Heather and I have been searching for the easiest solutions to bus fulltimer issues like banking, internet, and mail. The mail issue is never going to be easily resolved for those of us on the move, but Verizon mobile internet with a Wilson antenna/booster has proven reliable everywhere. Now for banking. We initially banked at Chase. That proved to be expensive because for all of our accounts and business account it cost us $15 in fees just to keep the accounts. So we switched to PNC which is the last bank to offer free business checking solely through their virtual wallet program. We deposit checks using our iPhones and their mobile deposit app. But this still leaves an issue depositing cash into our accounts. PNC does not have branches out west and really is a Midwest and Eastern bank. I've been trying to find creative ways to deposit cash even trying to buy a money order or cashiers check from Walmart and deposit it via mobile deposit. Mobile deposit doesn't accept cashiers checks or money orders sadly. So back to square one. I'm experimenting today with another idea. At walmart, you can buy a moneypak with cash. You can then fund your paypal account with your moneypak for free...our paypal account automatically dumps our paypal funds into our bank account also for free. I'm going to try it today. I'll let you know if I hit a snag. Maybe no one else has this issue, but we do and it's annoying. And I wouldn't feel safe having thousands of dollars cash in our coach so that's not an option.
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Have you tried to speak with the president of the Chase bank in your area we been with Chase a long time with businesses, personal and trust accounts we pay nothing even the checks are free and they not your standard size and we get the original canceled check back not a copy each month the presidents in that area for Chase can wave those fees
They did waive the fees for us but then our accounts were compromised when my wallet was stolen so when the accounts were cancelled and new ones made they couldn't do that for us anymore. Trust me, we tried hard. We love chase.
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I use my cash to get a discount on diesel.
Scott -
We pay all our bills with a single credit card which we get 3% back on (chase) This keeps us to having to pay only one bill a month which we can pay direct online. As far as checking - we are currently using a small bank out of NC (with 2% return on the account) and I know this might not be the best solution for you but we mail our checks snail mail. Scan them, keep them in seperate envelopes and mail them to the bank. Free checking.
Let us know what you end up with. We are always looking for better options for free checking.
-Sean
www.herdofturtles.org (http://www.herdofturtles.org)
1984 Eagle Model 10S
My primary account is with the same small credit union that we have banked with for over 30 years. I also keep an account with one of the Canadian chartered banks because I have found it is easier to email money from a bank to a bank and from a credit union to another credit union. I don't trust any of the bastards so I also keep an ING account which is linked to both the credit union and chartered bank accounts. The most important thing for me is that I need someone on the end of the phone that knows me. It doesn't happen often but if I need to I can call my credit union and talk to someone who will recognize my voice. With online access, Paypal, email transfers and the ability to e-transfer money I don't think I write 5 cheques per year anymore. I pay pretty well everything with a credit card. Periodically I think I should set up a low limit credit card and use that for online purchases but I never seem to get around to doing that. On the one occasion when some asshole went on a spending spree with my card my bank made good immediately, cancelled the old one and had a new card in my hands within days so I'm not sure the low limit card would be worth the headache. In that case I spotted the fraud online before the bank did.
Here in the US credit unions are not as heavy regulated as banks since all have a not for profit status with only non paid boards members and the members are the owners but some credit union don't always recognize the members as owners lol
Our Credit Union actually links to other one across the country as do a lot of California CU's. So If I am in another state or near a CU I can go in and give them my card from my bank and make a deposit or withdrawal or transfer right there or on line doesn't matter.
Dave
There's a weird mish mash of laws regarding Canadian soviet unions too. But generally I've found their fees are lower and its easier to talk to someone who gives a damn.
LOL I bet our buddy Doyle was a tough @$# banker Bob, times have changed my banker back when the interest rate was 20% and I needed money he would tell me just write checks I'll cover them as a overdraft for 5 bucks each those were some hefty checks too
I bet today the banks would bounce a 20 dollar check if the funds were not there
Scott -
IIRC, Chris & Cherie (Technomadia.com) recently wrote about this very subject on their blog. Might want to take a look and see if what they're doing will work for you.
FWIW & HTH. . .
;)
We have been using Wells Fargo checking for years with no fees.
If it hadn't been for the US and state regulators there would have been over 3000 Arvest Banks (Walton) in every Walmart across the nation then it would not be a problem for full timers if you shop Walmart
If we aren't near any Wells Fargos during our travels we just get cash back from Wal Mart or whatever store we are buying something in.
Jeewhizzz..if I had $1000's of dollars laying around in the coach, I don't think I'd be sweating an small account fee...(lol) etc.
