Thoughts on banks, I have accounts with both USAA and NFCU:
NFCU: You are a fool if you don't at least open an account with them, with a $20 or whatever deposit in a savings account. I don't think they still restrict their membership, back in the "day", the only way you could enroll (was is only enliste?) was if you were deployed, or at a few special branches like Groton. I opened an account when I was an E4 and have never looked back. I have gotten some of the best rates and loan deals with them. It is great to go in and get the approval (on the spot) for a loan, they give you the check, and you are out the door car shopping. You get to play hard ball with the dealer since you don't need his financing, and it takes that whole component out of it. They are at every Navy base you will ever go to, yes, even Diego Garcia in the middle of the Indian Ocean. I went through a whole deployment using them, and never had a problem getting to my money. Their online account access is a plus, though I think most banks have that in one form or another. On the down side, as already stated, their wait sucks. But, if you are going in for something big, house, car loan, etc, you can just get an appointment, and not have to worry about waiting around with ppl that haven't figured out online banking.
USAA: They do not have a physical bank presence, unless you are in San Antonio, TX! But have one of the best online banking and bill pay web setups I have seen from a bank. Excellent bundled services, such as auto insurance, and financial planning. Since they do not own or operate any ATMS, they will pay all charges for what, like 15 or so ATM uses a month. I have had a USAA account since I got commissioned, almost 4 years ago, and have not paid an ATM charge yet. Excellent phone support. And speaking from experience travelling all over and on deployment, in places where the vaunted Government Travel Card (from BOA) wouldn't work, good old USAA Visa was accepted. I personally took advantage of the USAA auto loan after commissioning. Along with the auto loan, at the time they had no payments for 6 months, plus the 5k for anything else you might need (ie unsecured).
For more money if you are interested, you can get the Navy Mutual Aid Association commissioning loan, like 1% interest or somehting crazy like that. Up to $5,000. Pay back is like 30 or 36 months. You also have to do an allotment with them for the loan payment amount, plus like $5 or so for signing up for insurance with them. On a side note, their term insurance is one of the best I have seen. The big kicker for aviators is that most insurance companies have clauses for reduced payouts for you if you get in a flying accident. They recently removed theirs. Plus, they don't have a "war clause", ie we got to war, you get killed, you get either a reduced payout or nothing.
Whew, lots of info. But you get inundated right after OCS, or heck at the NROTC unit, by banks and institutions throwing money at you. Just be careful and don't bite off more than you can chew. I always got a kick out of looking at the parking lots at API and Primary, you would see all the brand new ensign mobiles: bimmers (Z3s were a popular choice for awhile), volvos, decked out jeep wranglers, an occasional porsche or vette, and the ever popular mustang.
couldn't help myself in that store though, lol.