I would also add Industrial Credit Union. If you have to buy something at a name brand store, Fred Mayer is localish. Not the best selection, but marginaly better than say, Best Buy. Independent stores might also have a problem special ordering something this time of year, so what I've done is make a card telling the person "this is your gift, it's in transit". It's odd, but sometimes it happens that way.
I've banked with WaMu for almost two decades and let my accounts roll over to Chase because I had such good customer service with WaMu and the same people were going to be sticking around at my branch. I now deeply regret that decision. I just tallied up the fees that I barely noticed and I've given Chase over $200. When they charged me $30 for a wire transfer that was always free with WaMu I sat down with their bankers to figure out how they could keep me as a customer. The short version? Fuck you since you don't keep enough of your money in any one account we just want to bleed you for your fees and without those fees we don't want you around. Oh, and they tried to blame Dodd-Frank for the fees.
I'm opening a new account at BECU where they actually want me and my business.
I bank with Qualstar Credit Union and even after a bankruptcy 5 years ago they got me a decent rate on a car loan and to transfer balance from my cards with 27% to 12% interest. They are awesome and it is nice to walk into a branch and they know who you are. They don't have many (Kent, Renton, Seattle, Tukwila, Tacoma and Everett) but they have shared branching with BECU and you can use any 7-11 atm with no fee and most other credit union machines. I use direct deposit and now you can deposit checks via scanner as well from home so not having many branches=no issue.
JEN GRAVES regularly supports buying thingslike a canvas with mustard smeared on it for thousands of dollars, so I'd take just about anything she says about spending with a whole shaker of salt.
You can really support American workers by getting gift certificates for restaurants, oil changes, massages, house cleaning, hair salons, pet grooming, etc. Keeps the money local.
With BECU, Qualstar, & Prevail....unfortunately still have some nickels with Chase..ugh! Curious ever thought of or perhaps there is a "buy local" debit card? One you can give to clients that is accepted @ local companies in the region. No company above say 100 employees or whatever the details are...
According to the Credit Union National Association, only 241,000 new members joined credit unions in the month before Bank Transfer Day, and an estimated 40,000 on the actual day. Not sure that's "everybody".
Don't buy from large corporations that control the market. Unless they sponsor an initiative that allows them to sell hard liquor at a lower price than any local stores. In that case-- Party at The Stranger!
Oh give me a fucking break. You wrote this article last year, except you called it something different. It's just recycling from last year's paper bin.
I'm opening a new account at BECU where they actually want me and my business.
to above.