Boston.com readers share their views on banks and debit card fees

If you are a national bank customer: Why did you originally choose a big bank over a local one?

Local bank was absorbed by large national bank.

They had people signing up college students on campus. I regret getting sucked in.

I don't remember but I would imagine that it had to do with value. We have been with this bank for almost 20 years now.

Thirty years ago I opened a checking account with the old BayBank. A decade or so later Fleet bought BayBank, and then Bank of America bought Fleet, and my account has just gone with the flow, with me winding up with my current BofA account. However, until BofA today dropped its plan for a ŭ/mo fee to use debit cards, I was going to switch to Citizens. Don't know if I will now.

The small local bank I signed up with 40 years ago has been continually swallowed up by larger banks, and I've been too lazy to switch -- until now.

If you are a regional bank customer, why did you choose the local bank over a larger one?

I work for the bank.

Because the larger the bank, the less I trust them.

Free checking.

Few fees, no account minimums, and more personalized attention.

We own our own businesses and sometimes have unusual short term financial needs. Banking with a bank where we know all of the people socially already was easier. (We live in a VERY small town).

I do not want to feel that I am in an adversarial relationship with my bank. Although I very much liked the folk at my (former) BofA branch, the parent corporation seemed to be constantly attempting to game the conditions of my accounts.

My bank was proposing new fees.

Want to support local business.

If you are a credit union customer, why did you choose this type of institution?

No checking fees no ATM fees for participating ATM's.

If you answered “Other”, why don’t you use banks for your personal banking needs?

No cost for account - online only - no checks - online payments or direct payments no charge.

What might persuade you to stay with your bank even if a debit card fee is implemented?

Nothing.

If I could avoid the fee by participating in other banking options, such as having a bank credit card or using direct deposit.

I would just stop using my debit card; credit card rewards are better anyways!

Any additional comments?

I prefer to always use an accountable local business whenever I can.

The idea of debit card fees is insane. It was bad enough that merchant fees were exorbitant but now I have to make up for that (as well as BoA's POOR CHOICE in buying Countrywide)? Even though BoA rescinded the idea of fees (for now), I'm still switching.

If people would stop feeding these glutonous banks, this wouldn't even be an issue.

I'm currently a Bank of America customer, but intend to switch to a credit union or local bank.

There are many banks that do no charge fee's just look for them.

Banks and Wall Street do not serve the interests of the general public, but rather their own greed.

It's not just about the extra five bucks. It's about the many things that must be changed over to a new bank, and updated. That said, I put a lot of thought into it when I heard Bank of America's plan was definite, and decided if I couldn't manage to stop using my debit card, I would switch. I've already got my eye on my new, future bank, a small, local credit union.

Congress is grandstanding when legislating bank fees. Customers can and should vote with their feet.

Corporate greed at its best.

We switched to a local bank and were so positively surprised. Not only do they charge us no fees, but the customer service is amazing, and my kids get lollipops when we go there
:-) Seriously though, I wonder why we've been putting up with rude clerks at BoA for years and years...

I would walk into my local bank at my earliest convenience, speak to the manager and tell him or her that I was immediately closing my account due to the fact that they charge for use of a debit card.

I refuse to pay any sort of bank fees. I will be leaving bank of america once, my wife-to-be changes her name.

Already in the process of going local.

If my bank decides to charge a debit card usage fee, I will switch. I think that's highway robbery.

I am in the process of switching from Bank of America to a local bank. My plans are firm, even though BofA has now rescinded the debit card monthly fee.

Many of us have large regional bank and credit union. Not either or customer. Shop for services and do not put all the eggs in one basket.

Banks have been making more and more money on fees as opposed to their traditional sources of revenues. This has been made much worse with the housing crisis and the current low interest rates.