GESA opened a branch at 2107 E 29th Ave, Spokane, WA 99203 in the summer of 2025. A promotion prompted me to try them out and open several accounts. The process for account setup had to be completed in person at the branch.
Staff were friendly, but it took more than 30 minutes--even with all required documents--to get two of three accounts set up. In 2025, this is astonishing given that most financial institutions can open checking accounts or even trading accounts for ETFs in under 10 minutes. I dismissed this concern as new staff still learning the system.
Even then, they couldn't complete my full account setup during that visit, asking me to return in person later when a supervisor with the necessary authority was available. When I asked if there was a deadline or any limitations, the staff couldn't answer.
Two weeks later, I called GESA's customer service to find out if my account setup could still be completed in person and whether knowledgeable staff with appropriate permissions would be available when I came back. Instead of simply answering those logistical questions, the agent insisted on verifying my identity. After 20 minutes, they still couldn't validate me as a GESA customer--despite the fact I wasn't asking anything about my specific account.
Eventually, the agent offered to check with the branch directly. I was on hold for 10 minutes, only to be told they still couldn't answer my follow-up questions. They also refused to connect me to the branch directly, suggesting instead that I "just go in person." By the end, I had spent 35 minutes on the phone with nothing resolved.
Following their advice, I returned to the branch--only to find out that an unknown and arbitrary deadline had passed, and continuing the account setup was no longer possible.
I'm guessing GESA is a trustworthy steward of customers' money. But in my experience, their processes lack efficiency, their branch staff lack clear procedures, and their customer service call center is unable to provide basic, practical support. If you value your time or blood pressure, I encourage you to bank elsewhere. read more