davis_square | Entries tagged with banking

Just got an email from the Cambridge PD, emphasis mine:

During this busy travel season, the Cambridge Police Department would like to remind ATM users to be aware of skimming devices at area ATMs. These skimming devices are being used as part of an ongoing scheme by thieves to steal account information from customers and to defraud banks. On July 1, 2016, a skimming device (card reader) was located by a customer using an ATM at a local convenience store in Cambridge. The device was attached with double-sided tape. The pinhole camera was located on a plate over the money dispenser area.

These devices are well built and appear to be part of the machine. Customers are asked to take special attention to the card reader dome, and either look over the pin pad area or the money dispenser area for any pinhole camera device.

The Cambridge Police Investigations Unit is actively following up this incident and asking patrols to periodically check ATMs in local convenience stores, gas stations, and other locations.

“If an ATM appears to have been tampered with, please report it right away to the local business and the police,” stated Detective Brian O’Connor of the Cambridge Police Department.

They link to this handy info graphic for basic explanation of skimming.

wallacestreet.livejournal.com

I scanned the recent posts but couldn't find any good information on banking for kids. We're looking for accounts for our pre-teens where we can deposit their monthly pocket money (automatic deposit keeps us from forgetting!), they can deposit babysitting and birthday money, and they can access their money (and information about it) easily and cheaply. The following features (roughly in order of importance) would be nice:

* ATM card (with debit card/point of purchase features if possible)
* Low/no minimum balance and no fees
* Easy transfers among accounts and with our accounts at distant banks to deposit pocket money
* Ability to withdraw from many (all) ATMs fee-free (with fee rebate if possible)
* Local branches a bonus, especially if they'll take loose coins from kids without a fee.

USAA seems to have a great program but we're not military so not eligible. Do any of the (many, many) banks and credit unions around have anything suitable? Are there national banks which have good things in this line (ours doesn't)? Googling is not easy since many of the programs are targeted at older teens or have ATM cards which charge fees for withdrawal at local ATMs.

Thanks so much!

courtney

Hi DSLJ Friends,

The Community Credit Union is hosting a block party tomorrow in the Cutter Street lot from 11:00am until 3:00pm. There will be food from Cuisine En Locale, face painting, music, raffle prizes and cash rewards! CCU is located at 377 Summer Street and the lot is directly across the street from the branch.

Also, CCU is a member of Somerville Local First, The Chamber of Commerce and financial supporters of the Somerville Homeless Coalition, Groundwork Somerville, The Mystic River Watershed Association and Green City Growers.

Facebook Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1117368931624700/

I apologize for the short notice. I will ask someone from the branch to post things here when I see them tomorrow.

Current Mood: Rich
Current Location: Cutter Street Lot
Current Music: Elton John

dougo.livejournal.com

Apparently the Community Credit Union (in that new building next to Rosebud) was robbed yesterday, amidst all the construction issues in the square.

http://www.bostonherald.com/news_opinion/local_coverage/2015/06/somerville_police_say_granny_robbed_davis_square_bank

phortlane.livejournal.com

I need a safe deposit box that's easy to get to on the Red line - can you help? Or suggest specific banks I could call? Thank you.

tequilamckngbrd.livejournal.com

Apparent bank robbery in Davis Square doesn't end so well for suspects

ron_newman

a sign in the first-floor window of the big new building at Summer and Cutter (next to Rosebud) announces that Community Credit Union will open soon.

That's not going to do much to liven up this dead part of the square, or to justify turning the little triangular parking lot into a new plaza :-(

enveri.livejournal.com

So! My spouse and I have finally decided that lack of a local bank account is bad, and we're looking to open accounts with a credit union locally.

We require the ability to have separate checking accounts and to be able to transfer funds between them. (So I can transfer money to/from his checking account and vice versa) We had this at our old CU back in Illinois, but apparently it's a completely foreign concept out here, because when we went to CPCU, they cheerfully told us 'Of course you can do that!' until we opened the accounts, and then the bank officer gave us a deer in the headlights look and said 'No that's not possible.'

I surfed through the tags for banking, and as this is a pretty specific question, didn't find anything. Does anyone out there have a similar setup to what we want? (I'd be really surprised of other couples don't) Do you love your CU?

We live in Magoun Square and work in Cambridge and Charlestown respectively, but if there's a CU that meets our requirements, we're willing to travel for a branch/ATM.

Thanks!

she-of-emeralds.livejournal.com

Hi again all,

First, thanks for all the very useful & informative comments on my yesterday's question about USAlliance and credit unions in general.

Second, I apologize to those who didn't get a reply to their specific comment! I wrote a number of them but then there was a hiccup and many of them disappeared, and now I can't reply to them at all. Sorry. Arrgh.

I think I will whip up a list of questions and contact the various CUs y'all have recommended and ask the questions.

Thanks again. :)

she-of-emeralds.livejournal.com

Hi all,

I'm considering switching my banking from a regular commercial bank to USAlliance on Mass. Ave. near Porter Square, because the commercial bank in question is not very interested in servicing customers who have as little money with them as I do (i.e. not a heck of a lot), and their fees are getting higher and higher, and I am more and more finding myself philosophically/politically in favor of member-owned, not-for-profit institutions.

