I can't believe I am writing a review about a bank.
I have…read moremostly dealt with large banks, like Bank of America, Wells Fargo, etc. The service at those institutions was impersonal, but did what I needed.
Based on that experience, I started using an online-only bank. One reason I switched was the online bank (Aspiration) does not invest in fossil fuel companies and they make donations to reforestation efforts. They just aligned to my views. I mean, why not an internet bank? If it's impersonal anyway, why not just do everything online?
I found a couple services the online banks don't handle as well as a local bank: cash deposits and cashing in U.S. Savings Bonds.
The cash deposits weren't that big a deal, since I don't have very many of them, but I have received a few. The bigger issue was the savings bonds. I inherited savings bonds when my mom passed a couple years ago. They have been sitting in my safe because I'm a procrastinator and didn't really know how to handle inherited bonds. One day, while looking for something else, I came across the bonds and decided it was time to do something about them.
I wanted a Texas-based bank and selected two to visit.
I started opening an account at the first one I visited (Texas Bank) and was told there would be a hold on the funds for a couple weeks. I decided not to open an account, based on that.
Next, I visited Frost Bank. I asked about opening a new account and mentioned the bonds, asking about any hold. I was told the funds would be available immediately, so we started the process of opening an account.
The person I worked with was named Elijah and he was EXTRAORDINARILY helpful and really got to know me and my banking needs. The account setup was quick, but then he had me download the Frost banking app to my iPhone and helped me set it up! By "getting to know me, " I mean really getting to know me. By the time I left, he knew about my work with TxETRA and my passion for electric vehicles and renewable energy.
True to his word, when I checked the app, later that day, all the funds were available to me!
But wait, the story doesn't end there.
About two weeks after I opened the account, I got a phone call from a manager at that particular Frost branch, asking about my experience opening the account. Unfortunately, I cannot remember his name, but he asked about my use of the app, to make sure I wasn't having any difficulties. He also guided me through setting up some of Frost Bank's fraud protection settings on their website. I made sure to mention the great service I had received from Elijah. Somewhere in the conversation, something clicked for the manager and he said, "Oh, you're that electric car guy!"
Now that I have experienced what a PERSONAL banking experience is like, I'll always have a Frost bank account.