I finally found a downside of USAA banking

[tacosforlife]

We have no reliable way to get quarters for the laundry machines!

The grocery store will only give me $3 at a time. The laundry mat change machine is for customers only (and it also has wash and fold so is always attended).

I think we are going to open a bank account specifically for laundry, have some of my paycheck deposited into it, and then only ever withdraw quarters.

Why can't my building install card readers in the laundry room?!

[crashgizmo]

Yeah, this became a problem for us when we went to Mexico and wanted $100 in $1 bills to tip at an All Inclusive. I tried to go to BofA and they wouldn't change money for me unless I had an account. Damn USAA and their lack of branches!

[tacosforlife]

Aug 28, 2015 10:12:55 GMT -5 crashgizmo said:

Yeah, this became a problem for us when we went to Mexico and wanted $100 in $1 bills to tip at an All Inclusive. I tried to go to BofA and they wouldn't change money for me unless I had an account. Damn USAA and their lack of branches!

I sweet talked a teller into giving me 2 rolls of quarters a couple of weeks ago. The conversation went like this:

Me: Is there any way I can get some quarters?
Him: Are you a customer?
Me: Wellllll, no.
Him: Why not?
Me: Because I have USAA.
Him: Yeah, I got nothing. I can't compete with that.

LOL!

[Deleted]

I get cash back at the grocery store and ask for a roll of quarters, they almost always have it, but I live in a college town, so this is probably a normal request. I've also found a couple of car washes that have change machines, I'm sure I'm supposed to be a customer to use them, but I go after hours. I feel ridiculous sneaking over to a car wash after dark to get quarters, but it works in a pinch.

[VillainV]

I've been able to go to any bank or even customer service at the grocery store with a $10 bill and get a roll of quarters. It's never been a problem before. USAA for lyfe!

[shamrockshake]

they'll deposit cash at UPS branches, I wonder if they would also "sell" you rolls of quarters there

[Velvetshady]

I used to walk to the local bank with a work friend that had an account and she'd get laundry quarters for me and I'd buy her lunch that day--it was a monthly lunch tradition.

[cjeanette]

Just ask for cash back when your pay at target or the grocery every time you go and hoard them.

[Deleted]

We use an online bank but not USAA. Is there a big reason to use SAA? We thought about getting in for possible future loan reasons?

[tacosforlife]

Aug 28, 2015 12:19:37 GMT -5 freshsqueezed said:

We use an online bank but not USAA. Is there a big reason to use SAA? We thought about getting in for possible future loan reasons?

Other than it being the freaking best?

Things that are awesome about it:

My paycheck hits 24 hours before all my coworkers. Payday is today. GUESS WHO GOT PAID YESTERDAAAAAY?

The customer service is great.

The interest rate on CCs is quite low, which is good if you have to carry a balance for any reason (hey, we ain't all MM saints).

There is almost never a minimum payment due on my CC, which means no late fees!

We also have auto and renters insurance through them, and it's nice to have everything in one place.

Electronic check deposit - they were way ahead of the game on this one.

No fee for ATMs and they refund ATM fees.


Other than the quarters issue, the only real negative is that their rewards cards are pretty mediocre. But since we currently have a CC balance, I'm much more concerned about a low rate than lots of rewards. USAA is just generally the bee's knees.

[cjeanette]

I get my paycheck 24 hours early with USAA also. What is that about? I have a couple co-workers who always ask me if I got paid so they know theirs is coming.

[mich1]

Aug 28, 2015 13:49:38 GMT -5 cjeanette said:

I get my paycheck 24 hours early with USAA also. What is that about? I have a couple co-workers who always ask me if I got paid so they know theirs is coming.

Yep, I always did too.

[dcn]

I've had luck getting change at credit unions or local banks. They don't seem to care if you have an account or not.

[VillainV]

Aug 28, 2015 12:19:37 GMT -5 freshsqueezed said:

We use an online bank but not USAA. Is there a big reason to use SAA? We thought about getting in for possible future loan reasons?

Their customer service is AMAZING.  They get rated VERY highly every year.  You talk to real people, who care and are nice and friendly, and they fix problems for you.   I think the checking accounts are no-fee (at least mine is), with free everything (online bill-pay, free ATMs, etc).   They are constantly on the leading edge of online banking (they have been doing deposit-at-home via computer scanners for a LONG TIME and have been doing deposit via smartphone app for several years).   

[Deleted]

Ok thanks. I think we will get an account.

I assume they have online bill pay. I hate our current bill pay system for the bank we switched to a few months ago.

[VillainV]

Aug 28, 2015 14:05:54 GMT -5 @lauralynne said:

My only other complaint - also branch related - absolutely no way to deposit cash. I sell a lot on Craigslist (I've hit 5 figures now...in probably 18 months or so) and can't deposit it. FWP

Not all, but MOST UPS stores have a deal with USAA that you can deposit cash or checks at UPS stores.  You don't need a deposit slip, just your debit card.  It's really easy.  And you're allowed a larger check than you can normally do with Deposit@Mobile.  I think Deposit@Mobile has a $5000 check limit, but you can deposit up to $10000 at UPS stores?  I've only ever had this problem once, and it was when we sold our car....it's not like I go around depositing huge checks all the time :-)   

[redheadk]

I used to occasionally get rolls of quarters at the bank inside Walmart for my classroom (who knew quarters had so many uses?). I just handed them a $10 bill and they gave me a roll of quarters, no questions asked. Maybe try that?

[audette]

Does your apartment management office have quarters you can buy? That would make sense....

[illgetthere]

Not having a local bank can be a hassle. I primarily deal with usaa, but I have a savings account at a local credit union with a small amount of local emergency money. It's nice to have a branch if needed.

[atarianna]

Aug 28, 2015 14:16:51 GMT -5 VillainV said:

Aug 28, 2015 14:05:54 GMT -5 @lauralynne said:

My only other complaint - also branch related - absolutely no way to deposit cash. I sell a lot on Craigslist (I've hit 5 figures now...in probably 18 months or so) and can't deposit it. FWP

Not all, but MOST UPS stores have a deal with USAA that you can deposit cash or checks at UPS stores.  You don't need a deposit slip, just your debit card.  It's really easy.  And you're allowed a larger check than you can normally do with Deposit@Mobile.  I think Deposit@Mobile has a $5000 check limit, but you can deposit up to $10000 at UPS stores?  I've only ever had this problem once, and it was when we sold our car....it's not like I go around depositing huge checks all the time :-)   

The USPS store does not have a deposit limit. I had to deposit a substaintial check from the sale of our home and had no issues. I asked what the limit was and he said he has never had something not go through.

[illgetthere]

Aug 28, 2015 14:16:51 GMT -5 VillainV said:

Aug 28, 2015 14:05:54 GMT -5 @lauralynne said:

My only other complaint - also branch related - absolutely no way to deposit cash. I sell a lot on Craigslist (I've hit 5 figures now...in probably 18 months or so) and can't deposit it. FWP

Not all, but MOST UPS stores have a deal with USAA that you can deposit cash or checks at UPS stores.  You don't need a deposit slip, just your debit card.  It's really easy.  And you're allowed a larger check than you can normally do with Deposit@Mobile.  I think Deposit@Mobile has a $5000 check limit, but you can deposit up to $10000 at UPS stores?  I've only ever had this problem once, and it was when we sold our car....it's not like I go around depositing huge checks all the time :-)   

Mobile deposit has the 10k limit

[mainelyfoolish]

A couple other things I cannot do with my USAA bank accounts -- get a paper notarized and get a medallion signature guarantee. I keep a small savings account active at a local bank so I have the option to get change or the aforementioned services.