There was a thread a couple of years ago about credit unions vs. banks in general, but I'm specifically interested in USAlliance because I'm not eligible for any other credit union in the area that I know of.

So: has anyone ever used, or are still using, USAlliance? If so, what was the experience like? Good points and bad points? If you left them, why? If you're staying, why? And so forth and so on.

I could really use some feedback. Thanks!

(And if there are tags besides "banking" that I should be using, please let me know--I didn't find one for "credit unions." Again, thanks!)

gravitrue.livejournal.com

Anyone got a comparison of Somerville safe deposit boxes? Cost? Hours of operation? Do you need an account with the bank?

I know the Eastern Bank branch in Davis does not offer them, but the one at Alewife does.

emcicle.livejournal.com

according to Boston.com, Eastern Bank was robbed this AM by a man with no gun or note who "verbally demanded cash".

http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/somerville/2012/08/man_robs_somerville_bank_witho.html

somerfriend.livejournal.com

A local bank is gone.

However if there was a bank to be sold, this would probably be it. I frequently hear about Cambridge Savings Bank funding local non profit development, and Winter Hill Bank and East Cambridge Bank funding local private development. I've never heard about Central Bank funding projects, but that is purely anecdotal.

And if there was a bank to buy it, Rockland Trust would be a good one. I do hear about them being good in local lending. I'm not informed beyond an anecdotal level to say for sure if it is a net gain or loss for us.

If Winter Hill Bank, ECSB and Cambridge Savings Bank were to be sold, the community would suffer as national and regional banks don't tend to fund local projects, so rejuvenation is harder. That is the real value of local banks. Though good customer service for retail checking and not having to go through hoops to avoid fees is nice too, there are other options for that.

secretlyironic.livejournal.com

Eastern Bank will be eliminating the Wainwright free checking plan on 4/2/2012. The primary options for regular folks are:
* "Free" checking: No monthly fee, you pay for a book of checks. ATM fees are zero for Eastern Bank ATMs, $2 for SUM ATMs, and (Edited for clarity) for non-SUM ATMs, it's $2 plus the host bank's fee.
* "EZ" checking: No monthly fee if you use your debit card to purchase stuff at least 15 times per month, OR maintain an average balance of $1,500. $10 per month if you don't meet the other requirements.

I think those requirements are obnoxious. Anyone care to make independent bank suggestions?

somervillesnow.livejournal.com

Read through banking tag. Some followup questions:

Do any of the local banks have images of deposits in their online banking or a deposit at home using a scanner service?

If I wanted to go hyperlocal, is Winter Hill Bank the only bank that is headquartered in Somerville? Are East Cambridge Savings Bank, CPCU, Cambridge Savings Bank the only banks headquartered in Cambridge? MIT Federal Credit Union doesn't count (for me) since they aren't open to the public.

ron_newman

Eastern Bank sent me a letter telling me that "In order for us to be compliant with new federal regulations, you will no longer be able to use your ATM card ending in [...] to make purchases using your Personal Identification Number (PIN) at locations, such as supermarkets, gas stations, or other retail stores effective March 21, 2012."

The letter goes on to say that the bank is replacing my ATM card with a Debit MasterCard which will allow me to continue making such purchases. I can decline the offer by February 17 and keep my ATM card, but then I can no longer use it to make purchases after March 21.

Anyone know more about this? Has any other bank sent out similar letters?

ukelele.livejournal.com

The husband was running an errand at Eastern Bank and just texted me to say they were robbed and the cops apprehended the guy in the middle of Davis. Um, whoa. Anyone have more info/corroboration on that?

mamajoan.livejournal.com

I've read through the recent posts in the banking tag for this community, and there's a lot of useful info there -- but they all seem to be mostly about checking/savings accounts. I'm wondering about mortgages. I want to refinance and am looking at Cambridge Savings Bank particularly. Does anyone have experience with CSB for mortgages? Or another small local bank (or credit union) that you'd recommend? Thanks!

siderea

There's been lots of good information here in the past about local credit unions. I have some questions for local customers about their credit unions:

( Inquisitive customer is inquisitive. Lots of questions cut for length. )

temvald.livejournal.com

Just a reminder if anyone here is thinking about participating in Bank Transfer Day: there's a lot of good info about local banks in this community under the banking tag. In particular, here are two recent posts with a lot of information about local banks and credit unions in the greater Davis Square area.

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The Davis Square Community

Entries tagged with banking

Navigation

Cambridge PD report skimmer found on ATM in Cambridge

Banking for pre-teens

Community Credit Union Block Party Tomorrow from 11-3pm

Bank robbery

Banks with safe deposit boxes nearby?

SWAT Team catches Rockland Trust Bank robbers

unfortunately it's another bank branch

Looking for Credit Union

USAlliance/arrgh.

Experiences with USAlliance Credit Union?

safe deposit boxes?

Eastern Bank robbed this morning

Rockland Trust buys Central Bank

Eastern Bank Checking: Requirements change for Wainwright customers

Another banking thread

ATM card use at retail locations ending in March?

Eastern bank robbed?

Cambridge Savings Bank for mortgage?

Some specific questions about local credit unions

Bank Transfer Day