We're ready to open our start-ups first bank account and are looking for recommendations for a bank (or banker!) to work with.

We've heard working with smaller or local banks is better. Do you think that's true? We've just relocated to the bay area and don't know much about the banking scene here, but our own experience so far is inconclusive.

Our personal accounts are at Chase, but they've become a mess in last few years. I can't get anything done there anymore. On the other hand, we've found the initial small bank recommended to us to be short staffed and un-responsive unless you actually go there and start waving dollar bills around.

So, anybody know of a good bank for start-ups in the Bay Area?