Doesn't the Good Sam Club have a banking account just for RV full timers ? I seem to recall someone that had a banking account with them
We also snail mail our cheques in, I think what Scott's issue is what to do with cash when you aren't near your bank. We are also musicians and often times thats how were paid, we put enough miles on that the cash usually can go to fuel pretty quick. I wonder Scott if you couldn't exchange the cash for a cheque at some of the venues you play?
Many banks these days and ever some credit unions allow one to deposit a check by simply using a smartphone app. You just take a picture of the front and back of the check. Banks electronically scan all checks these days anyhow and don't actually send the checks anywhere to be processed anymore.
Here's our article and current solution for mobile personal and business banking:
http://www.technomadia.com/money (http://www.technomadia.com/money)
Basically, we use Chase for our business because we've not found a better solution that meets our needs. And we use Capital One (formerly ING) for personal - completely online checking.
Also, all of our mobile internet posts, videos & info can be found at: http://www.technomadia.com/internet (http://www.technomadia.com/internet)
- Cherie
Scott could just stuff the money in an envelope and send it to me and i could take care of it for him.!!!!!
Craig Holland nailed it. We get paid in cash largely. Our challenge is getting that cash into our bank account throughout the US. We also loved Chase but PNC is the last major bank offering free business checking. Anyway, the moneypak/paypal trick isn't what I thought it was. Nix that one. So, can we take our cash and purchase a prepaid visa and reload it??? Walmart??
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I think what Craig was saying is that if the bus was rolling the cash wouldn't be an issue.
That's how I read it anyways ;)
Miss Y'all hope your staying warm!
-Sean
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Wells Fargo has what they call a PMA account (I think) that is free with a particular total balance in all of your accounts with them. It is rather high though. We have personal accounts with Chase also, and they do not charge any monthly fee.
I suppose you could buy money orders and make overpayments on your credit cards. They will do the accounting for you as you use the card. I think that they will only keep a positive balance for a couple of months before sending it to you in a check.
I have never knew anyone that owned a bus that had to worry about having too cash much on hand ;D
I can understand why he wants in the bank I tried to pay cash for a airline ticket for my grandson what a nightmare that was I finally gave up and paid with a credit card
Haha. We aren't rich. But we are far from starving. All of our bills are paperless online and everything is automatic like a well oiled machine. The cash is the biggest pain. I'll keep searching for a solution. Costcos aren't everywhere either. The only thing we can count on nationwide is a walmart :)
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Scott -
Since you already bank w/ Chase, have you checked to see if they might have a reloadable VISA card available?
That sounds like it might be a good option for your cash, especially since they seem to have almost as many branches around the country nowadays as [gag!] Bank of America.
FWIW & HTH. . .
;)
Quote from: luvrbus on December 27, 2013, 03:34:43 PM
LOL I bet our buddy Doyle was a tough @$# banker Bob...
Clifford as you know I have an ocular prosthesis and when I had a particularly hard decision to make, I'd ask the customer if he could tell which was real. One guy was right on. He said "Of course, the left one is fake" When I asked him how he knew... he said "It's the one with a little sympathy!"
Quote from: RJ on December 30, 2013, 02:21:50 PM
Scott -
Since you already bank w/ Chase, have you checked to see if they might have a reloadable VISA card available?
That sounds like it might be a good option for your cash, especially since they seem to have almost as many branches around the country nowadays as [gag!] Bank of America.
FWIW & HTH. . .
;)
Walmart sells them too. Will be checking into this more tomorrow
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Quote from: TexasBorderDude on December 30, 2013, 04:16:48 PM
Clifford as you know I have an ocular prosthesis and when I had a particularly hard decision to make, I'd ask the customer if he could tell which was real. One guy was right on. He said "Of course, the left one is real" When I asked him how he knew... he said "It's the one with a little sympathy!"
I guess you'd have been in real trouble if the glass one was more sympathetic.
Any bankers I ever dealt with I'd look for sympathy in the dictionary.
Quote from: luvrbus on December 30, 2013, 03:02:37 AM
I have never knew anyone that owned a bus that had to worry about having too cash much on hand ;D
Amen, from the pew in the back!!! ;D
Quote from: bobofthenorth on December 30, 2013, 06:25:11 PM
I guess you'd have been in real trouble if the glass one was more sympathetic.
Any bankers I ever dealt with I'd look for sympathy in the dictionary.
Bob, I blew the punch line :-\ I edited it, but the glass eyes has a little more sympathy.
ps. Still salivating over those Baja shrimps you fixed for me and Clifford!!!
Doyle we knew what you meant because (wait for it) We know BANKERS, LOL :o
Dave5cs