for $254.00 for checks.

Order your checks yourself through deluxe.

Scotia took 7 months to give me checks, and still won't let me wife onto my account or change our address to the place we live, in the VI. The same bank that takes out our monthly mortgage payment to them won't send our statements to the same address or let us have checks with that address. You can't make this stuff up!

So now they don't get my business and I know lot's of people here that refuse to open accounts here.

I'm still a bit confused. You've been here a couple of months but know "lots of people that refuse to open accounts here" and equate that with the banks demanding a daily balance of $1000 for free checking. But then you say that one of the banks you approached only imposes a $5/month service charge if you can't maintain that minimum balance. So your objection is to paying $5/month which you think is unfair? Forgive me if I'm appearing dense but I can't understand the logic you're putting forward.

As far as the cost of cheques is concerned, I agree with the previous poster about ordering your cheques from an online supplier. I've done that for more years than I can remember and financially it's a no-brainer.

Do clear it with your LL about using an off-island account to pay your rent, too. You may have already done so but just a heads-up that many locals don't like accepting off-island cheques as the turnaround time can sometimes be lengthy. Many like to simply take the local cheque to the issuing bank to retrieve the funds in cash rather than depositing it. To quote EE's admonition, "you aren't in the states any more".

So now they don't get my business and I know lot's of people here that refuse to open accounts here.

I'm still a bit confused. You've been here a couple of months but know "lots of people that refuse to open accounts here" and equate that with the banks demanding a daily balance of $1000 for free checking. But then you say that one of the banks you approached only imposes a $5/month service charge if you can't maintain that minimum balance. So your objection is to paying $5/month which you think is unfair? Forgive me if I'm appearing dense but I can't understand the logic you're putting forward.

As far as the cost of cheques is concerned, I agree with the previous poster about ordering your cheques from an online supplier. I've done that for more years than I can remember and financially it's a no-brainer.

Do clear it with your LL about using an off-island account to pay your rent, too. You may have already done so but just a heads-up that many locals don't like accepting off-island cheques as the turnaround time can sometimes be lengthy. Many like to simply take the local cheque to the issuing bank to retrieve the funds in cash rather than depositing it. To quote EE's admonition, "you aren't in the states any more".

Don't assume because I registered here recently I'm new to the islands and this message board. Thanks for reminding me again I'm no longer in the states. I've been to STT several times over the last 6 years for months at a time. I've also been following this forum for at least that long. I will admit that banking is something I failed to look into more closely. I have cleared it with my LL and he's willing to accept a stateside check a week in advance.
$1000.00 daily balance is a ridiculous amount of money to avoid $5.00.

No assumptions - you said in a quite recent post that you've lived here only a month. It is what it is and feeling that things which are different are "ridiculous" will only give you stress headaches as I can assure you that this is only the beginning. Just not sure what all the angst is about over $5/month. Good that your LL agrees to accept stateside cheques but my little warning was given just in case you (or anyone else seeking information) weren't aware of the general reluctance to accept off-island cheques for services.

No assumptions - you said in a quite recent post that you've lived here only a month. It is what it is and feeling that things which are different are "ridiculous" will only give you stress headaches as I can assure you that this is only the beginning. Just not sure what all the angst is about over $5/month. Good that your LL agrees to accept stateside cheques but my little warning was given just in case you (or anyone else seeking information) weren't aware of the general reluctance to accept off-island cheques for services.

I really appreciate you feedback. It's not so much the $5.00. I did forget to mention they want all cash. I had a paycheck plus cash totalling 1k. I was told the check would take 3 days to clear because it was from another bank. I would be charged the fee because I did not meet the daily balance.

I never had to have a min. balance nor do I at Banco Pop.

I never had to have a min. balance nor do I at Banco Pop.

Thanks. I'll look into it. Do you know if they're FDIC?

I never had to have a min. balance nor do I at Banco Pop.

Thanks. I'll look into it. Do you know if they're FDIC?

They're members of FDIC and you can find information on service fees (as I read it there is a minimum daily balance requirement) here:

http://www.popular.com/vi/checking

Thanks OT. I saw that yesterday. That's more like it.
Thanks also Alana and everyone who replied. JD

My checks run about the same ($34.) whether I order thru bank or onlline.
I swtiched from Chase when it became First Bank due to problems which I cannot now recall to Banco Pop many years ago so they may have changed their min. deposit policy.

However, if I ever have a problem I make an appointment to see the bank manager and have always had good service. I deal with same person consistently so I don't have to go thru the whole thing of explaining to 5 different people over and over and getting handed off to another person. Never had any of the problems mentioned above such as waiting months for checks, getting additional checks if required or making address changes. That's crazy!

They do charge a fee for processing checks and checks ordered but they have drive thru options at their various locations which I like.

They did lose a deposit once that took 3 weeks to recover. Luckiy I had the stamped deposit slip copy with date/time. My total bank charges for last yr. ran $162.03 and that was for checks, checking fees, wire transfer charges, etc. I have never been charged a fee if my balance got beow $1K. Good Luck.