5 Simple Steps to Painlessly Switch Banks

Are rude tellers and outrageous fees among your bank’s claims to fame? Enough already!

You shouldn’t have to put up with that, especially with so many banks waiting for your business. Why waste your time and money on an institution you hate?

Switching banks may seem like a royal pain, but it’s really not. Here are five steps to make the process painless.

Step No. 1: Review your options

This step is likely the one you’ll spend the most time on, but don’t rush the process. You don’t want to trade one bad bank for another. In fact, after your research, you may find you don’t want a new bank at all. You may discover a credit union is your best bet for financial bliss.

Everyone’s priorities are different, but here’s what you may want to consider when looking for the best financial institution for your money:

Monthly cost of a checking account, and how you can avoid paying it
Overdraft fees and overdraft protection options, as well as their cost
ATM availability, and ATM fees for using out-of-network machines
Online features such as bill payment services and mobile account access
Branch locations and hours (if you still like the personal touch)
Perks such as credit or debit card rewards
Ability to bundle all banking needs at one institution (e.g., checking, savings, loans and investments)
Current promotions for new customers

In addition to looking at local institutions, don’t forget to check out virtual banks like Capital One 360 and Ally, which can offer competitive services and easy account access online and through ATMs.

Step No. 2: Ask For a Switch Kit

Once you’ve settled on a new bank or credit union, ask if they have a switch kit.

Some institutions offer a packet of forms and information to help guide you through the process of switching banks. Contents may include direct deposit forms, worksheets and checklists.

As part of a switch kit, you may also get a form to mail to your old bank asking them to close your account. That can be handy, but hold onto the form. You don’t want to use it just yet.

Step No. 3: Open a New Account

Now it’s time to actually open the account. Depending on the institution, you may need to make an appointment to do so, or you may be able to walk in any time during business hours.

Typically, you’ll be required to provide:

Government-issued identification such a driver’s license.
Social Security number.
Cash for the initial deposit.

Online banking applications may ask for your name, address and other identifying information in lieu of seeing a photo ID.

If you’re applying for a joint account, it may save time if you and your co-applicant are able to go together and open the account. However, many institutions will let one applicant start the process and let the second person come in at a different time to present their identification and sign the necessary paperwork.

Step No. 4: Update Billing Information

You have your new account open, but don’t close the old one just yet. First, you need to make sure all your billing information is updated.

If you use an online bill pay service, print out your list of payees and enter that information into the bill pay service for your new account. Checking each account off as you enter it is a good way to ensure you don’t skip any.

Next, check in with your insurance companies or any other business you may have authorized to take payments automatically on a periodic basis. If you have a PayPal, Serve or prepaid card attached to your checking account, update those as well.

Finally, leave a balance in your old account to cover any outstanding checks or recurring charges you may have forgotten about. Since most checking accounts have a monthly fee attached to them, it could get expensive to leave your old account open indefinitely. However, you’ll want to wait at least a month or two to make sure you’ve caught any straggling bills.

It’s also a good idea to keep an eye on your credit score during this time. A sudden drop in score could mean you missed a bill during this process and unknowingly missed a payment. Catching it early can be helpful. You can check your free credit scores every month on Credit.com.

Step No. 5: Close the Old Account

After a few weeks with no activity on your old account, it’s probably safe to close it. At this point, you can send in the form your bank provided with the switch kit, or you can have the satisfaction of walking into a branch and telling them face-to-face that you two are through.