Anyone use ING Direct for a checking account?

[worm761]

Anyone use ING Direct for their checking account? I got an email offer for $50 to start an account the other day. Today I got an email from my primary bank stating that they are going to start charging me for my free checking account. So I am looking around for a new one.

 

[dhardawa]

I have an ING checking account, but I just use it to pay a couple of utilities that won't bill to my credit card. I have a very complex system I use for paying bills, but it works for me. For this account, I put a set amount into it each payday and then pay the gas, electric, and water from it. That way I'm never surprised by a big bill showing up. But, anyway, you didn't ask for my system. So far, I have had no issues at all with the ING checking account except that it seems to take a long time for deposits to be available to use (usually about 8 days which I think is ridiculous for an electronic transfer).

 

[extremesoccermom]

I have been using an ING checking account for years. Originally it was set up so that I could make CC payments and little things that were not part of our "joint household" account. Now they even offer direct deposits of checks from others and an actual checkbook (before we needed an outside account to make deposits and debt card only). I love my account and if we were to get hit with fees from our local bank I would switch all my money over (even open another joint checking account). Right now I have numerous savings accounts for myself, the kids, and DVC savings as well as a CD and the checking account.

 

[Meetmeinmontauk]

DBF & I both use ING. We signed up under the free $50 offer too

 

[mydisneyobsession]

I use an ING account in a similar way to previous posters. I have a local bank account which is still my primary account, although I am slowly transitioning to using the ING account for more and more purposes.

I currently use the ING account as a sinking fund for some reoccurring expenses, like things that are due quarterly or annually, and then I have savings accounts for my emergency fund and vacation savings.

I agree that the holding time for the accounts is ridiculously long! But in all other respects, I've been very happy with it. I was initially worried about accessibility to the cash, but that hasn't been a problem. There is a large ATM network, and in a pinch you can get free "cash advance" like transactions from your local bank. (I forgot my ATM pin code once, and the work around was really easy.)

 

[ness1996]

I origianally only opened it for the $50 too! But now it's my main account. I have no complaints at all. It does take too long for transfers from my other bank account, but my direct deposit actually posts the day we are paid. Where with my other bank it would only be "available" not posted, which makes a difference, I found out the hard way. I now have several accounts with ING.

 

[vicki_c]

We recently transferred everything to our ING checking from Wells Fargo and I am so happy with ING. We've had savings with them for years, but I wanted to transition to checking, but was put off by (1) no checks and (2) no easy deposits. Well, they added actual checks about a year ago, I think, so I was just waiting until they had the remote deposit feature available, which just started about a month ago. We rarely have checks to deposit, but I didn't want to have to mail them anywhere. I have deposited 2 checks using my phone and the ING app and it is so slick - and worked really fast too.

And the availability of ATMs is great - there are probably 10 places within 5 minutes of my house that I can get cash out for no charge. With Wells Fargo, we had to drive about 10 minutes away through a lot of traffic (lots!) to get to the ATM or bank.

 

[ModernArtist]

I love ING! I've had an account with them for years and have had no issues at all. The weird thing is the deposit holds. They seem to vary based on the other responses. Deposits into my savings take 10 days but into my checking only take 2 days. Strange. Other than that, I love them. I do know that Direct Deposit from your paycheck is available immediately. They don't hold those.

Give them a try! Good Luck!

 

[starwood]

I have been using ING for years and never had a problem with them... until last week. I tried to login and my pin wouldn't work. I called them and they said the pin was correct and no one had accessed the accounts but when I try to put the pin in it is registering as incorrect numbers. I've been waiting for them to fix this for 3 days now. They asked if I had made any changes to my computer but I haven't. I'm going to call them this morning and if this can't be fixed by Monday I'm pulling all my money out.

 

[hsmamato2]

So far, I have had no issues at all with the ING checking account except that it seems to take a long time for deposits to be available to use (usually about 8 days which I think is ridiculous for an electronic transfer).

This... I used to use ING quite a bit for savings,due to good rates and quick access....but not much anymore...I can't touch my money for WAY too long if I need it...and the rates are ...bleh. I use accounts at a local credit union instead.

 

[MisKaren1]

Depositing checks from my phone is SOOOO awesome. I know other banks have the same thing, but not my credit union.

Recently the holds have only been about 2 business days.
And yes, I miss the days of the high ING interest rates, but they are gone pretty much everywhere.

 

[vicki_c]

Depositing checks from my phone is SOOOO awesome. I know other banks have the same thing, but not my credit union.

Recently the holds have only been about 2 business days.
And yes, I miss the days of the high ING interest rates, but they are gone pretty much everywhere.

I agree that the holds I've done recently were very short. The only time is seemed to take long for me was transferring from my old bank to ING, but it still never took as long as others posted - 7 or 8 days - it was only maybe 3 business days.

I phone deposited a check last week at night, and only about an hour later I got the message saying I could discard the paper check. I don't know how long it took for the actual funds to show in our account, but it wasn't more than 2 days.

 

[dontthrowsand]

I use ING almost exclusively other than my VISA. I love it! Free chequing, free savings, free support, very wonderful for me!

 

[pklein09]

How do they handle depositing cash? I already have 2 savings accounts for us and one for each kid. I pay pretty much all my bills online and DHs paycheck is directly deposited. I could get used to depositing checks via phone, but I do occassionally have cash that needs to go in the account.

TIA!

 

[vicki_c]

How do they handle depositing cash? I already have 2 savings accounts for us and one for each kid. I pay pretty much all my bills online and DHs paycheck is directly deposited. I could get used to depositing checks via phone, but I do occassionally have cash that needs to go in the account.

TIA!

That I do not know - I don't see how you would deposit cash unless you can do it through the ATM - never really occurred to me, because we never have cash deposits. You might try calling them from the toll free # on their website and ask. They have fantastic customer service on the phone - nothing like any other bank I have ever called!

 

[starwood]

I deposit cash in my checking account and then transfer it to ING.

 

[vicki_c]

I deposit cash in my checking account and then transfer it to ING.

Well, that's great if you have a separate checking account somewhere (that's what I would have done in the past) but if you only have ING that's not an option.

 

[dontthrowsand]

How do they handle depositing cash? I already have 2 savings accounts for us and one for each kid. I pay pretty much all my bills online and DHs paycheck is directly deposited. I could get used to depositing checks via phone, but I do occassionally have cash that needs to go in the account.

TIA!

Here in Canada I can use any ING DIRECT ABM machine, and machines that are part of the Exchange Network. In the states I use the ACCEL/Exchange.

I believe that the american ING banking partnership is with Allpoint ATMs. If you go to ingdirect.com and click on chequing, there should be all the information that you need.

 

[kelleigh1]

I recently received the offer too and I was just looking at it again this morning. Still debating. I do have 2 checking accounts right now, so maybe I'll start by moving my 2nd checking account to ING and then see how it works out for me before making it my main account.

 

[vicki_c]

I recently received the offer too and I was just looking at it again this morning. Still debating. I do have 2 checking accounts right now, so maybe I'll start by moving my 2nd checking account to ING and then see how it works out for me before making it my main account.

That's what I did - it was a slow transition over about 6 months. What truly pushed me over the edge was when Wells Fargo paid my water bill late two times in a row, despite the dates they put on the web page for when it would be paid (and they did eat the penalty charge - the other time the water company waived it). If Wachovia hadn't been taken over by Wells Fargo, I probably would have never switched to ING, but I'm really happy with ING now.

Thanks to the PP from Canada saying you could deposit at the ATM - I just never thought about it. It is the AllPoint network in the States.