Finally closing all bank/brokerage accounts with virtual keyboards

UPDATE: I don’t recommend Schwab anymore

4 years ago I blogged about how much I hated financial sites with virtual keyboards. They are inconvenient, and they encourage shorter, easier to type, less secure passwords. Also 1Password can’t automatically fill them. I tweeted about it once and @tradeking replied and said it was to prevent keyloggers. While that might be true, it certainly didn’t prevent the guy behind me on a plane or at a coffeeshop from knowing my password.

I recently opened a Schwab account mainly because they refund all international ATM fees with no minimum balance requirements, and no fees whatsoever. I love them so much I ACATed my TradeKing account over, and I will also be moving funds from 2 other online checking/savings accounts and then closing them when the transfers complete. So now with HSBC and TradeKing gone, I no longer have to tolerate virtual keyboards.

If you’re not completely happy with your bank, I highly recommend Schwab. Also take a look at Fidelity, they have similar offerings and an AMEX 2% cashback card. Schwab had a 2% visa signature card a couple of years back, but it is now gone.

5 thoughts on “Finally closing all bank/brokerage accounts with virtual keyboards

  1. Raymond Law

    I've been using the Fidelity AMEX card with 2% cashback wherever takes AMEX. It is great but AMEX isn't accepted everywhere. I will look into Schwab.

    Reply
    1. ayn Post author

      Schwab doesn't have the 2% visa signature anymore, it was sold to another bank and then to BOA, and it became an entirely different card.

      Reply
      1. Raymond Law

        I meant to say I would look into transferring my checking and savings accounts to Schwab. Do they have overdraft fee? Wells Fargo charges overdraft fee even if it is from my savings to my checking. Fucking hate that.

        Reply
        1. ayn Post author

          The Schwab checking account requires that you also open a brokerage account, even though you don't have to use it. I believe they have overdraft fee, but if you have money in the brokerage account, when you overdraft they would just take money out from the brokerage account, and you won't be charged an overdraft fee.

          Reply
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