STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

We've done this alot because we've moved, um, alot!  It's easier if you have access to each bank physically - each time we've done it one of the banks has been in another city .  This complicates things when they say 'Oh just come in and sign this to close your account ...'.  Riiiiiiiight.

I normally  function solely out of the original primary account until account #2 is up and running, you have checks for that account, and you have debit cards on that account.  Then I try to wait for a time in the month where no auto-pay bills are due to move all the money (via cashiers check or whatever that is, gotten from your old bank and driven over to be deposited at the new).  Then I go through and change change my account info on all my online bill pay accounts and all the auto-pay stuff, and hopefully that first direct-deposited check is not far behind (but if it is, you can still use your checks/debit for your original account, and/or wait to switch any auto-pay accounts).  I usually keep the old account open for a month or two, just in case there are any straglers.

Basically, the ability to online-bank is the key!  If you have some kind of independant online savings/investment account sometimes you can route things through there too, but that takes longer than driving to each bank ...