Bank Research

We're gonna switch banks. Please add information and questions that would help us in our decision.

Our Information and Questions

Us

• Current accounts:
• Sorts of transactions that we'll need to make on a regular basis:
  • A few times per week: cash and check deposits
  • Payroll through Paychex, once per month
  • Tax payments through Paychex, monthly, quarterly, yearly
  • Online transfers from eBay sales (mostly payments to us), monthly or so
• Sorts of transactions we'll need to make occasionally:
  • Get change for tills
  • Extra related accounts for holding grant money

Them

• What do your monthly statements look like?
• Where's the nearest branch where we can accomplish most of our banking needs?
• What sort of online access would we have to our accounts?
• Do you process credit cards?
• Fees for bounced checks?
• Interest rate on savings, checking?

Credit Unions

Credit unions tend to have fewer fees for banking, and less rules to navigate in order to avoid extraneous fees. They also keep our money local-er. We've been advised that, if we go with a credit union, we should use a big one. Here are 3 big ones in town.

• First Technical http://www.firsttechcu.com/
  • This one's really big. The closest branch is in close-in Lloyd District, but that branch doesn't have _all_ the services available. It has basic ones, though.
  • Closest branch (exact location): 650 NE Holladay St. Suite 160, Portland, OR 97232
  • Services available at this location:
• Unitus http://unitusccu.com
  • Shawn's CPA, who works with lots of credit unions, likes this one best because it's still efficient, but it's a little smaller and more warm and fuzzy feeling. It used to be Oregon Telephone Employees Credit Union, and its closest branch is by PSU.
  • Closest branch (exact): 1300 SW 6th Ave Portland, OR 97201
  • Services available at this location:
    • Unitus Mortgage
    • Notary | Safe Deposit Boxes | ATM | Tech Center | Coffee Bar
• On Point (PTCU) https://www.ptcu.org/
  • Closest branch: 1720 NE 9th Ave. Portland, OR 97212
  • Services available at this location: NONE -- Does not allow business accounts.

Banky-banks

Big banks, in theory, won't mess up as much, but have more fees.

• Key Bank http://www.key.com/
  • Closest branch: 726 SE Morrison St, Portland, OR 97214
  • Services available at this branch:

• Umpqua Bank http://www.umpquabank.com/ are based in Oregon.
  • Closest branch: 1448 NE Weidler St, Portland, OR 97232
  • Services available at this branch: