Sindarla M asked:


…what happens now for those, such as myself, that have several checking and savings accounts at Washington Mutual? I must have about 4 Checking accounts and 3 Savings accounts…I’d say total less than $2,000. I KNOW the money’s protected by the FDIC and J P Morgan Chase. But the reason I chose Washington Mutual over a bank like Chase is because Washington Mutual had NO minimum amount you have to keep in your bank account, they have free checks for life (which I rarely use anyway), and they have like about 2 FREE overdrafts a year. I’m WORRIED that now it’s changed to Chase that I’m going to lose the things that drew me to put my money in Washington Mutual. I PARTICULARLY want the no minimum balance thing, also the free checks are useful…I’m on disability and can’t come up with a sum of money I HAVE TO leave in my bank account as a minimum balance and also can’t afford to pay for new checks, whenever it’s time to re-order them! Washington Mutual was THE BEST for my situation. And the employees were/are SOOO friendly. I KNOW they will keep the same employees, mostly.

I need to know whether they’re going to impose the Chase rules & regulations on Washington Mutual customers (I think they will), because if they do, I KNOW there will be a minimum balance requirement on all Checking AND Savings accounts. Then I will have to close all 7 of my accounts and move them to the Federal Teachers Credit Union or my local county bank (as I have a child in the public schools I qualify for the first one, and since I am a resident of my county I qualify for the 2nd one)…but NEITHER of them are NEARLY as good as Washington Mutual, and BOTH are FARTHER away from my home than Washington Mutual was…the ONLY other bank in my area is ANOTHER Chase bank, actually, but farther away than what WAS my Washington Mutual branch.)

There really are NO good banks left out there now!!! My father warned me that this was coming, but I didn’t listen!! NOW I’m WORRIED what happens next!!!!!

I just wish Chase would be MORE specific about what’s going to happen with Washington Mutual bank accounts…EVEN IF it’s not going to happen for 6 months or so…and give an EXACT date when things are going to change, list EVERYTHING that will change so consumers know what to do with their accounts, after all, we Americans and fellow Washington Mutual bank account holders tend to panic and we are the Need to Know (NOW!) generation…that DEFINITELY goes for me…I JUST NEED TO KNOW KNOW what will happen and EXACTLY WHAT DATE IT WILL HAPPEN ON, so I Know EXACTLY how much time I have left to explore other options for my banking…

Thanks to all those answering my question…PARTICULARLY if you can give me SPECIFIC information…WHEN does the 6 month period end EXACTLY for starters?