The big-bank scene is not looking good. With Wachovia and Washington Mutual collapsing, it’s no wonder consumers are looking for better options.

If you have money in a banking behemoth, don’t panic. The FDIC insures up to $100,000 per person, per account, and that number could go up with the federal banking bailout. But now is a good time to shop around. A better fit might be around the corner — or on your laptop.

Local banks: customer service

Larger institutions didn’t gobble up everyone, and many small banks are in better shape because they didn’t offer subprime mortgages on the level that their bigger cousins did. They aren’t dealing with nearly as many customers who can’t repay loans.

Pros:

“With smaller banks, you’re far more likely to find customer service people who care about you and will actually lift a finger to help you,” says Greg Karp, author of Living Rich by Spending Smart: How to Get More of What You Really Want. “You become a real person again, rather than a bank account number.”

Local banks don’t charge a lot of the fees that big banks do, like fees for overdrawn accounts, maintenance or even talking to a teller in person or on the phone.

Cons:

Local banks won’t have a lot of branches. They won’t have ATMs on every corner, either, so make sure whatever bank you choose reimburses for fees that come with using other banks’ ATMs.

Small banks won’t provide as wide a range of services, which could be a pro or a con. “You shouldn’t be investing in mutual funds through a bank anyway, because fees are so high,” says Karp.

Internet banks: anytime, anywhere

Just because it’s online doesn’t mean it’s a scam — online banks are viable options that can offer better-than-average rewards. They offer the same services brick-and-mortar banks offer, too: checking, savings and loans.

“Online banking is not unsafe,” says Karp. “A no-name bank is not more likely to fail and get in financial trouble than ones you’ve heard of. Witness Wachovia and Washington Mutual.”

If you go the online route, make sure the bank is a member of the FDIC to ensure that your deposits have adequate insurance.

Pros:

Just because banks are online doesn’t mean you can’t get cash out of an ATM. Most online banks offer free checking and pay you back for fees other banks charge you for using their ATMs, and many offer free online bill paying.

If you’re comfortable with computers, they make banking easy, too — just sign on whenever you want to pay bills and move money around.

They can also pay more interest on deposits. Three major Internet banks — Emigrantdirect, INGdirect and HSBCdirect — are all paying at least 3 percent interest, three times the 1 percent that most brick-and-mortar banks offer.

Cons:

Internet banking provides none of the in-person interaction that some consumers like. You also must be computer savvy and have strong firewall protection to shield yourself from identity theft, just like you would if you shop online.

Some online-only savings accounts can take two or three days to process deposits and withdrawals, which can be a problem if you ever need your money ASAP.

Still not sure? Check out the checking and savings channel on Bankrate and Findabetterbank. They’ll let you rank the importance of what you want in a bank and sort through your options to show your best bet.