/money/perfi/credit/2009-07-08-banks-overdraft-fees_N.htmIt's pretty shitty out there right now banking-wise. The banks in Wilmington are going down faster than that Thai hooker on the stairs of David Carradine's hotel. Cooperative Bank of Wilmington was the latest victim and turned up fresh as First Bank of Troy. 39 banks have failed so far nationally, two in Wilmington, NC. Cape Fear Bank was also "saved" by First Federal a few months ago.
What to do? This banking crisis isn't over and the banks are only going to get greedier as the market that they destroyed with their crappy lending, borrowing, and trading practices comes back to bite them in the cojones. The search for a decent bank gets tougher everyday because the new regulations will do nothing to protect the consumer from the banking lobby and the resulting feeding frenzy of competition for profits--at least not right away.
The friendliest and least greedy bank we've been able to find is Royal Bank Of Canada. They're friendly (without being fake) and they solve your problems quickly and without
ramping up the consequent fees for every little mistake you might make. Sun Trust is probably the closest to RBC in the quality of service and convenience of banking.Maybe the reason that RBC gives a shit is that they own the hockey arena in Raleigh and realize that messing around could be bad publicity for the team. If you're sick of BB&T stealing from you, or Bank Of America not staying out of the bad side of the news, or you're wondering what happened to all that great service at the credit union, and what the fuck went wrong at Well's Fargo/Wachovia, then RBC might be the right spot for you.
As far as Wachovia goes, does the term "Too Fast, Too Furious" mean anything? They cut their own throats with the garrote of greed and constant expansion, and no one who has worked for them or banked with them has one good thing to say about one of the largest failures in modern banking history. No such complaints at RBC...so far.
Next: Busted And Disgusted
