Bank Recommendation?

[FTL_Ian]

Looking to open an account for Free Keene.  Any liberty-friendly or just friendly banks around here?

[Lloyd Danforth]

I haven't found any reason to hate Banknorth

[lastlady]

I was wondering the same thing. Where is this bank located?

[lastlady]

Monadnock Community Bank in Peterborough is awesome!  Been with them since day one.  They won't let the IRS touch my money.  Most banks just open their doors to them.

Any bank you can refer that is located in Concord?

[Vote Tyler Stearns]

They won't let the IRS touch my money.  Most banks just open their doors to them.

What do you mean?  Aren't all banks regulated by the feds? 

[eques]

It comes down the individual bankers.  They may be regulated by the feds, but some bankers will do just a little more to care for their clients than others.

With that said, it's very difficult for most banks to do this.  My friend back in New Jersey has told me that working for a bank has become so regimented and regulated that a machine could basically do his job, and he's an assistant branch manager.

[jshmukatelli]

We recommend Savings Bank of Walpole.  It's small, locally owned and operated and is run by a Board of Trustees (the mutual bank system) rather than stock shareholders (TD Banknorth has over 50% of their stock held by institutional investors, so whose interests do you think they give a darn about...theirs or you and your checking account?).

SB of W has good interest rates, attractive CD offers now and then, online banking, the staff know us by name.  Bottom line for our psuedo-cash is SB of W is smaller and more personal, and much less big corporate.

Now you've made me sound like one of their pamphlets! 

[PowerPenguin]

What about Credit Unions? In my experience, they tend to be smaller and more concerned about their customers' needs. Be sure to choose a small, relatively obscure CU or bank. This will make it a little bit harder for crooks (both "official" and unofficial) to find and "appropriate" your hard-earned finances. It won't make this impossible by any means, but it would raise the stakes a bit, and this little bit could be all it takes if some donut eating bureaucrat has to choose between auditing you vs some easier and/or high payoff target like Willie Nelson . Also see this FAQ for additional tips germane to this topic.

[Vote Tyler Stearns]

My dad is an officer at a northern NH bank. He said the bank auditors put them through hell, and these fed regulators can basically make them do anything they want, regardless of how the bank officers/directors feel about it. 

I personally think your choice in banks should be about their customer service.  ALL banks are forced to follow the same fed rules.  The difference is in how the bank's front line staff deal with you. 

I hate my current bank because they're big and no longer a community-type bank.  The tellers don't even know my name anymore, nor do they give a lick about me and my wee bit of money I have on deposit. 

[earthhaven]

We recommend Savings Bank of Walpole.  It's small, locally owned and operated and is run by a Board of Trustees (the mutual bank system) rather than stock shareholders (TD Banknorth has over 50% of their stock held by institutional investors, so whose interests do you think they give a darn about...theirs or you and your checking account?).

SB of W has good interest rates, attractive CD offers now and then, online banking, the staff know us by name.  Bottom line for our psuedo-cash is SB of W is smaller and more personal, and much less big corporate.

Now you've made me sound like one of their pamphlets! 

Savings Bank of Walpole is in my opinion the best bank you can choose in Keene. I hate Banknorth, and I have been very happy since I switched to Savings Bank of Walpole.

[Rocketman]

St. Mary's Bank (actually a credit union, the oldest in the U.S.) gets a positive nod from me.  Branches in Manchester but I'm not sure about Concord.

[FMTV_Dale]

Savings bank of walpole all the way.  Not only are they competitive in interest rates and such, but they have unmatched customer service.  Everyone I know who has them loves them.

[Dreepa]

Banks with NO fees are the best.

I am a big fan of credit unions.

Bow Mills in Concord (also a branch in Bow and Hopkinton) has no fees and they are a small local bank.

[FTL_Ian]

Hmm.  I was interested in Keene area banks, but thanks for all the replies.

SBW was my first choice but they don't have non-interest bearing accounts.     I'm not interested in IRS reporting.

[Lloyd Danforth]

You might want a bank big enough that some mid-level manager that doesn't like your politics, doesn't dare to screw with you.