Now that we're a real LegalEntity, we're supposed to get a bank account.

Banking needs

We're basically just looking for a checking account. Doesn't have to earn interest. Don't care about bells-and-whistles. We just need a place to put a (very) little money, and the ability to write checks against that.

Bank selection criteria

• Must be fee-free; we cannot afford anything else
• At least one local branch; the more, the better
  • "Local" means something different to NashuaLUG^? than to HanoverLUG^?: grudginlyg, we might work with a bank with only one location in Manchaster; ideally, we'd have a bank within a short commute to every town.
• Should be friendly towards non-profit orgs
• Good customer service is always a plus

Candidates

• Big banks
  • In general, these tend to have:
    • Poorer customer service
    • More branches/ATMs
    • More sophisticated services available (but we are unlikely to need any)
  • Bank of America
    • Very high density of local branches and ATMs
    • All published options charge fees
  • Citizen's Bank
    • Good density of local branches and ATMs
      • Closest to LUG's: Nashua, Portsmouth, Concord, Lebanon, Milford (not Peterborough). Past or rumored LUG's: Keene, Lincoln (not Littleton), North Conway (not Jackson). Future: Colebrook, Berlin.
    • "Business Green Checking" supposedly fee-free
  • TD BankNorth
    • Non-profit option supposedly fee-free
    • We could park in the "Bank Customers Only" lot next to Martha's
  • Ocean National Bank
    • Ocean National Bank
    • Branches or ATMS in NH and ME.
    • Tiered services available (some at higher costs per month - Tier 1 is fee free)
• Local credit unions
  • In general, these tend to have:
    • Better customer service
    • Fewer branches/ATMs
    • Some form of membership requirement (but sometimes quite easy)
  • Service Credit Union
    • Open to anyone in NH
    • "Service Checking" supposedly fee-free, no-min-bal
    • Home in Portsmouth; branches in Portsmouth (4), Manchester, Bedford, Salem (2), several more
    • 15+ own ATMs in the area
    • Member, SUM and CO-OP ATM networks
    • Poor Nashua presence
  • St. Mary's Bank
    • Open to anyone in NH
    • "Community Checking" plan is supposedly fee-free and interest-bearing, though interest could be waived.
    • Home in Manchester; branches in Manchester (3), Nashua, Hudson, Londonderry, Milford
    • Member, CO-OP and SUM ATM networks
    • Web site has trouble in Firefox
  • Triangle Credit Union
    • Requirement: Residence; Merrimack county qualifies
    • "Non Profit Checking" supposedly fee-free
    • Home in Nashua; branches in Manchester and Amherst
    • Several own ATMs in Nashua/Manchester area
    • Member, CO-OP ATM network
  • Granite State Credit Union
    • Open to anyone in NH
    • "Community Checking" is supposedly fee-free for non-profits
    • Branches in Nashua, Manchester, Amherst, Candia, Seabrook
    • Member, SUM and CO-OP ATM networks
  • Northeast Credit Union
    • Open to anyone in NH
    • Home in Portsmouth; branches in Manchester, Concord, Exeter, more
    • Several own ATMs in areas served by branches
    • Member, SUM and CO-OP ATM networks
    • Published services would involve fees, but no mention of non-profit org plan
  • Digital Federal Credit Union
    • Requirement: community or org; we do not qualify
  • FAA Eastern Region FCU
    • Requirement: Participating organizations (not us)
  • New Hampshire Federal Credit Union
    • Requirement: Participating organizations (not us)

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