Smaller the bank usually the more expensive they are to work with, from my experience
Its not that they're "expensive" in the sense of minimums or fees, they simply don't have access to certain large bank features like overdraft protection, large cash withdrawals, maximum ACH transfers, no home mortgages; let alone a car, etc.
My bank gets nervous when I ask for $1,000 cash as they know they don't have that in the vault; it must be ordered and takes several business days.
Here where I live it seems different, there is mainly a difference between digital-only neobanks (like Revolut) and the oldschool offline banks with branches in most smaller cities. They are for sure more expensive (monthly fees etc.) but seem way more chill when doing "unusual" stuff, e.g. just give you a call instead of locking the account. Best is to circumvent banks to begin with...
Yes the benefit I have with local bank is I've known them for decades and can talk to someone face-to-face
Always just have another larger account to which I can transfer to/from as needed.
Write several paper checks per month still
