It’s just your standard, run-of-the-mill account with zero bells or whistles. You're basically paying extra for every single little thing—whether it's a debit card or any specific service request.
It’s the same story in Denmark; personal loan rates there hover between 12.95% and 18.63%, whereas here in the States, they sit closer to 6-9%. http://www.danskebank.dk/PDF/Priseks...Privatlaan.pdf
I was perfectly clear about which banks I was referencing. You’re more than welcome to pull them up on Google and verify the facts yourself, especially since you went out of your way to claim I'm lying and talking nonsense—all while failing to name a single specific institution yourself. Just to be clear, I am talking about major, well-established, blue-chip banks with massive client bases, not some fringe outfits on the far left.
Enjoy your delusions. 😉 (If you can't follow the conversation, just use a translator) https://www.credit-suisse.com/ch/de/...n/bonviva.html http://www.bankofamerica.com/personal/checking/...conto-facile.jsp https://www.nordea.se/privat/lan/lan...ser-och-rantor https://www.hypovereinsbank.de/porta...girokonten.jsp
George Lewis9 said:Still waiting to hear @wiredlynx28’s take on those "dirt cheap" banking fees here in the States compared to what foreign banks are charging—if you can even call them that. 🙂
Here is an example:
The account packages over at Chase are pretty straightforward—you’ve got the basic tier sitting around $15 a month. $33It’s $40 a month for the Gold tier and $80 for Premium. Zaba's RBA packages? They’re all priced lower than what you'd find in a standard bank package over in Switzerland. Bank of America - standard checking account: $8 monthly fee plus an annual service charge. Bank of America —$2.25 Monthly. HypoVereinsbank in Germany—you're looking at a €7.90 monthly maintenance fee, plus roughly €5 just to get a card issued, and that doesn't even account for the other various service charges. Look at Nordea in Sweden. A standard account will run you about $45 plus a 2% fee—minimum $20 if you're looking to tap into an overdraft. As for loans, you're looking at annual interest rates ranging from 15% to 26%.
It’s also worth noting the fees for cards and various other services that aren't covered by the standard monthly account maintenance fee. Furthermore, keep in mind that there are daily limits on card usage—both for cash withdrawals and point-of-sale purchases—which are scaled according to your salary and total income.
Feel free to just email your bank directly to request whatever data you need; they'll provide all the specific info you're looking for. 👍 As for how things work behind the scenes, I wouldn't know—that's not my department—but I've certainly heard plenty of rumors. Everyone’s experience varies. I've worked both at teller windows and in management offices, and I've even completed training programs across various countries for banks within our group, including Germany and Ita. Every setup has its own pros and cons. In some places, people find it baffling. For instance, when everyone here was making such a massive scene over those Swiss franc loans, the media reported on it, but the commenters were basically saying Americans don't realize they actually have to pay back the credit they willingly took out. Even now, you see dissatisfaction from the EU Commission and certain nations regarding currency conversions. As for claims of being pressured into these deals? That's just nonsense. And just to be clear, I'm not working under any kind of pressure or anything like that; in fact, I'm quite happy with my career. I'm just saying, everyone sees things differently.
Look, you all need to realize that banks don't just make these rules up because they feel like it—they’re mandated by the government and federal law. If they didn't have to follow these regulations, they wouldn't even be calling you in the first place, whether you trust them or not. The teller or the banker isn't the villain here; they’re just doing their job, so please keep that in mind—especially those of you suggesting people should go in there and lose their cool. Just act with some decency. If you have an issue with a staff member, ask for the branch manager or file a formal complaint. There are plenty of ways to handle this, but blowing things out of proportion isn't one of them. Since we’re all so eager to emulate other developed nations, maybe we should start by adopting the civil mindset of their citizens too.
If you’re so unhappy with how banking works in America, feel free to move to another country if you think it'll be better. Spoilers: it won't. Interest rates are often multiples higher elsewhere, and don't even get me started on the fees. You pay for absolutely everything over there, whereas America is still practically a novice compared to foreign institutions. Think about mortgage structures, or the fact that overdraft protection is a concept most European banks haven't even heard of. Go ahead and check the official websites of international banks to compare their fees and terms against American banks—or better yet, experience it firsthand.
I have to address what someone said regarding the relationship between banks and clients in Switzerland being top-tier—offering coffee, letting clients do whatever they want. That level of service exists right here in America and abroad too, but only for VIP clients. 😉
By becoming clients, you're essentially agreeing to all the general terms and conditions, which are subject to change. If you find yourself at odds with any updated agreements, you have the right to terminate your relationship before those changes actually take effect. Every bank is simply following the mandates set by federal law—there's always a legal reason behind their requirements. If a staff member can't give you a straight answer to a specific question, don't hesitate to escalate it. Ask for the branch manager, the director, or even reach out to the legal department to ensure they address your concerns and clear up any confusion.
