I have asked several times to not have my name and address sold to insurance companies by Community First Credit Union and, despite calls and letters, they are still selling my information. I don't want life insurance. I simply want banking that is not part of a large corporate banking system. It doesn't work to advertise community and then spam your customers. I will be taking my business elsewhere. read more

Community First is pretty awesome, as far as financial institutions - I mean, let's face it, banks, credit unions etc, they are all in the business of making money so of course we are second to that, but I would much rather be second that last like most customers are at other banks like Wells Fargo etc. I have a very unique Real Estate circumstance and Nick Garcia was able to help me through the process, managed my melt downs like a pro, was kind to me even when I was a tad (ok a lot) bitchy at times and is still nice to me after the process. Who can ask for better than that?! read more

I was excited to use a community resource and open my business account with Community First Credit Union. Sadly, I needed a letter to give to my payroll company that validated my account. The credit union did not respond to my email request. Then after going in in-person and being told I would get a letter that afternoon, I received nothing. Standing out front the next morning at 1000, the time they post as opening, they tape an "open at 1030" to the door right in front of me. Guess I will not make my first payroll obligation on time. I expect a little more help from a bank. Really disappointing. read more

Friendly service, local perks, good kid banking. Not open on weekends and their ATMs are often empty. Check deposits over $1,000 require manager approval. Good mobile app. Hoping they grow with community needs. read more

I don't use the term "outfu**ingrageous" very often, but when I do, it's because two days before Thanksgiving, I was denied a limit increase on external transfers in a month, something necessary to access my funds, being that I am out of state and on business. I can understand not giving a credit increase or issuing a loan, but this is cash in a money market. The most ironic part is, this isn't even the first time this has happened. Back in spring I was in a similar situation and it took 3 weeks and multiple manager calls for them to increase my limits so I could transfer more than $2000 a month to my external debit card. I'm such a fool for thinking this was amended and a thing of the past. I should have closed my account immediately when I returned instead of allowing these guys to dictate how and when I use my resources. This could literally cost me an incredible partnership opportunity. You're the worst. read more

I have been banking with Community First since the Occupy Wallstreet movement educated me about the importance of where I put my money. The added bonus to their total commitment to invest in our local economy was the friendly, small town treatment I experience in my local Sebastopol branch. Michelle Phillips has been the heart and warmth of my experience there since before she became the branch manager. She and her staff are always welcoming, helpful, and friendly. It's the best bank I've ever worked with and I have moved all my accounts there. read more

I have been banking here for a few years and things have always gone smoothly. Michelle, Rhea, Claire & Sienna are all super helpful.

I have have never in my 50 years of banking been treated as poorly as I was by Michelle, the manager of the Sebastopol branch of Community First. She was abrasive, asked intrusive questions that had nothing to do with my banking transactions, and then refused me service because she said I had a bad attitude when I asked her questions. By the way, her answers to those questions were erroneous and when I pointed out her errors, she became defensive and then offensive. I have been in business for many years, have trained customer service managers and customer service reps and I can tell you this woman is toxic. I had $70,000 in her bank and needed to do a wire transfer for my business and she ordered her tellers not to serve me. I was neither aggressive nor violent. Stay away from the Sebastopol branch of this Credit Union. Because I needed to transact this wire transfer, I had to drive into Santa Rosa where I received very hospitable service from the manager, Pat, there. Needless to say, because I live in Sebastopol, I'm moving my business and my money elsewhere. read more

