It's actually very simple. Make a list of what you want from a bank and choose only two or three of the ones you've heard good things about. Banks are often places that your friends and families will have strong opinions about- so listen to them. If they rave about one and rant about another, you will know where to stay away from. Make sure to take their advice with a grain of salt though, so you don't sign up right away. First, you need to find out all that they offer so you can make an informed decision.

Signing up with a bank may not seem like a big decision, but it is. Think about it, switching banks is not something people do often. And it's not something that is particularly easy or fun to do. You'll want to get with a good bank and stick with them for many years- if not for the rest of your life. You'll probably have a debit card, credit card, loan and who knows what else with your bank, so make your choice wisely.

Find out from the banks you're opting between if they offer free checking, what their policy on over-drafts are, how they handle stolen and lost cards, what happens if unauthorized charges happen and so on. Talk to them about savings and checking accounts and the fees. Get a lot of information to take with you so you can understand it thoroughly.

Most banks will have pamphlets to give you, so take all the ones that interest you. You will also want to find out how many branches they have and where all their ATM's are. Convenience is key with banks because you won't want to have to drive out of your way to withdraw cash or deposit checks. If you're considering a start-up bank that doesn't have many locations yet- make sure you won't be traveling around much because you won't have access to a bank often enough.

The best thing you can do when choosing between banks is to get all the information you possibly can and then decide which one to go with. This way you'll get the best deals and you'll know what to expect and not expect from your banking institution.