Banking Options in Minnesota

How to Find the Best Banks in MN

There has been a lot of up and down within the banking world since the recession hit at the end of 2008. Numerous Minnesota banks failed, new banking regulations were put in place and small, local banks in Minnesota proved they were just as viable an option, if not better, than the big national banks.

All of this uncertainty and change has left many consumers questioning which bank they ought to trust with their money. Use this guide to learn more about what to look for, what to expect, and ways to make the most of your banking experience.

Bank Services in Minnesota

If you're considering which bank should get your business, the services they offer should be a key concern. Bank services go well beyond setting up a checking account. Today, banks in Minnesota can be a one stop shop that provides:

• Checking
• Savings
• Investments
• Credit counseling
• Budgeting help
• Debit cards
• Credit cards
• Loans
• Direct depositing

As you can see Minnesota banks provide a wide variety of services to meet all your financial needs. Some even have educational materials and programs to help kids understand money and family finances. However, the most important bank service is customer service. You need to be able to get a hold of a real person 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. The employees at your local bank should be knowledgeable about your accounts and responsive to your requests.

Your finances are a significant part of your life and well-being. Everyone at the bank should recognize that and care about your financial success just as much as you do. Make an effort to evaluate what services you need. This enables you to narrow down the selection of banks and ensure they can provide what you're interested in.

Minnesota Bank Services for Free vs. for a Fee

Many Minnesota banks offer free services such as free checking accounts and checks, free debit cards, free educational materials, etc. However, some services are available for a fee. Normally these are more specialized services that require expertise.

When you evaluate you are banking needs, note which services are important enough that you'd be willing to pay for them if necessary. When you're researching and interviewing banks make sure to ask about fees and fee schedules. Depending on the service it may be worth it to pay a fee versus getting a sub-par service or not getting it at all.

What to Look for When Choosing a Bank in Minnesota

As mentioned previously banks in Minnesota can fail, and when they do it can be catastrophic for the people that use their services. When you're contemplating your bank options there are signs to look for to ensure you're picking a bank that is stable.

Good banks will offer you lots of ways to communicate with them. This includes online and offline modes of communication. As stated previously they will be quick to respond and handled any issues or concerns professionally.

Look for Minnesota banks with a long history of stability within the banking industry. The longer they've been in business the better, but make sure they haven't ignored the newest trends and technology. A good litmus test is to see how the bank weathered the recent recession when the financial sector was at it's worst.

What do customers have to say about the bank? Customer reviews and personal recommendations are powerful tools for finding a good bank in Minnesota. This first-hand experience will give a good idea of what you can expect from using a particular bank.

Look for Minnesota banks that give you a lot of ways to manage your money. If you have a busy schedule it's important that the bank have online services so you can access your accounts from anywhere, any time of day.

Make sure the bank is FDIC insured. This protects you from any loss if your bank fails. However there is a cap set at $250,000 per insured bank. If you're worried about loss of deposits and have in excess of $250,000 the safest bet is to open up an account at two separate, insured banks in Minnesota.

If you follow these guidelines and do your due diligence to research multiple options you are sure to find a bank in Minnesota that can provide what you need.