Literally the worst most unprofessional bank and people . I have my auto loan through them and have for the last year and a half. I've made excellent payment history and have and the same marks on my credit since I started with them... A few months ago I called about getting my car refinanced and they ran the numbers and my credit and said it could be done it just wouldn't be much lower. That's fine.. I'm currently away at school and my grandpa is my co signer so we waited till I was home visiting for the summer to go in and do the paperwork. Well first we went to the Santa Rosa location and the manager from the Sebastopol branch Michelle, was the one working g and helping us. Though she did not help us at all. She is the manager and told us she couldn't get into the system ? She didn't have access because it wasn't her branch. Well why are you here then? So she then said to go to the healdsburg location on Monday and the lady working there would absolutely be able to help us and she would make sure to call and tell her. So we did that. First off, we walk up and there is a sign on the door that says "be back in 5 minutes " .... at a bank?!?! I've never in my life seen such a thing. What kind of bank can just slap a sign on the door saying be back soon. She then came back and said "yea Michelle said you would be coming but in unable to get into the system so what we're going to do is call her and do it over the phone and then you'll come back another day to sign the paper work" this is when we really started to get annoyed because we literally made it very clear to Michelle that I was leaving back to school in Monday and stayed in town longer just to do it because she said we can do it from start to finish it we come to this location in Monday. So she then called michelle and stuck us in a back room to do it over the phone. After a confusing conversation with two people on the other end that I could hardly understand who was talking to who. It seriously seemed like she was training g someone while dealing with us. And the lady physically at the healdsburg branch couldn't get into the system cause she had just gotten a promotion and did not have access yet. Again why are you here if you can't do anything ?! So unprofessional. After being there for nearly an hour with Michelle she gets back on the phone to tell me they can't refinance because of reasons that were already apart of my credit when I had been approved in the first place and when I called a few months ago. And as soon as we got denied her whole attitude changed and she was extremely rude and short with us like we didn't matter anymore. My grandpa who was not even on the phone with her was expressing his anger to himself in the background and she had the audacity to tell me to tell my grandfather to "put a lid on it" or she would hang up on me. I'm not sure who she thinks she is but I've never experienced someone so rude. I work in customer service too and have to deal with many angry customers but at any business I've ever worked at you just have to deal with it and do whatever you can to make the customer happy. And he was not even speaking to her !!!! So I told her no I won't tell him that he's not even talking to you he has the freedom to say whatever he wants to himself and she said again "no you tell him to put a lid on it " even if you were bothered by someone's behavior , a manager of a business never speaks like that. If anything she could've said "please ask him not to speak like that" do not tell me to tell my grandfather to put a lid on it!!! So incredibly disrespectful and honestly disgusting attitude from someone who is suppose to be a manager. I'm sorry if you get stuck with this bank like I did. But if it's not you're only option bank, and get your loans elsewhere ! Incredibly unprofessional and a complete mess of a business honestly. Not one person walked in the whole time we were there and it's obvious as to why. read more

Great customer service and nice people. Glad to support local business.

Here's another place where the same person made a mistake every time I went in, which was 3 times in a row. This was at their former location, which was closer to where we lived. Even though this wasn't a 'full service' branch, the manager should still know what the hell she's doing. Does she, or doesn't she? Only her hairdresser knows for sure, Blondie. Their card read 'smart' office, which is for the oxymorons here. How can a 'smart' office be run by such a dumbell? Only in sebastopol. read more

Came here after trying to open an account at Redwood credit union (see my review). Michelle was very accomodating as was Rhea and we were set up very fast. The new branch was super clean and had lots of parking. read more

I love my bank! Michelle is so awesome in the Sebastopol branch. Really helpful here and I get all of my needs met! Love that my money stays right here in Sonoma county! read more

Do not bank here. The Sebastopol bank tellers are kind and sweet compared to the evil ones in Santa Rosa. But that is all this bank has going for them. They made a big mistake with my account and would not take accountability. I have been a loyal customer for over three years, and when I told them that this would cause me to leave the bank, they said go ahead. read more

I think they are understaffed. Customer service is a thing of the past at this branch I am sorry to say. The main phone in Santa Rosa does not really know what the Sebastopol Branch offers. There are lots of other banks that have branches in our town but many are the large nonlocal types. read more

This bank is everything banks should be. They have treated me, my family, friends, and colleagues with nothing but respect and love. It's also worth mentioning that the services they offer have been phenomenal, both online and in person. read more

Absolutely best service in banking ever. I had a very difficult refinance and Community First went went above and beyond. Thank you.

Occurred on 6/30/2017. I finally got around to writing two of my banking reviews. I really wanted to like this place and tried to give it a fair chance. I walked in and stood in the main area perusing the brochures. I tried and tried to make eye contact with anyone at all that worked there. Standing right by what I believe to be the account representative's desk, she would not even look my way. She kept her head down, helping the customer at her desk and never acknowledged me. The teller was busy helping customers and she never looked up to make eye contact or tell me someone would be with me shortly. A woman came out of the office toward the back, never made eye contact, and went back into her office to assist a customer. I waited for about 15 minutes (I timed it) and no one ever looked up to acknowledge my existence. So... I went up the street to their competitor and boom! As soon as I walked in the door, a person was there to greet me and point me in the right direction. I opened my account there. read more