I banked with WaMu for 9 years, 6 of which were just fine, no problems. However, the last 3 were nothing but a headache. The one free overdraft a year mentioned above is only for customers who open up a "New Free Checking Account" - not a "Free Checking Account," which is what I had. In order to upgrade my account, I had to go into a branch...the closest of which was 300 miles away. Their phone customer service is terrible; all the times I ever called I got nowhere with my issues.

When I went to a branch to close the account (while on a vacation, because there are no branches anywhere near where I live), I was asked why I was doing so. I replied, among a few other reasons, that I had unfairly been charged NSF fees. The person "helping" me insinuated that this was my fault for not keeping track of my account...he must have assumed that since I am young, I cannot balance a checkbook. He did refund one of the NSF fees as a courtesy.

Some people have had very good experiences with WaMu, and had I been asked 4 or 5 years ago, I would have agreed. However, upon moving to a city without a branch, my relationship with my bank went downhill. I closed my account on a very negative note. My parents closed their accounts as well after having similarly bad experiences.