Wasn't going to write this, but after today, I'm so done with this CU!…read more
I checked them out 5 years ago when we moved to GV. They got bad reviews on YELP, so I 100% didn't consider using them for my "local" banking, but they had a great deal on a HELOC, so I took that and hoped I wouldn't need to interact with them much.
PROB #1: 2 years ago, I replaced a deck on my house. I used the HELOC to pay for deck, then a few weeks later, I went into the branch pay off the HELOC. I knew the online balance would not include the accrued interest, so I went into the branch (something I rarely do because I do everything via mail or online).
The teller wasn't able to get the final pay-off number either (I'm sure that's not the current PC name for this position...), so she called the bank's Real Estate Loan Dept.
This took over 20 min(!) - surely I am not the 1st person at this bank, to request a pay-off number FROM THE REAL ESTATE DEPT? At one point, the teller had the presence of mine to confirm that I did NOT want to CLOSE the HELOC - SAY WHAT? Who said anything about closing it, I WANT TO PAY OFF THE BALANCE...OMG - just the fact that she had to ask me that question sent shivers up my spine; I could envision a "so sorry Ms. X but, not that you HELOC is closed, we can't just re-open it because our teller made a mistake, blah, blah, blah". Thank goodness that didn't happen (but she asked me several times...)!
FINALLY, a got the final payoff number, I wrote a check, thanked the teller, and left 95% satisfied and happy (I should add, that I even took the time to stop and tell the assist manager how much I appreciated the number of tellers available, so the line went quickly).
15min of "happiness" until I was in my car, well away from the local branch and my phone rang. It was the teller. She proceeded to LMK that she misunderstood what the person on the phone was telling her, so she didn't actually give me the PAYOFF number; apparently, I was given the "balance" available online i.e. it did not include the accrued interest.
To say I was very annoyed is an understatement - how hard is it to get the correct number to pay off a loan?!!!!!
Of course she apologized. Then she LMK that this really wasn't a big deal because "all I had to do" was "come back to the bank" and write another check...NO! I have driving away! I am busy! I already wasted over 30 min, then finally suggested she just take the funds directly from my checking account, which she did, and I moved on - I didn't even waste my time to write a horrible review on YELP, kudos to me!
PROB #2: UNTIL TODAY - I am doing my accounting (for 2025 - my bad) and noticed I got hit with a $10 fee in my 1st US CU checking accounting for the past few months. I do not like to pay these fees, and I try to be diligent about keeping min balances, but I couldn't recall what the terms were for the ckg acct were, so I called to find out.
First of all, there is NO local branch number - the only number is the call center - GREAT LOCAL service, NOT! After dealing with the horrible AI VM thing, I was finally put on hold for the next CSR. The woman I spoke with asked me for the account number, my name and my PW. I asked for a hint re the PW and she said she couldn't give me a hint - SAY WHAT (I have 15+ banks accounts plus investment accounts and, well you get the idea...) - they all give hints or have alternate ways to ID me (Soc Sec #, mother's maiden name, specific things on my credit report, etc.) but NOT 1st US CU - I was at a dead end!
I finally asked for a supervisor.
Before doing that however, the CSR again, had to LMK that it's the CU's policy to not give hints - YES, I UNDERSTAND THAT(!)... and, if she can't get me a supervisor (WHY DON'T YOU at LEAST TRY FIRST?), I may have to wait up to 24-48 hours for a callback...WHY WAS IT NECESSARY TO TELL ME THIS before she even knew if a supervisor was available???
How did this REPEATED information move the conversation along? It did NOT, it just wasted more time...PLEASE JUST GET ME A SUPERVISOR!
After making me hold for several minutes, she FINALLY got back and said she her supervisor made an exception and would allow a hint!
But, of course, the CSR couldn't just "give me the hint" without letting me know (for the 100th time) that: "In the future, if I call, I would need the to give them the super-secret PW" - YES! You have made this crystal clear!
I finally give her my PW and then there's dead silance....waiting, waiting...hello?
"So Ms. X, you have an XYZ checking account that requires you to
keep a blah, blah, blah..." OMG! WHAT IS THE MIN BAL number?
I FINALLY got it and was able to get off that phone such horrible service, stupid policies and too much wasted time.
RUN, do not walk from having anything to do with the local branch of the call center of this bank - unless you have to take one for the team and they have a great HELOC deal, but that should be a last resort...just saying!