1 Safe deposit box. One of my companies had a safe deposit box at the Craig Street branch of PNC in Pittsburgh, PA. I drop important corporate papers off for safe keeping once or twice a year. I came to place more documents in after not visiting for about 8-9 months. I had my key but not the box number. They looked and looked but could find no record of my box. At one point, I showed them an empty box without locks and said it was somewhere in that area. My key would not open any boxes. I came back three more times asking if they found my box and it contents. On the fourth visit, the bank manager found the papers and I signed for them. She explained that my company did not pay and so they drilled the locks. We never received an invoice. I indicated that the company name was on the account and that there are these things called the Internet and the telephone directory that lists my company and its contact information. I also mentioned that it did not take a genius to use either.

2 International letter of credit. Another firm I run needed an LC for payment to a manufacturer in China, about $10,000. This was out of the Squirrel Hill branch in Pittsburgh, PA and the LC department in Philadelphia I believe. They ended up charging more than $600 for a *fully* collateralized LC. The collateral was cash in a PNC account. They took no risk and shuffled some papers for more than 6% in fees. Despite insisting through the process that they would charge several hundred dollars less, they levied the fees anyway.

Naturally, all these accounts were changed over to Schwab and Citizens. Citizens actually has friendly and helpful service. They have not charged fees that were not clearly enunciated ahead of time. BTW, international wire transfer fees are about 60% less at Citizens.

If you’re looking for a new bank try CheckingFinder.com.

These are the top rates as of April 20th. These are NOT teaser rates.

Rates with a * signifies this bank rate is available nationwide.

First Robinson Savings Bank – Robinson, IL 6.01
Southern Missouri Bank & Trust 6.01
LA DOTD Federal Credit Union – Denham Spring, LA 5.25
Keystone Bank – Auburn, AL 5.15
*Connexus Credit Union – Wausau, WI *5.15
Community State Bank – Poteau, OK 5.05
First State Bank – Kansas City, KS 5.03
State Employees Credit Union – Santa Fe, NM 5.02
Grand Bank of Texas – Grand Prairie, TX 5.02
Malvern Federal Savings Bank – Paoli, PA 5.01
Union State Bank – Everest, KS 5.01
First Banking Center – Lake Geneva, WI 5.01
Noble Bank & Trust – Anniston, AL 5.01
Olmsted National Bank – Rochester, MN 5.01
Texas Citizens Bank – Pasadena, TX 4.76
Harbor Credit Union – Green Bay, WI 4.55
*Royal Banks of Missouri – St. Louis, MO *4.55
Finance Center Federal Credit Union – Indianapolis, IN 4.51
The Community Bank – Brockton, MA 4.51
Bank of Little Rock – Little Rock, AR 4.51
*Focus Bank – Charleston, MO *4.51
Community National Bank of the Lakeway Area – Morristown, TN 4.51
First-Lockhart National Bank – Lockhart, TX 4.51
Workers Credit Union – Acton, MA 4.51
Brookhaven Bank – Atlanta, GA 4.5
*First Arkansas Bank & Trust – Jacksonville, AR *4.44

Hope this helps!