Lower Depths in Kenmore Square has closed

Pretty much what @AlcahueteJ said above, I typically just get cash back at every opportunity at the grocery store, CVS, etc. and almost never need an ATM. But being a block from Fenway an hour before gametime is probably the LEAST convenient location to encounter cash only, being in no spot to discriminate against a fee machine.

I even have accounts at both Bank of America and Citizens, but there are still countless times where the nearest machine is for East Zimbabwe Credit Union or some obscure outfit just looking to bleed you out $4 at a time.

 

At risk of fully derailing this topic.....There are tons of great banks that reimburse ATM fees charged by standalone ATM machines. Most of these same banks also offer interest-bearing checking accounts etc. Don't get screwed by your bank people! It's 2019 and the old model is showing its cracks in a big way.

As far as switching, assuming both accounts are in the same name, you open an account and transfer your money without ever leaving your chair. ACH transfers with accounts in the same name are incredibly easy, and always free.

 

I'd be really curious to know who these banks are. I have a couple accounts, one of which is Capital One that pays interest and has very generous ATM policies (you can go to any bank's ATM and pay no fee) - but they still don't reimburse those private ATM thingies you run into in bars etc.

ETA: and derail away. I think we've pretty much said everything about LD that needs to be said

 

Lots of banks reimburse ATM fees, Wells Fargo Private is the one I use, but there are others.

 

There is often a difference between reimbursing ATM fees at other banks' ATMs and reimbursing those exorbitantly priced "independent" ATMs that you find at bars, convenient stores, and casinos. I'd like to know that we're all talking about the same thing.

 

We are indeed, talking about the same thing. I haven't paid an ATM fee in years. I use Ally, who started capping reimbursement at $10/month a couple years ago, but that's still plenty for me given how little I use ATMs.

 

I don't know why I'm so interested in this, but I just checked Wells Fargo's Site and they say the following about their "no atm fee" accounts:

"We’ll waive the fee at non-Wells Fargo ATMs for cash withdrawals made in the U.S. and abroad. Surcharge fees imposed by non-Wells Fargo ATM owners or operators may apply. For the Portfolio by Wells Fargo program, Wells Fargo will waive its own ATM access fee (U.S. and international) when you withdraw cash from a non-Wells Fargo ATM from your primary checking account within the Portfolio by Wells Fargo program. Where Portfolio by Wells Fargo qualifying balances are $250,000 or more, you will be reimbursed for all surcharge fees on non-Wells Fargo ATM withdrawals located in the U.S., and receive reimbursement for up to 5 surcharge fees imposed by non-Wells Fargo ATM owners or operators per monthly fee period if you use a non-Wells Fargo ATM to make a cash withdrawal at an ATM located outside of the U.S"

So Wells Fargo does not charge its own fee to use other people's ATMs, but you'll have to pay the fee that the owner of the ATM charges. You need to have a quarter million dollars in your account for that to be reimbursed.

I think some people are assuming they're getting a different deal than they are. Sounds like your bank has a good deal but I've never heard of them.

 

We can discuss this more in depth over at Finance Advocate.

 

You may belooking at regular WF, not WF Private. And no, it doesn't require 250k. I have had my account with them for years and pay zero ATM fees, not at other banks, not at kiosks in bars or hotels, not overseas. Zero. You get charged a fee by the ATM and it's immediately reimbursed, so I see something like $103 withdrawal, +$3 credit for "ATM reimbursement"

ETA: my bank isn't the only one, Ally was mentioned as another option and I know there are others.

 

Oh, so I should be all set.

I stopped going there because their membership fee was cash only and they stopped serving tater tots.

 

Does Wells Fargo serve tater tots, & how is their draft list?

 

In case you're ever in need, there's a BoA with multiple ATMs in Kenmore Square just over the bridge from Fenway Park.

 

So glad to have logged into BankAdvocate forums today

 

Gotcha. Well, learned something new today. I didn't think there was any way around those high fee little private thingies.

I'm surprised their hasn't been pushback against the exorbitant fees they charge from banks that do reimbursement. I've seen them as high as $6.

 

Interesting. This thread has given them their new marching orders: more tater tots, fewer hipsters, and credit cards.

 

Keep the 40s too.

 

Not accepting credit cards is just a bad business decision considering the people you will keep away and piss off. Then there is the fact that people run up bigger tabs when paying by credit.

I went to Lower Depths a long, long time ago. I’m rarely in Kenmore, but hope they can put a good new place in there. I feel like any place that is below street level has a harder time getting people in.

 

See John Harvard's in Cambridge.

 

I will be somewhat sad to see Lower Depths go, but as many have said, Cornwall's is just a better bar. I did not think the food change was that bad and I actually liked the Jalisco tacos a lot. I don't really like the Wilcox Group so I'm not exactly sad about their footprint shrinking. I hope something good goes in its place.