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Land of the Kroeten! in Close to Politics · Oct 8, 2008

hollowwalker142 said:😕

I mean, if someone actually thinks writing a poem like that is a good idea, they’re probably drawing from real life, which is just depressing, right? And honestly, is it really that hard to get what Johnny B. DL was trying to say?

Thanks!
Look, as a people and as a nation, we should be inspired by beautiful things—stuff we can actually feel proud of. Instead, we deal with this constant decay, all the mockery and dirty politics and whatever else is still being tolerated here in America.

Land of the Kroeten! in Close to Politics · Oct 8, 2008

mistycyclist5 said:Look, this song is a total joke, though I have to admit there's a kernel of truth buried in there somewhere. 😁

@FlameThrower, there’s this local musician in my hometown who actually wrote it. 😉

There’s a ton of truth in this song—depending on how you look at it, I suppose—but honestly, the saddest part is that anyone even thought to write something like this in the first place.

Land of the Kroeten! in Close to Politics · Oct 8, 2008

Whether it’s true or not, I don't think this is actually going to turn into a real discussion. 🤷

Things are about to get messy! in Feedback & Suggestions · Oct 8, 2008

Smart, I'm jumping in to join the well-wishes and all the good vibes!

Opening a minor's checking and savings account in Banking, Insurance & Loans · Oct 5, 2008

electricpilot40 said:I was wondering if it’s actually possible to open my own checking account at a bank before I even hit 18.
Or maybe my parents could just set one up for me, but have it officially be in my name?
I heard people talking about that trendy youth account over at Chase, but honestly, that's not really what I'm looking for.

Yeah, you can. As long as your parents are right there with you, you can open basically any account at any bank. Just a heads up, though—they’re probably going to try to push a checking account on you, since those are meant for regular stuff like paychecks or social security.
If you're over 16, you can go in with a parent, get your own debit card, and basically act like an "adult." Just kidding! 😁
Honestly, you might be better off opening a basic savings account because they usually don't charge monthly maintenance fees, and you can still get a debit card for it. Your parent will just be listed as your legal guardian in the bank's system until you actually hit 18.

How to get a Dunkin' rewards account and how to use it? in Banking, Insurance & Loans · Sep 6, 2008

It’s probably supposed to be from 8:00 to 1:00, unless they have some weird, flexible hours or whatever.
Can someone please tell me again? I need to know!

Chase Bank in Banking, Insurance & Loans · Aug 12, 2008

analogheron75 said:Look, I’m telling you, just give it a shot—it’s not like you’re going to go broke trying it out—and if it turns out to be a total waste of time after a month, then you can tell me it isn't practical. 🧐

I’ve already passed this along to a bunch of my buddies—some of them were a little stingy when it came to the setup costs, but once everything was up and running, they were all stoked with how it turned out. 👋

As for me, I pretty much do everything through First, and honestly? I'm beyond satisfied. They don't mess around, and so far, I haven't had a single reason to complain.

Quick question about credit cards in Banking, Insurance & Loans · Jul 30, 2008

Jeremy Wright7 said:It’s actually allowed!! Like, seriously—how is that even legal?!?

Because if you're overdrawn on your account, they'll basically demand you cover that first before you can even think about applying for a credit card. I just assumed you were within your limit, so I didn't bother asking...

Quick question about credit cards in Banking, Insurance & Loans · Jul 28, 2008

Round two! 😉

Quick question about credit cards in Banking, Insurance & Loans · Jul 26, 2008

You can, because having a negative balance in your checking account doesn't have anything to do with your credit card.

Chase Bank in Banking, Insurance & Loans · Jul 24, 2008

Lawrence Doyle3 said:[Here’s one of those incredibly mundane, everyday scenarios: just paying your monthly utility bills... okay, I can already hear you jumping in to say, "But I have online banking, a security token, or I can just walk into a Chase branch" (honestly, the last one is just idiotic). But at the end of the day, mobile banking and online banking are essentially two sides of the same coin. It really just comes down to personal preference—some people prefer using their desktop, some like staying on their phones, and unfortunately, some people don't have access to either...
]

Thanks!

Chase Bank in Banking, Insurance & Loans · Jul 20, 2008

Terry Howard said:Wait, you actually *have* to pay Diners? With what? If you're talking about using funds from your checking account, then you definitely have a debit card attached to it that you can use anywhere. Now, if you're implying you lost the card or left it sitting on your kitchen counter back home, well, that’s a pretty extreme scenario—one that doesn't happen often. And who knows, maybe you left your phone at home or lost that, too. 😉 Or hey, maybe your phone just died. 😉

And honestly, I'm not even going to touch that joke (that picture you posted) as an argument for mobile banking. It just doesn't hold water.

Guys, everyone keeps bringing up these "once-in-a-blue-moon" situations that could easily be solved any other way—if people weren't being so lazy.
What I actually want to hear about is how mobile banking fits into your everyday, routine life.

'Look, let's get back to that scenario where you're stuck on some remote island with zero access to a post office or even a local bank...

Terry Howard said:Wait, you actually *have* to pay Diners? With what? If you're talking about using funds from your checking account, then you definitely have a debit card attached to it that you can use anywhere. Now, if you're implying you lost the card or left it sitting on your kitchen counter back home, well, that’s a pretty extreme scenario—one that doesn't happen often. And who knows, maybe you left your phone at home or lost that, too. 😉 Or hey, maybe your phone just died. 😉

And honestly, I'm not even going to touch that joke (that picture you posted) as an argument for mobile banking. It just doesn't hold water.

Guys, everyone keeps bringing up these "once-in-a-blue-moon" situations that could easily be solved any other way—if people weren't being so lazy.
What I actually want to hear about is how mobile banking fits into your everyday, routine life.

I bet you wouldn't believe how many people head out on vacation with a credit card instead of their debit card, mostly because they usually have way more cash sitting in the credit limit anyway.

Terry Howard said:Wait, you actually *have* to pay Diners? With what? If you're talking about using funds from your checking account, then you definitely have a debit card attached to it that you can use anywhere. Now, if you're implying you lost the card or left it sitting on your kitchen counter back home, well, that’s a pretty extreme scenario—one that doesn't happen often. And who knows, maybe you left your phone at home or lost that, too. 😉 Or hey, maybe your phone just died. 😉

And honestly, I'm not even going to touch that joke (that picture you posted) as an argument for mobile banking. It just doesn't hold water.

Guys, everyone keeps bringing up these "once-in-a-blue-moon" situations that could easily be solved any other way—if people weren't being so lazy.
What I actually want to hear about is how mobile banking fits into your everyday, routine life.

It's exactly those rare situations that can screw you over when you need it most. And again, I'm not saying everyone needs to be obsessed with mobile banking right now, but if you can stay covered across everything your bank offers, why wouldn't you...? 🤷

Chase Bank in Banking, Insurance & Loans · Jul 20, 2008

Terry Howard said:1. Who exactly are you transferring cash to while you're chilling at the coast? If it’s family, you’d usually have a power of attorney set up, right? Plus, there’s always a Chase branch or a local bank nearby.
2. And what kind of bill are you trying to pay at a teller window (or via mobile banking) while on vacation that's so urgent you can't just wait until tomorrow?
3. We have things like text banking now, and you can easily check if your direct deposit hit by just looking at your phone—honestly, it’s probably easier to just call your boss and ask than to stress over an app.

How often does this stuff actually happen for mobile banking to be considered some absolute life-saver?

Look, I never mentioned family, and honestly, your logic is kind of flawed here. What, you got a family of five and you're dragging them all into a Chase branch just so they can dig through your account together...? 🤷 I gave my wife power of attorney, and if things really went south, I'd trust it to someone I've known my whole life. Kids eventually get their own accounts and deal with their own stuff anyway.

Terry Howard said:1. Who exactly are you transferring cash to while you're chilling at the coast? If it’s family, you’d usually have a power of attorney set up, right? Plus, there’s always a Chase branch or a local bank nearby.
2. And what kind of bill are you trying to pay at a teller window (or via mobile banking) while on vacation that's so urgent you can't just wait until tomorrow?
3. We have things like text banking now, and you can easily check if your direct deposit hit by just looking at your phone—honestly, it’s probably easier to just call your boss and ask than to stress over an app.

How often does this stuff actually happen for mobile banking to be considered some absolute life-saver?

Say you run out of cash and you need to pay Denny's because it's the only way you're getting a ride home. You don't have a laptop handy, and I saw some hours posted for a post office on some island somewhere:

Hours:
Weekdays from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM
Break from 11:00 AM to 11:30 AM
...stuff like that.

Terry Howard said:1. Who exactly are you transferring cash to while you're chilling at the coast? If it’s family, you’d usually have a power of attorney set up, right? Plus, there’s always a Chase branch or a local bank nearby.
2. And what kind of bill are you trying to pay at a teller window (or via mobile banking) while on vacation that's so urgent you can't just wait until tomorrow?
3. We have things like text banking now, and you can easily check if your direct deposit hit by just looking at your phone—honestly, it’s probably easier to just call your boss and ask than to stress over an app.

How often does this stuff actually happen for mobile banking to be considered some absolute life-saver?

The frequency is high enough that banks in the US push it as a standard product, but I never said it was essential. I just listed a few reasons why you'd use it since you asked.

Chase Bank in Banking, Insurance & Loans · Jul 17, 2008

Terry Howard said:Edited by moderator User123
This discussion about m-zaba has been moved to its own dedicated thread. Honestly, if you're looking for the best bank, there isn't one "perfect" answer—it really just depends on what you actually need from them. If you want someone who’s everywhere and has an app that doesn't crash every five minutes, Chase is probably the go-to. But if you're more about those low fees and keeping things simple, you might want to look at some of the online guys. It's kind of like choosing between a massive supermarket chain and a local boutique—one's convenient, the other's specialized. Just watch out for those hidden service charges, man. They'll get you. It looks like things have been moved...

So, I figured I’d pick the brain of one of our resident mobile banking experts here. I was actually going back and forth with some coworkers the other day—we couldn't quite agree on why anyone would even bother with a mobile app instead of just using desktop banking. The banks love to run these ads about how you can manage your money "anywhere, anytime," but honestly? What does that actually mean in practice? Like, if I need to pay a bill or move money around, I’m usually either at my desk or chilling at home where I have a full keyboard and a much better view of everything on a laptop. Desktop banking is just cleaner and way easier to navigate than squinting at a tiny phone screen. Sure, maybe you want to check your balance while waiting for a latte, but that feels like a stretch for most people. So, I'm curious—what’s the actual, real-world utility here? And don't give me the marketing fluff about "features"—I’m talking about stuff you *actually* do on the go.

Scenario 1: You need to wire money to someone while you're stuck on vacation in Florida.
Scenario 2: An urgent bill pops up and the local bank branch in your small town is already closed for the weekend.
Scenario 3: You're out in the middle of nowhere waiting to see if your paycheck cleared because, you know, everything depends on that cash hitting your account, which basically brings you right back to scenarios 1 and 2.

Personal loans for contract employees in Banking, Insurance & Loans · Jul 17, 2008

irontinker63 said:I've been on a fixed-term contract for two years now. Does anyone know if it's actually possible to land a personal loan without needing a co-signer or any extra collateral? If so, which Bank should I be looking at?

I mean, honestly? I don't think you can go anywhere. Most places are probably going to demand some kind of co-signer who actually has steady, full-time employment. It's just how it works, I guess.

Cash & Bills: Everything you need to know about valid, invalid, or damaged currency in Banking, Insurance & Loans · Jun 26, 2008

rapidseal48 said:I’ve been doing a bit of digging, just searching all over the web to see where I can actually swap some old American dinars for US dollars here in Chicago (since none of the banks or currency exchanges I’ve hit up so far seem to have any clue what I'm talking about), so I was just wondering if anyone happened to figure it out... It's been almost a year since the last person posted about this 🙂
thanks!

It's pretty simple—nowhere!
Like, everyone in the States might swap Canadian marks, but nobody is going to touch those old American dinars (at least not yet).
Maybe you could try asking some businessmen who still deal with people over there, since that currency might actually mean something to them.

Otherwise, just keep them as souvenirs, kind of like those old relics the grandpas used to leave lying around.

Issues with online banking - JPMorgan Chase in Banking, Insurance & Loans · Jun 21, 2008

Regarding Online banking, you always get a confirmation email once a transaction goes through. Plus, you can check everything on the side—completed, pending, canceled, whatever. Since a printout from the web counts as a valid document here, I guess it could work as proof of payment if things ever go sideways.
If you try paying after 2 PM, it’ll tell you the business day cycle is over and the transaction won't actually process until the next day (just a heads-up so you don't freak out if that happens!)

P.S. I just dump all my statements into a single folder on my computer, organized by month, and call it a day. Easy. 👍

Mandatory pension funds: What are your thoughts? in Banking, Insurance & Loans · Jun 15, 2008

ironsurfer10 said:I wouldn't recommend taking that job unless you are absolutely desperate for the cash. In my opinion, it’s just a thankless grind.

If you've selected a fund but there’s nothing left in the account (because your employer isn't making contributions), you won't be charged an exit fee because there's simply nothing to deduct from. Since there's no money in the account, the fund doesn't benefit from you, so there's no base to charge a fee against.
When you transfer to a different fund (today) and get paid (tomorrow), $33 of that $2,000 gross will be deposited into the new fund, and you'll have no further connection to the old one.

Spot on! Those "pyramid scheme" style gigs are always a total mess. I worked two of them back in the day, and trust me, it's such a massive load of crap. Once you realize how much grinding you have to do just to scrape together some pathetic commission—while everyone above you gets a cut of your hard work just because they signed you up—you'll want to tell them all to get lost pretty fast.

How to get a Dunkin' rewards account and how to use it? in Banking, Insurance & Loans · Jun 10, 2008

That's pretty much it. You can check your credit balance whenever you want at www.dinersclub.com. Just sign up and poke around in there a bit, but if you actually want to pay your bill, I'd suggest using JPMorgan Chase. They don't hit you with those annoying fees when you're paying things off. 😉

How to get a Dunkin' rewards account and how to use it? in Banking, Insurance & Loans · Jun 6, 2008

@urbangardener

You nailed it. Seriously. Just... don't forget one thing when you're buying something pricey on a payment plan. Make sure you actually tell them you want the installment option. Otherwise, you might end up in a spot where your card gets declined—which they'll claim is the "better" way to handle it—or maybe you buy something from $1000 and it just nukes your entire credit limit. Then you're stuck leaving your wallet at home on the shelf for the rest of the month...

@second post

Charge—you spend money, then you pay back the whole damn thing on the next bill. No interest involved.

Revolving—you spend up to your limit, and then on the next bill, you just pay whatever percentage you decided on (Diners Club has a 4% minimum, which is $33); honestly, if you get stuck in that cycle, it’s incredibly hard to dig yourself out unless you've got insane self-control.