Your bank's been acquired: Should you stay?

Consolidation is a common occurrence in the banking industry -- regardless of what's going on with the economy. If the bank or credit union you've been doing business with for years is acquired, it could result in some notable adjustments to what you are used to.

Normally, change to any aspect of people's finances causes all sorts of stress, but people tend to shrug when it comes to a change in bank ownership.

On some levels, that makes sense. Your money is still insured by the FDIC. You're still able to access it through the same network of ATMs. And, if you've got a mortgage or other long-term loan (or savings certificate) through your old bank, your monthly payments aren't going to change.

But new banks can mean smaller transitions that might not be immediately obvious. When you get that welcome packet in the mail from your new financial institution, here are six factors to investigate before deciding whether it's in your best interest to remain a customer.