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RATE/review your current bank RATE/review your current bank

04-22-2008 , 08:56 PM
What do you like and dislike about your current institution?

Let us know the bank and your thoughts.

Many banks are hurting these days.
RATE/review your current bank Quote
04-23-2008 , 12:28 AM
Kookmin 2/10
HSBC 8/10

Quote:
In August, the Columbia Accident Investigation Board at NASA released Volume 1 of its report on why the space shuttle crashed. As expected, the ship's foam insulation was the main cause of the disaster. But the board also fingered another unusual culprit: PowerPoint, Microsoft's well-known ''slideware'' program.

NASA, the board argued, had become too reliant on presenting complex information via PowerPoint, instead of by means of traditional ink-and-paper technical reports. When NASA engineers assessed possible wing damage during the mission, they presented the findings in a confusing PowerPoint slide -- so crammed with nested bullet points and irregular short forms that it was nearly impossible to untangle. ''It is easy to understand how a senior manager might read this PowerPoint slide and not realize that it addresses a life-threatening situation,'' the board sternly noted.

PowerPoint is the world's most popular tool for presenting information. There are 400 million copies in circulation, and almost no corporate decision takes place without it. But what if PowerPoint is actually making us stupider?

This year, Edward Tufte -- the famous theorist of information presentation -- made precisely that argument in a blistering screed called The Cognitive Style of PowerPoint. In his slim 28-page pamphlet, Tufte claimed that Microsoft's ubiquitous software forces people to mutilate data beyond comprehension. For example, the low resolution of a PowerPoint slide means that it usually contains only about 40 words, or barely eight seconds of reading. PowerPoint also encourages users to rely on bulleted lists, a ''faux analytical'' technique, Tufte wrote, that dodges the speaker's responsibility to tie his information together. And perhaps worst of all is how PowerPoint renders charts. Charts in newspapers like The Wall Street Journal contain up to 120 elements on average, allowing readers to compare large groupings of data. But, as Tufte found, PowerPoint users typically produce charts with only 12 elements. Ultimately, Tufte concluded, PowerPoint is infused with ''an attitude of commercialism that turns everything into a sales pitch.''

Microsoft officials, of course, beg to differ. Simon Marks, the product manager for PowerPoint, counters that Tufte is a fan of ''information density,'' shoving tons of data at an audience. You could do that with PowerPoint, he says, but it's a matter of choice. ''If people were told they were going to have to sit through an incredibly dense presentation,'' he adds, ''they wouldn't want it.'' And PowerPoint still has fans in the highest corridors of power: Colin Powell used a slideware presentation in February when he made his case to the United Nations that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction.

Of course, given that the weapons still haven't been found, maybe Tufte is onto something. Perhaps PowerPoint is uniquely suited to our modern age of obfuscation -- where manipulating facts is as important as presenting them clearly. If you have nothing to say, maybe you need just the right tool to help you not say it.
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04-24-2008 , 12:30 PM
BANK of AMERICA

The main reason I use them is that I can find them in most all areas of the country and travel the country often.

Other than that, I probably would not be with them.
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04-24-2008 , 01:01 PM
I've been looking to setup an account with a new bank as my current one is a local bank located about 60 miles from me now that I've moved. Options include US Bank, Chase, M&I, Associated, Waukesha State Bank, and First Federal Savings.
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04-24-2008 , 01:04 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by obsidian
I've been looking to setup an account with a new bank as my current one is a local bank located about 60 miles from me now that I've moved. Options include US Bank, Chase, M&I, Associated, Waukesha State Bank, and First Federal Savings.
I'm happy with Chase.
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04-24-2008 , 01:14 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fishhead24
BANK of AMERICA

The main reason I use them is that I can find them in most all areas of the country and travel the country often.

Other than that, I probably would not be with them.
Bank of America: They haven't been very helpful to me whenever I have had problems (with their service, not financially). Their service just has not been very customer-friendly.

Merill Lynch: As far as investments they have been very helpful and friendly. My father has worked with them for a long time so they gave me discounted rates and they have assisted me with any questions I have had. They seem to have flexibility to help their customers, unlike Bank of America. They also called me while I was travelling to verify that my card wasn't missing (within a few minutes of some charges). I simply said that I was in Philly and going to New York and they said thank you without hasseling me with any more questions. I'm happy with their service.

Bank of America: 6/10
Merill Lynch: 9/10
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04-24-2008 , 01:47 PM
USAA 10/10

even without any local branches, you just cannot compare their customer service, their rates, etc.
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04-24-2008 , 02:15 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by eof
USAA 10/10

even without any local branches, you just cannot compare their customer service, their rates, etc.

2nd that one. 10/10
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04-24-2008 , 02:17 PM
First Internet Bank of Indiana (Checking) 7/10
Opened this like 5 years ago when it was one of the higher paying interest checking accounts around. Biggest advantage is they reimburse up to $6 ATM fees each month, so I just take out cash 2-3 times a month and never have to worry or care about what bank's ATM I'm at. Check deposits are a bit of a pain (have to mail it off), but I don't get enough checks to make this a reason for me to switch. Free online billpay.

HSBC Direct (Savings) 9/10

Always have near the highest rates...never had problems with any transfers or anything.
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04-24-2008 , 03:06 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by eof
USAA 10/10

even without any local branches, you just cannot compare their customer service, their rates, etc.
Wow, quick look at their offering and they seem pretty damn good.
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04-24-2008 , 05:59 PM
Local credit union 9/10.
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04-24-2008 , 06:19 PM
Bank of America 7/10

They have branches and ATMs everywhere here and the website is very good. On the downside you have to be very careful about the fees they can hit you with.
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04-25-2008 , 09:30 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by ShipDaSherb
Bank of America 7/10

They have branches and ATMs everywhere here and the website is very good. On the downside you have to be very careful about the fees they can hit you with.

Dead on
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04-25-2008 , 10:01 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by ShipDaSherb
Bank of America 7/10

They have branches and ATMs everywhere here and the website is very good. On the downside you have to be very careful about the fees they can hit you with.

Thats basically my opinion on Wells Fargo here. As a disclaimer I also work for them in corp offices.
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