Free checking account with ATM deposits?

My current routine is to use a Bank of America CampusEdge checking account for depositing money at ATMs (but I use Fidelity and Schwab checking accounts for everything else). I have to close the Bank of America account because the checkbooks were stolen, so I want to open a new account that would be convenient for making deposits. I like Bank of America's ATMs a lot but I hate almost everything else about the bank.

Can anyone recommend a free checking account that will allow me to make deposits at ATMs on the east coast (or at least in Boston)? Or does anyone know a specific bank that would allow me to use Bank of America's ATMs to make deposits?

If your only depositing checks perhaps look for one that offers online deposit by scanning the checks. In the boston area DCU.org is a credit union that offers that though i'm not sure how many hoops you would have to go through to get it as there are membership restrictions etc.

I really love DCU... call them and you get a real person without 50 million buttons to press before you get a person.

But if you want to deposit cash or what not then your best bet probably is bofa unfortunately.

mrgordon said: My current routine is to use a Bank of America CampusEdge checking account for depositing money at ATMs (but I use Fidelity and Schwab checking accounts for everything else). I have to close the Bank of America account because the checkbooks were stolen, so I want to open a new account that would be convenient for making deposits. I like Bank of America's ATMs a lot but I hate almost everything else about the bank.

Can anyone recommend a free checking account that will allow me to make deposits at ATMs on the east coast (or at least in Boston)? Or does anyone know a specific bank that would allow me to use Bank of America's ATMs to make deposits?Just open another BofA account. Fee-free when opened online, and you can score a $50 bonus using a promo code. AND enroll in KTC for a new 100% match promo, and score another $250 for maxing that out. AND be able to keep your same routine and keep using the same BofA ATMs that you like.

Wait. When you talk about depositing money, are you depositing checks or cash?

If it's cash, you need one of the bill-scanning ATMs so you don't get shorted, in which case you're looking for BoA, Chase or Citi (only banks I've seen that have them).

mrgordon said: Thanks for all of the suggestions so far. oopsz, I don't need to deposit cash necessarily. I'd probably rathe avoid one of the huge national banks but I could be convinced if it's too inconvenient otherwise. I opened an Alliant checking and savings yesterday because I noticed they do ATM deposits and scan-at-home deposits. DCU looked like they had some good accounts as well (especially with a direct deposit). I hadn't seen the comment about State Farm yet, but I'll check out their offering too.

Chase and Citi appear to have non-trivial requirements on even their basic checking accounts to avoid fees, which is pretty lame.

mrgordon said: Thanks for all of the suggestions so far. oopsz, I don't need to deposit cash necessarily. I'd probably rathe avoid one of the huge national banks but I could be convinced if it's too inconvenient otherwise. I opened an Alliant checking and savings yesterday because I noticed they do ATM deposits and scan-at-home deposits. DCU looked like they had some good accounts as well (especially with a direct deposit). I hadn't seen the comment about State Farm yet, but I'll check out their offering too.

Chase and Citi appear to have non-trivial requirements on even their basic checking accounts to avoid fees, which is pretty lame.

You might like to open Delta Community CU also..along with Alliant....Delta's rates are actually better then Digital Credit Union...and their surcharge free atm network is bigger and just as good as Alliant's and like Alliant you can make deposits at any COOP Atm that accepts them from other Credit Unions....and that also includes 7-11 stores that have the "Vcom" type of atm which take scanned check deposits....Also, Delta CU has a beautiful Online Banking Interface and Excellent Bill Pay....As well as really excellent service....

State Farm is pretty good...though when i was with them their online banking was only so-so (not in Real Time...posts transactions only once a day) supposedly, they are working on an improved system from what i heard.....

No...not larger...but Delta does have COOP and ALLPOINT networks which are really the largest surcharge free atm networks across the U.S. I believe Digital does not have Allpoint...
Having Allpoint as well as COOP effectively doubles the number of free atms coverage....Even though Digital participates in some other networks (as does Alliant) those have a much smaller "footprint" then COOP and ALLPOINT do...

In addition....Delta DOES participate in the CU Shared Branching Network (which as you know, Alliant does not) and that means if there are any Credit Unions near him that also participate, he can also use the branch services of those CUs for his Delta accounts, as well....

PS: I meant Delta was bigger then Digital in free atm network coverage....It's almost as big as Alliant's coverage......in terms of number of atms...

olegos said: Are MoneyPass ATMs also free for Delta? For some reason they're free with Alliant, even though I haven't seen it officially stated anywhere.

I think it works with Alliant only because some kind of association between CU24 or Alliance One (not sure which) seems to allow MoneyPass atms to work for you also...even though not officially supported through Alliant.....

I don't think they would work with Delta, though.....

In Boston, you are left largely using Bank of America given their dominate position in the market for ATM access. Shared Deposit Taking ATM's are very limited in number in the Boston area, however there are a number of CU Service Centers in the area. Additionally, for ATM withdrawals the SUM network benefits those who bank with one of the numerous smaller financial institutions in the area.

DCU is an excellent choice for access to SUM, COOP, and the CU Service Centers. The only downside is limited ATM reimbursement.

Billywillyphant said: mrgordon said: My current routine is to use a Bank of America CampusEdge checking account for depositing money at ATMs (but I use Fidelity and Schwab checking accounts for everything else). I have to close the Bank of America account because the checkbooks were stolen, so I want to open a new account that would be convenient for making deposits. I like Bank of America's ATMs a lot but I hate almost everything else about the bank.

Can anyone recommend a free checking account that will allow me to make deposits at ATMs on the east coast (or at least in Boston)? Or does anyone know a specific bank that would allow me to use Bank of America's ATMs to make deposits?


I can't speak for Fidelity but can't you just use BOA's ATMs to deposit directly to Schwab? They refund all ATM fees.

Usually you can't make deposits at foreign bank ATMs. Credit Union Deposit Taking ATMs, and deals like what Netbank had with one of the credit union networks, are the only exceptions I'm aware of.

Yes...it is mostly Credit Unions that offer this advantage...because through the COOP Network, there are certain Cu's across the country that allow shared atm deposits of other credit unions....and the COOP Network is a Credit Union Only network....7-11 Stores with Vcom type atms is another place one can make deposits to Credit Unions as well...since they are on the COOP network....it's just another advantage of banking with a CU.....