Add in the co-op network of credit unions, where you can go to any branch of any of the member unions (50k+ branches last time I checked, but it's been awhile) and it's hard for me to understand why people bother with these big banks.
FWIW, at least near me, credit unions seem to be providing their customers access to shared branching without providing shared branches.
You can't just go to any branch, you've got to confirm they do shared branching. And then they may likely have withdrawal limits that are pretty low. I recently tried to pull $2,500 cash to buy a project car, and couldn't get it done in one day. If I had a big bank, I don't think it would be an issue; or if I had an account at a local bank or credit union with a convenient branch.
The only reason I'm not currently banking at a credit union is because my wife prefers banks. I can't understand why she does, but ultimately marital harmony is worth more to me than using a credit union. If it wasn't for that, I would never have left my credit union in a million years. They rock.
Add in the co-op network of credit unions, where you can go to any branch of any of the member unions (50k+ branches last time I checked, but it's been awhile) and it's hard for me to understand why people bother with these big banks.