Can't really refute my Yelp friend Drew O's 1-star review of this particular branch. He's a good…read morereviewer, and fair, so if he says his experiences here were 1-star, then they were 1-star. However, my own experiences at this particular branch, while more limited and simplistic than Drew's, have been fairly positive.
I recently wrote a review of the closing branch in B'Ridge that was initially 3-star but quickly and unceremoniously dropped down to...well, not quite 1-star, but real close. In retrospect, was it an overly harsh and unfair review? I don't think so. But in the interests of fairness, let me give credit where credit is due. I've never had any real problems at the Berkeley Heights branch.
One of the few advantages of the B'Ridge branch over this one is the physical lay-out. There was always plentiful parking at the B'Ridge branch. Parking here is tight, and the layout is odd, and potentially dangerous. There are 2 entrances (although the 1 could be considered both an entrance AND an exit). Driving east on Springfield Ave., entering the parking lot is relatively easy (when I'm heading in this way, I usually just head over to the ATM drive-thru, thus avoiding the parking lot). Entering or exiting on Snyder Ave. can be tense. On entering, you have to keep your eye peeled for cars leaving the drive-thru, leaving the ATM, or just leaving. If you're trying to park, you have to watch out for cars coming in quickly from Springfield Ave. On exiting, you have traffic coming from both directions, usually fairly heavy, always pretty fast. On those rare occasions when I'm feeling bold and adventurous, I'll chance making a left in the direction of Springfield Ave (the most direct route home). More often, when I'm feeling my age, I'll take the path of least resistance, turn right, and take the slow, meandering, "scenic" route home.
The ATMS's can be problematic, but then that's true of almost any Wells Fargo branch (maybe it's true of all banks). By that, I mean totally inoperative. That's frustrating. Last time I came to get some cash, they weren't dispensing, and I had to drive to the Wells Fargo branch in Warren to get what I needed. Frustrating and inconvenient, but a relatively minor grievance, at least to me. I guess if I needed the cash immediately, and I was really pressed for time, it'd be a more serious concern.
Although, realistically, 1 could just park their car, walk inside, and get their cash that way from a teller. What's that-- another 5 minutes? A little more involved, but I guess it could have spared me the long, meandering "scenic" drive to Warren. Then again, I don't necessarily mind long "scenic" drives, even if those drives only occur in Berkeley Heights, Warren, and the surrounding region. (My days of driving to New England and upstate NY and back in 1 day are long gone.)
Inside the bank, though, I've never had an issue. The staff is almost TOO friendly and polite. Last time I went in to deposit money, I was the only customer, but there were 4 "cages" open with 4 tellers available (as opposed to more than 1 occasion in B'Ridge, where there was just 1 teller available who took an extraordinarily long time to service me, kept calling me "Adam" instead of "Ed," and deposited my money into the wrong account). At the Berkeley Heights branch, I've never had to wait long to transact business, my money gets deposited into the right account, and no one calls me Adam.
I've never come into this branch seeking a large loan, or to transact more complicated financial business, admittedly. Most money coming in to me comes through direct deposit. When I have some extra discretionary cash (not often, but it does happen!) that I want to deposit, I come inside the bank, engage the teller, and have the money put into my account. When I need cash for shopping or whatever, I drive up to the ATM, take some money out, and on that limited basis...it has worked out OK. So far (fingers crossed!).
If the ATM is malfunctioning...which, as I've mentioned, isn't a rarity...I'm forced to drive an extra 20-25 minutes to the branch in Warren, or...much more infrequently...the branch in Bernardsville. Or, if I really fancy a drive out into the country, the branch in Mendham. Or, if I'm thinking rationally, I'll just park the car, walk inside, and get my money the way most people would. Those who don't fancy those long, meandering drives.
Yeah, the parking in Berkeley Heights is a drag, entering or exiting can be a migraine-inducing game of "chicken," and the ATM is chronically temperamental, but overall, I'm pretty satisfied in my dealings with this branch.
Recommended.
