Banking Options in Wisconsin

How to Find the Best Banks in WI

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

All of this uncertainty and change has left 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 Wisconsin

If you're 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 Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin banks offer a wide array of services to fulfill all your financial needs. Some even have educational materials and programs to help kids learn about money and family finances. However, the most important bank service is customer service. You'll want 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 familiar with your accounts and responsive 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 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 searching for.

Wisconsin Bank Services for Free vs. for a Fee

Many Wisconsin banks offer free services for example 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 ready to pay for them if necessary. When you're researching and interviewing banks make sure to ask about fees and fee schedules. Based 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 Wisconsin

As stated earlier banks in Wisconsin 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 mentioned previously they will be quick to respond and handled any issues or concerns professionally.

Look for Wisconsin 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 most recent 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 Wisconsin. This first-hand experience will give a good idea of what you can expect from using a particular bank.

Look for Wisconsin 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 is a cap set at $250,000 per insured bank. If you are worried about loss of deposits and have more than $250,000 the safest bet is to open up an account at two separate, insured banks in Wisconsin.

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