Bank in NYC

[Fleet23]

I have to open a new bank account, because I currently use a credit union that doesn't have a branch in NYC where I'll be attending grad school.  Does anyone have any advice/things to look for as I scope out good banks in NYC?  Capitol one seems to have a lot of ATMs, convenient ways to deposit cheques, and relatively few fees.  Thoughts?

[TonyFerreyra]

I heard citibank is really good.

[Jvcxk]

I just spent my entire undergrad in NYC and the city is swamped with citibanks. 

Plus, in my experience, citibank has a lot of student-friendly options, no (or very minimal) fees, and I'm pretty sure they got into the mobile check deposit thing like other big banks did. 

[juilletmercredi]

There are lots of Citibanks in NYC, and if you are going to Columbia, that's the bank that has the most on-campus ATMs.  There are at least two on the main campus (one in Lerner and one in Uris, the business school), and a couple on the medical center campus too.

 

Chase bank is also a good one, with lots of locations and ATMs.  There's a Chase ATM right at 113th and Broadway, and the closest branch is at like 111th and Broadway IIRC.  There are Chases all over the city, almost as ubiquitous as Citibank.  Whenever I stop at an ATM it always seems to be a Chase one.

 

Bank of America is eh.  The closest one to main campus is at 107th and Broadway (campus ranges from about 114th to 120th between Broadway and Amsterdam, so it's a bit of a hike).  I would go with Citibank or Chase over this one.  I have Bank of America and it always seems like I have to go out of my way to get to a BoA ATM, whereas I pass Citibank and Chase ATMs just walking around.  (If you're going to be on the med center campus, though, there is one on 168th and Broadway and a full branch on 170th and Broadway).

 

There's a TD Bank on 110th and Broadway and TD has later hours and supposedly pretty good customer service.  But I don't see that many TDs all over the place.

 

There's also the option of going with an online bank, which usually has free ATM fees.  I have one account with Ally Bank, which is a pretty good online bank and you can withdraw money from any bank's ATM.  Not only do they not charge you fees, they will also refund you the ATM fees.  Of course an online bank is not a good option if you like to go in and see the teller for any reason, or if you ever need to deposit cash.

[Lady6Starlight]

I'm a current resident of NYC and I use Citibank, they have a great fee-free student account program.

However, their locations are not nearly as common as Chase. Chase is EVERYWHERE! But I've heard from friends that their fees are highway robbery.

[anumber1]

I was in the same boat as you (I still love my credit union. They used to greet me by name and give me free coffee.  ) I ended up picking ebanking from Bank of America (only banking via atm and online, no teller) because there's one down the street from my apartment and another one a block from where I work. There's a $8 monthly fee though. Sadness. I know NYU has it's own credit union for anyone affiliated with the school (student, staff, faculty, what have you). Maybe Columbia has something similar? Otherwise go with CitiBank since Chase really does get you with their fees.

[Erpnope]

Yeah don't go with Chase - I know a lot of people who have left Chase. I use Citibank, tit's kind of whatever, they have a decent amount of fees but they're literally everywhere in new york.