At first I sort of figured I'd just open ING's newfangled checking account and play around with it just long enough to write up my review. But now I'm having second thoughts: I'm gonna keep it for a while. Not only that, I believe I'll make it my main checking account — at least for a few months.
The simple fact is that I write fewer than 2 or 3 paper checks per month on average. And of those two checks, ING has already shown me that they can pay one of those bills electronically. (I could've paid it electronically, too, directly thru the company's website. But I would've had to pay a $1.00 service fee to do it. Don't even get me started on that crappy setup.)
Being able to pay individuals with Electric Checks will actually come in handy this week, as I need to send some money to an out-of-town family member who made a purchase on my behalf. Thanks to Electric Orange, I can do this without mailing a check, and the relative won't have to make a trip to the bank to deposit a check. A few clicks from me, a quick email response from her, and ING gets the money into her account 100% electronically. Pretty nifty.
I've had my main credit-union savings account since the 1970s. I've had its corresponding checking account since ... well, since I was old enough to open one. ING Direct's Orange Savings Account was the first account to largely snag my savings funds away from this particular credit union.
I suppose it's only fitting that they also be the ones to acquire my checking-account business, too.
At this point, I'd say the odds slightly favor Electric Orange.
