Finding the right bank can be difficult. Not all banks are the same and each bank offers something a little different from their competitors. Finding the right bank for you is important because you’re choosing an institution that you’ll have to trust with your finances and the wrong one can very well screw up a lot of things for you. I’ve had some bad experiences in the past with a few other banks and I assumed all banks were the same until I came to Compass bank and signed up with them. I’ve been a customer ever since, and that was over three years ago.

What I like about Compass bank is that they offer free checking, which a lot of banks do but they actually mean it. There are no hidden fees or charges. It’s not an obscure bank so there’s a Compass bank nation wide, except for a few places. I like that their bank locations tend to be small and intimate and their customer service have always been very helpful and friendly the times I’ve had to deal with them. When I was living in Houston and we were hit by a Hurricane, Rita I believe, I didn’t leave the city like many people because it wasn’t a mandatory evacuation. Of course I had no idea the electricity would be out for so long, so many stores would stay close, water and food was hard to find and gas stations were out of gas or hiking up their prices. After my first day of toughing it out I decided to leave for Austin and wait until the electricity comes on before heading back. Well, the problem was I was done to little money in my account because I hadn’t had the
chance to deposit my check, none of the banks were opened and in fact had closed early. I called Compass bank and they were very understanding of my situation, so much that they set my account back a week or two bringing my balance up high enough that I would be able to pay for gas and get out of the city. They were a life saver.

I also like that they offer paperless billing and I can handle all of banking issues online. The best part is that there are no ATM charges with them no matter which ATM you use, no matter where in the world they will rebate your ATM fees.

As much as I love Compass bank there are some cons to it too. They didn’t send me a new debit card until I asked for it. The online banking can be annoying sometimes because I always have a hard time finding where to change my mailing address and when I have questions about my savings account they always tell me to a go to a branch to discuss, even if I opened my savings online. As for the no ATM fees, that’s true but that requires you to mail in your receipt within 90 days of the transaction if you want an ATM fee rebate. They don’t tell you that at the bank braches or in the commercials.

Despite their faults I still think Compass bank is one of the best banks out there. I love them and they’ve never failed me. I would recommend them if you’ve ever had any banking issues in the past and is looking for a fresh start.

Rating: 10