Banking Options in Washington

How to Find the Best Banks in WA

There has been a great deal of up and down in the banking world ever since the recession hit in late 2008. A number of Washington banks failed, new banking regulations were established and small, local banks in Washington proved they were just as viable an option, or even better, compared to big national banks.

All of this uncertainty and change leaves many consumers questioning which bank they should trust with regards to their money. Use this guide to find out more about what to look for, what to expect, and how to get the most from your banking experience.

Bank Services in Washington

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 Washington 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 Washington banks provide a wide array of services to satisfy all your financial needs. Some even have educational materials and programs to help kids understand more about money and family finances. However, the most significant bank service is customer service. You should be able to get a hold of a real person 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. Employees at your local bank should be knowledgeable about your accounts and attentive to your requests.

Your finances are an important 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 make certain they can provide what you're interested in.

Washington Bank Services for Free vs. for a Fee

Many Washington banks offer free services like free checking accounts and checks, free debit cards, free educational materials, etc. However, some services are offered for a fee. Typically these are more specialized services that require expertise.

When you evaluate you're 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 worthwhile 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 Washington

As mentioned above banks in Washington can fail, and when they do it can be catastrophic for anyone that uses their services. When you are contemplating your bank options there are signs to look for to ensure you're picking 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 Washington 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 latest 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 individuals have to say about the bank? Customer reviews and personal recommendations are powerful tools for finding a good bank in Washington. This first-hand experience will give a good idea of what you can expect from using a particular bank.

Look for Washington banks that offer you a lot of ways to manage your money. For those who 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 in excess of $250,000 the safest bet is to set up an account at two separate, insured banks in Washington.

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