HSBC or M&T? Options

[Churchopia88]

I'll be moving to Buffalo at the end of the month to start my first year of grad school and need to switch banks. I hear there are atms for both HSBC and M&T on campus. I'm having trouble deciding between the two as HSBC has a branch that's closer to the school but charges money for a checking account while M&T's branch is farther away but has free checking. Any suggestions about which one I should choose?

[Chrissy K]

Normally I would say HSBC because there is an ATM right in the union and also a branch down Elmwood but they are going to be closing a lot of these branches soon and making accounts more and more expensive for the little guys like us. So at this point I would say stick with M&T because the future of HSBC is so up in the air...

[ekrolewicz]

I'll be moving to Buffalo at the end of the month to start my first year of grad school and need to switch banks. I hear there are atms for both HSBC and M&T on campus. I'm having trouble deciding between the two as HSBC has a branch that's closer to the school but charges money for a checking account while M&T's branch is farther away but has free checking. Any suggestions about which one I should choose?

HSBC is in the process of leaving upstate/wny and focusing on bigger business. First Niagara just bought them out so the branch you saw is going to become a First Niagara bank most likely. I have an HSBC account right now but I would reccommend M&T because there is a student checking account that has no fees for as long as you are a student, and you can withdraw from any atm no matter the company 4 times a month with no charges. If you are working you should get direct deposit so you will never have to go to a branch, the atm on campus should be sufficient...here is a link to M&Ts student account, good luck!

[Churchopia88]

Thanks! I was leaning more towards M&T anyway.

[Steve-O Marx]

Normally I would say HSBC because there is an ATM right in the union and also a branch down Elmwood but they are going to be closing a lot of these branches soon and making accounts more and more expensive for the little guys like us. So at this point I would say stick with M&T because the future of HSBC is so up in the air...

I recommend neither one of them. Instead your account should be with the bank located at the school. It is called Mortonlane Federal credit Union. that's who I'm going with.

[fritter]

I use citizens bank. They are down elmwood, right off of hertel ave. They have a great student account plus right now they are giving you $25 for opening a student account. There is a credit union atm in the union that is free to use.