Banking Options in North Carolina

How to Find the Best Banks in NC

There has been a great deal of down and up within the banking world ever since the recession hit at the end of 2008. A number of North Carolina banks failed, new banking regulations were established and small, local banks in North Carolina 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 regards to their money. Use this guide to learn more about what to look for, what to prepare for, and ways to make the most of your banking experience.

Bank Services in North Carolina

If you are considering which bank should get your business, the services they supply should be a key concern. Bank services go well beyond setting up a checking account. Today, banks in North Carolina can be a one stop shop that delivers:

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

As you can see North Carolina banks offer 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 staff at your local bank should be acquainted with your accounts and responsive to your requests.

Your finances are an essential part of your life and well-being. Everyone at the bank should understand that and care about your financial success as much as you do. Take the time to evaluate what services you need. This should help you narrow down the selection of banks and make certain they can provide what you're interested in.

North Carolina Bank Services for Free vs. for a Fee

Many North Carolina banks offer free services like free checking accounts and checks, free debit cards, free educational materials, etc. However, some services are available for a fee. Generally 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 the cost 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 North Carolina

As stated earlier banks in North Carolina can fail, and when they do it can be catastrophic for anyone that uses their services. If you are contemplating your bank options there are signs to look for to ensure you're selecting a bank that is stable.

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

Look for North Carolina banks with a long history of stability within the banking industry. The longer they've been in business the better, but make certain 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 locating a good bank in North Carolina. This first-hand experience will give a good idea of what you can expect from working with a particular bank.

Look for North Carolina banks that offer 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's a cap set at $250,000 per insured bank. If you're worried about loss of deposits and have more than $250,000 the safest bet is to set up an account at two separate, insured banks in North Carolina.

If you follow these guidelines and do your due diligence to research multiple options you're sure to find a bank in North Carolina that can suit your needs.