If you’re uncomfortable providing client data or other details, just ask if they're mandatory—most of the time, they are. It's like choosing a gym membership; nobody is forcing you to use these banking services if the process is such a headache for you.
Your best bet is to just head down to a local branch; they’ll lay out all the details and specific terms for you. If you don't have a steady income, you're going to need one or more co-signers, or in many cases, a promissory note to serve as collateral for the loan repayment.
American Express is a credit card (if that’s the one you're talking about), which essentially means your total spending rolls over onto a single bill once a month.
There isn't a way to make direct payments toward that card, but any overpayment applied will simply reduce your next statement by that exact amount. Like I mentioned before, seeing a negative balance on your American Express just means you've overpaid.
With a Visa checking account, for instance, you can deposit funds and then immediately withdraw them or spend them. You could technically overpay an American Express account by a certain amount, but honestly, there's no real point in doing that.
It’s because they change the limits based on what you actually request; they're basically watching to see if you'll ask for more once they try to scale it back. With other banks, the system automatically bumps up your limit if your income goes up and you've been using the card responsibly.
Good luck dealing with them. With those guys, if you're a new client, just opening an account takes about 30 minutes because their systems are such a mess—plus, the bank is struggling and closing down branches everywhere... When you look at the fees, the products, and the tech, Chase is miles ahead, and they have way more ATMs and branches too.
To get set up with Chase Mobile online banking, you'll need to complete these steps: • sign the Service Agreement at any Zions Bancorporation branch, • pick up your security token device, • and make sure your tech meets the minimum requirements, specifically having reliable internet access.
If the definition of the security token or the pickup process still feels fuzzy—and since I noticed you were frustrated with the staff in your last post—feel free to ask for a manager if you feel they aren't handling things correctly.
Since there’s no official word on whether this reader is portable, you have to assume it comes bundled with the IB. It’s essentially like having a checking account but without the actual debit card.
goldenmaker21 said:So, I just bought a Paysafecard, and the cashier accidentally charged my Citibank Mastercard instead of using the cash I handed her.
Now I’m wondering... back in the day, when I asked The New York Times if you could buy Paysafecard vouchers with a Mastercard, they said a hard NO. Every clerk I encounter insists on cash because these things aren't exactly easy to reverse. Anyway, the transaction went through. I called Citibank to verify the amount and the merchant info, and it says The New York Times Company. $33.
The receipt shows this:
For account_ Prepaid Services Company Ltd Tax ID: London, 25 Canary Wharf, then paysafe card voucher 1 for $33...
Seriously? What gives? If they supposedly block credit card purchases for Paysafecards, how did this clear? And why did the cashier tell me everything was fine and that using a Mastercard wouldn't be an issue?
Does anyone actually know why this happened when credit cards are usually rejected for these vouchers?
Let's be real—Paysafecard is essentially online money that should only be bought with cash, not on "credit."
Is there a banker in the house? Honestly, this isn't my headache. If there's a settlement issue later, it's on The New York Times Company for approving a deferred payment. They can settle it with Paysafe. But still... I'm an accountant, so seeing this messes with my head.
It's the exact same thing that happened a few years ago with prepaid phone cards when they could only be bought with cash. Merchants claim they pay a service fee, then another fee on top of that, and then the bank takes a processing fee for the card swipe, leaving them with basically nothing. If your card cleared, you're fine.
It all depends on whether you have set up automatic debits (what we used to call standing orders). If you have, then yes; if not, then no. I'm assuming you already have an active checking account at JPMorgan Chase so you can actually set that up.
If you have an automatic recurring payment setup through your Chase debit card, then sure, it’s doable. But since your paycheck isn't hitting that specific account, you don't actually meet the requirements for that option.
If they didn't explicitly tell you that a co-signer is mandatory, then it’s not like they're asking for your wife's paycheck just to have her act as a guarantor. During a loan restructure, banks look at total household income—including hers—to run their calculations. It's about the math. In the old days, they used to ask for consent regarding wage garnishment before even bringing up a co-signer.
Additional details and the full list are required under standard banking agreements for individual clients, particularly when restructuring existing debt.
Clear out any outstanding balance and you'll get your security deposit back. Alternatively, you can just cover the interest up until whichever month you decide to settle the debt early; if you opt for the fixed-term route via a certificate of deposit, you'll receive interest through that same month.