What to look for when choosing a community bank

Lacking the big budgets for television ads and billboards, community banks often aren't as flashy as their larger peers, but they are generally just as safe. Nevertheless, community banks are often overlooked by consumers, many of who fear a community bank won't have the resources to fulfill all of their banking needs.

For the most part, however, community banks can offer a full range of services and then some. In fact, community banks often offer perks and services that larger banks are just too large to offer like higher interest rates on savings accounts or better terms on loans. If you're looking to open an account with your local bank, here are some issues to consider: