Fe helped me open my new account with Mechanics Bank. She was very responsive and friendly. I chose Mechanics Bank to be with someone local, its history is in the Bay Area. Contra Costa I believe. They seem to have good financials as well from what I was able to gather. Strong enough to not take any government bailouts during the recession in 2007-2008. I think that's what I read. I had to open my new account in person, which makes me feel they validate their customers better. Like requiring a copy of my ID. My account fees were very reasonable. Lower than competitors in my case. Inside the bank felt like a bank. Not like a hospital lobby or office cubicle. Warm lighting and decor colors. I'm excited and I look forward to building a strong relationship with them. This location also has a public space on one of the higher floors in the building and I took some pictures. read more

Mechanics Bank - San Francisco Rooftop - Banks & Credit Unions Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

Worse bank with worse communications every. These clowns are thieves. Had my account set up on automatic bill pay. All good right? Wrong! Mechanics bank changed my due date by 1 day ongoing and all payments went late. No notifications came to me in any channel that were set up and visible on app and web. Never received a one. Called in and they had no sympathy and would not forgive not a one. I had 2 years of late payments each month. Not a word from them with concern, no email, no text, nothing!! Run from these people or out of the dealership if they push this crap! read more

My first time with mechanics bank and I never come back this bank auto finance again..they're serviced payment so bad for me...I don't know what wrong with the statement bill all way send late to me and some months they're never send bill for me then they're charged my late assessments so many time.....I never come back to this bank... read more

My friend, Sherry Shang and I visited bank after bank in the Embarcadero area checking currency exchange rates. Union Bank, Chase, Bank of America, and other big banks charge more for exchanging foreign currency into US Dollars; plus, these banks won't give foreign currency exchanges not UNLESS you own a bank account with the specific bank. I was shocked how expensive and how profitable big banks make from foreign currency exchanges! We visited MB and I saw a YELP logo on the counter . . . Well, then! Awesome~Sherry you should change you money here, since MB has YELP reviews! Sherry received a better currency exchange rate here and best of all, she saved money, too! read more

See all

On 9/23/2021 I went to cash a check @ this bank. I walked in & there were 7 people on "break." Then I waited over 30 min just to have Ryan Sia take my DL, passport & routing number down & take a picture of it & send it to some bad people that are looking for me. I can guarantee that Mr. Sia's digital communication from that day will prove my claims. That's breaking Financial Privacy Laws & is a federal crime. I'm reporting Mr. Sia for his actions. read more

I had a terrible experience here! I have been receiving a personal check from the same person for the past 2 years. Every other Mechanic's Bank I've been to have accepted this check except this one. The teller refused to deposit my check and did not give any effort to look at my previous deposits which all have been from the same account with this personal check. NEVER GOING HERE AGAIN! read more

Our HOA has been in business with this Mechanics Bank branch for over 1 decade, but I still rarely see the customer experience improvement from this place. My biggest gripe with Mechanics Bank SF is that they need constant supervision just to get things done correctly. You want access to remote app, remote deposit, feature access for your account? Well good luck! You better keep up the check in with them from time to time after your request because they are highly capable at disappointing you by making mistakes even in their own internal processes. No matter what it is, the end result is that you do not get what you need from your bank in a consistent and confident manner. I write this review in hope that this would change sometime in the future for this bank. Customer voice and sentiment are important to hear and respect. read more

I have had the pleasure to visit many Mechanics Bank locations. I have been to Pittsburg, Concord, Walnut Creek, Danville and now San Francisco. This branch is by far the best. Located in the heart of the FiDi. The building itself is beautiful. The staff is always courteous and attentive. I have had a few times where I needed help and they weren't able to provide the answer right away. They took my number and got back to me with a phone call for a follow up. Very thorough with great customer service. The bonus here is that they have a currency exchange center for your convenience. The personal bankers have given me their business card for any other services that I may need in the future. They do also have 1 ATM located outside. Love it. read more

Mechanics Bank - Banks & Credit Unions Near Me - San Francisco, California

Never heard of a bank needing your SSN to cash a check. There's always some crazy rules of engagement with financial institutions.

For a year now, I've been trying to close out my aunts accounts at Mechanics Banks. I had to do this because, I needed the money to keep her at the memory care center she is living at. I finally met someone at the San Francisco Branch of Mechanics Bank who took the time to listen to me and my situation.Her name is Martha Cifuentes. She told me what paperwork she needed to have and other paperwork that I needed to obtain. I called Martha and told her I have everything & I would be coming in a day or two. When I got to Mechanics Banks San Francisco branch she had everything ready to go. She was efficient and explained everything as I signed the paperwork. Martha thank you for listening and working out the details that needed to be done. I gave a 5 star review because of Martha and the San Francisco brand, otherwise the experience working with past branches or phone conversations 2 to 3 stars read more

Best spot for foreign exchange! They waved the $10.00 fee completely and gave me the best price guarantee. This is how customer service should be. read more

I just called mechanics bank to arrange a currency transaction and was told that they no longer provide that service at the Sansome Street branch. So I retract my previous review. read more

I've been using MechBank for a couple of years now and I really like compared to Citi. The only problem is that this one is a terrible location: Downtown? The Financial District? Why the hell would you put a bank there? Is it 1952? Great bank all the way around. I just gotta bust their balls a little. read more

This place is hands down the BEST place to exchange foreign money in the City! I have exchanged British Pounds AND Philippine pesos into US Dollars and each time, the representative was courteous, professional and cheap!!!! $10 was the commission fee and the exchange rate was HIGHER than other banks! For example, based on today's rates, Mechanic's Bank cited 45.00 pesos to the USD vs. 41.00 pesos (BPI - Bank of the Philippines) and 42.00 pesos (at SFO Currency Exchange)! read more

Just opened a business checking account here, for my small business S-Corp. I tried opening a business checking account with two places previously - a local credit union with shockingly unprepared personnel, and a Bank of the West branch with a manager who demanded documentation that left my accountant baffled - and was personally rude to her when she tried to explain things to him. Then I tried Mechanics Bank. The account offering was great and perfect for me, the woman who opened it was both personable and knowledgable, and overall the experience could not have been more easy and more pleasant. They're also a full-service bank, which meansI may be returning to them for credit lines for the business, a 401K to maximize my retirement savings, and also a personal checking account unless I find someone better. I heartily recommend this bank to any small business in the Bay Area and elsewhere. read more

I went here recently to get currency exchanged. I went in on Monday to get some Thai Baht before I left on Friday. They made it incredibly easy! And gave me a good rate; the best that I'd found in doing research for places to go. Said it would be ready on Wednesday and I got a call on Tuesday that said I could pick it up whenever! Also, I decided last minute to grab some Korean money for my short layover there and they were like, no problem. I didn't have any currency left over from my trip, but they told me that I just needed to bring in my receipt to get whatever was left changed back into US money. Very friendly people and their customer service is excellent. read more

I love my bank, really really love it. This location in particular is my favorite, but all of the locations are great. Who doesn't love free ATM fees, thats right, use another ATM and they refund the entire cost each month. No more excuses for wanting to be with a big bank with lots of ATMs like Bank of America, Wells Fargo, or Chase (die in a fire you crappy big banks!) They give me .5% back on credit card charges on my debit card... yep, free money for using your debit card. Super friendly, and they recognize me. Thanks for making me feel special guys, you give great service! Free validated parking in the financial district. Thats right, free in the financial district! Also pretty close to BART. Its a small chain of banks exclusive to Northern California. Bank small, bank in your community, and know your bankers. They have never made a mistake on my account, unlike the big banks. So friendly and small. What more could you want in a bank? Just stay away from their Wealth Management services, worst ever. This review is only for the regular banking services. read more

A few years back I was having some issues getting a bank account. I made a boo boo when I came out west from DC, and well... The Banks were none too pleased about it, regardless of the fact that I paid my debt...And had a letter stating so. MECHANICS BANK SAVED MY LIFE! They were the only bank that would accept me. When I stroll into the financial district of SF @ noon on a weekday, I get a few hairy eyeballs (What? No suit? No heels? Hair all undone?... Welcome to the life of the wonderful self employed)... But, none the less, I am easy to pick out of a crowd on a week day on Samsome Street. Perhaps that is the reason why all the people @ Mechanics Bank know me by name! =D Or maybe they love me the way I love them! Hey... IT'S POSSIBLE! They are so friggin nice. They cover all of my ATM Fees, I went far over my overdraft protection a while ago, and they sent me a letter letting me know I was a able to make a few boo boo's again... Oh! AND! They often have chocolate waiting @ the counter (fugga buncha dum dum suckers). Basically, I have nothing but totally wonderful things to say about them, except ONE LIL THING. Can we get more then ONE BRANCH here in SF? Please? F-Off Bank of America and Wells Fargo, Local is tha way to go! read more

My parents established an investment account at their wealth management division, of which I was trustee. Over the decade the performance was unimpressive yet the fees high. They were always the very last to send financial documents which meant they were always causing me stress by holding up tax filing. While I would have preferred to work with a local company, I finally closed the account in favor of a lower fee provider. A year later they are still making life difficult for me as now it's March and tax documents are nowhere to be seen. And since I'm no longer a customer the account rep won't respond to my emails. Unprofessional and not recommended. I'm getting better service from the behemoths like Schwab and Vanguard which is a surprise. read more

Colette Moyer assisted me in cashing a cashiers check that my own bank would not give the time of day. It was not a large amount for a bank, but to me it was important. Colette tracked down the authenticity and made it happen. It wasn't easy, and took multiple phone calls on her part but with patience and determination she.. we.. succeeded. She's a genius, and now I'm a customer. Goodbye Chase! Colette if you're reading this... thanks again. read more

I LOVE Mechanics Bank!!! I certainly never thought I'd find myself saying I love a bank... well technically a credit union... but here I am. I have a personal checking and savings, as well as two safe deposit boxes with Mechanics. Safe deposit boxes can generally be rented with no advanced notice and you'll have the key-in-hand within a few minutes of signing up! Their free ATM fees (they reimburse for using competitors ATMs if you get dinged any fees) are a HUGE perk. I can't say enough good things about Mechanics Bank. I'm opening a business checking account soon, and you can be sure it will be with Mechanics Bank! read more

Twenty eight years ago when we put our assets in Rabobank we had the absolute best service possible. Sandy Thibideau was in charge and made sure we were always taken care of. We have our business account, personal checking and savings accounts there, children's accounts and a trust account at what is now called Mechanics Bank. The service is shocking at this point. When I walk into the branch they are rude and act like you are bothering them. (with the only exception being Veronica, teller, who is kind, helpful and professional). I met with the Vice President, Bridgett, about a question I had and she was cold, unhelpful and acted like she was doing me a favor to help me, a client of 28 years. It is unacceptable and we are researching new banks to move our accounts. How sad it is to see a personal, professional business turn into this. read more

They are always fast and easy here, great exchange rates and half off with the coupon read more

Mechanics Bank - Banks & Credit Unions Near Me - San Francisco, California

Online Services Dept is incredible with Customer Service! A shout out to Debbie Geringer (sp?) with her assistance in correcting an issue on my account. She was knowledgeable, returned calls immediately and a true professional. Thank you, Debbie! read more

No Stars Is my choice! This particular branch is ineffective in helping a customer with anything out of the ordinary, and little to no regard in trying to help its customers. On three separate occasions in depositing three different checks, my funds were being held for over 10 days with no viable reason. The tellers and staff at this branch do nothing but provide lip service. I do not recommend this bank, but if you do, I suggest doing your transactions with the San Rafael branch who are much more helpful. read more

Colette Moyer is amazing and an asset to Mechanics Bank. She is knowledgeable, compassionate, and has an out-of-this world commitment to her clients that is rare nowadays. I recently had a difficult time working with another bank to streamline a new process, but could not get anyone to help me figure things out. Colette never gave up on me and was highly motivated to find the best solution for my needs. She stayed with the process and continued to investigate possible solutions long after others had given up. I am beyond impressed with her resourcefulness, and kind professionalism. I couldn't be happier having someone like Colette to count on for my banking needs. Thank you for everything, Colette! read more

Colette Moyer and the Sansome Street branch of Mechanics Bank knocked it out of the ball park for me! Colette's professionalism, customer service and willingness to go the extra mile for a new customer that needed extra help and who was on the mend from a difficult place in his life has been unparalleled thus far. Conveniently located in the Financial district this branch is clean and well appointed, offers a multitude of services and most importantly has a professional and courteous staff that care about their customers which in the era of big bank scandals we sadly inhabit ( Wells Fargo anyone? ) is no small thing. If you need banking services in San Francisco I emphatically recommend Colette and this branch of Mechanics Bank. Five stars!!! read more

First, a confession: I love my bank. Really. I know this sounds strange to those of you who are suffering though the dehumanizing purgatory that is modern corporate banking. If you own a small business, then you might amplify that to really, really hating your big, constantly consolidating, constantly try-to-squeeze-every-cent-out-of-you bank. I was one of you, and I have feelings for my former bank that most people reserve for Nazi war criminals. You probably don't know there is an alternative. There is. When I tell people about my bank, I now try to understate the level of service, so people don't think I am making up stories. The fact that they make deposits without playing games with them. (super important in small business) They know my name. You can use any ATM, from any bank. For FREE. They pay for your parking. If there's a problem, they call you. If you need help with something, a human answers the phone. That person has a brain, and the authority to actually do something. Once, I lost my check card. They replaced it in a day. As a business person, they know our business, and try to find solutions that fit for us. Once, I waited in a line with three people in it. But only once. And they apologized to me. Did I mention them taking me to breakfast? (no guarantees on that) When the big banks were up their necks in bad business deals, and we all bailed them out, they used that money to absorb more banks, and then celebrated by systematically fleecing their customers as a thank you. Not Mechanics Bank, who during the whole financial meltdown was quietly practicing traditional, conservative banking practices, and they didn't need your tax dollars to do it. I own a floral design company and Mechanics Bank once hired us to send some orchids as a thank you to some new small business clients. The recipient was in disbelief. "What kind of bank actually does something like this?", she asked. "Your bank", I said. read more

I recently opened a credit card through Mechanic's Bank and came to find out that it's not Mechanic's Bank that provides the card...it's Elan Financial Services. Good luck trying to get any service. They suck. And Mechanic's Bank takes no responsibility for the pain the ass that Elan can be, saying "they're a third party that uses that card" and yet all the documentation has Mechanic's Bank written all over it. Fail. Terrible service. Make a better partnership and provide relevant information. There's no excuse. read more

I read Poe's review of Patelco and was so sad that her Mayberry expectations were so rudely crushed. But that immediately made me think: Mechanics rocks! You know that small-town, greet you by name with a friendly smile vibe that is sometimes totally lacking in a City? Mechanics is where I get my fix. I got my checkbook stolen (ya, it was in the trunk of the car that got stolen) and it wasn't pretty. I didn't have a record of the checks I'd written except in the checkbook that was now stolen. So I sat with the fine folks at Mechanics in their lovely FiDi branch, and we worked out together how to close the account to stymie the thieves, but also make sure that I didn't bounce anything legit. They were brilliant. Like Kelly wrote before me: I have more free ATMs than anyone else in the world. Because Mechanics sez use-em-all(!) and then refunds back to me any fees I was charged. It's liberating. And I still sometimes get a little rush when I'm out with friends and we have to figure out which banks to hit so everyone can get cash - and I just say "wherever". Easy breezy. Their online banking is solid. If for whatever reason I can't get down to the FiDi branch to make a deposit, I can mail it in. Never had a problem with posting deposits. Highly recommended. I campaign for this bank when anyone mentions that they don't like their current bank. Maybe Yelp should hold a Happy Hour here.... read more

A couple of updates worth mentioning... Mechanics is no longer as highly rated safety-wise as it once was. This has been the fate of many banks lately. There are still some good alternatives out there... you can search for bank safety ratings or send me a message for a link to a list. Mechanics has also revised its check-clearing policies, with most checks now being cleared after a single business day has passed. This still isn't as good as some of the big banks (which clear over a single business-night), but it is better than their previous policy. They still offer an ATM rebate which is a great deal. And they still have that personal, professional service that I consider to be a big plus. read more

This is a great place for currency exchange. They offer competitive rates and excellent customer service. I finished my transaction within 5 minutes. Don't forget to print out the 50% off transaction fee coupon. read more

I've used Mechanics Bank for a couple of foreign exchange transactions. The first time was in late 2010 when I was exchanging US Dollars for Australian & New Zealand currency. The most recent experience was a changing US Dollars to Indonesian and Chinese currency as well as exchanging Brazilian currency for US Dollars. The most recent transaction was the most "complicated" since I was trying to get rid of some excess Brazilian currency and gain two different international currencies. Unfortunately, you cannot change one foreign currency into another foreign currency (as I couldn't change Brazilian to Indonesian or Chinese). I had to convert it to US Dollars first and then use American currency to buy whatever foreign currency I want. I don't know the exact reason why you can't change one foreign currency to another but that seems to be the case with other banks I inquired with. I'm sure they're making more money in the process because they're gaining on the exchange rates when you turn the money into US currency and then again when it goes to another foreign currency. One nice thing they will do for you is maintain a single $10 fee (for currency exchange over $500 USD in value) regardless of how many foreign currencies you are looking to buy or sell. The lone complaint I would have about them is that I had to order Chinese Yuan and Indoensian Rupiah since they did not have enough of each in stock. It took about 3 full business days and when the order did arrive in, I was informed that my Chinese Yuan and Indian Rupees were available!!! Currency check guys, Indian Rupees and Indonesian Rupiah are not the same!!! I made sure to say "Indonesian Rupiah" when I made the order over the phone to ensure this mixup didn't happen but it did so they certainly did screw up on their end. Luckily they did have enough Indonesian currency on hand so I did not have to wait any further to drop by and get my moolah. I'd certainly come back to use these guys for future foreign currency exchange. read more

I started an account with the bank five years ago. Early-on, I referred other clients there, even the small business I worked with. I'm not sure if it's due to expansion or change in management, but over time, the customer service has gotten worse and the predatory practices have increased significantly. In just one year, this bank has charged me over $3,000 in overdraft fees despite me requesting overdraft protection on multiple occasions. When I've contacted tellers to resolve the issue, they are condescending, disrespectful, and all together unhelpful. This is extremely disappointing to see, as I once loved banking with Mechanics and considered it a good community bank that supports its clients. Instead, in banking with Mechanics, I've accumulated more debt than I could have imagined, and am nowhere closer to achieving the financial goals I set out to upon opening multiple accounts with them. I'll be taking my business elsewhere. read more

If there is such a thing as a good bank, this is it. The people are friendly and they refund your ATM fees from any location. I've kept using them even though I moved to San Francisco and there is only one location (in the FiDi). read more

Good exchange rates, but beware of the exchange guy's weird lunch hour at 1:45-2:45. At least it was today. Apparently there's only one exchange guy. I took the effort to park down here during the weekday so I ended up trying to kill an hour as I got here at 1:46... read more

After years of fees, hassles and "bank product" hussles, I switched to where my mom has banked since the 60's. I can't say enough after 2 years with Mechanics. Nice people, they CALL you if they are forced to pay a check for you (never bounce), offering to wave the fee if you can come in the next day to take care of it. I couldn't believe it. It's like having a friend watch over your account for you. Totally personal and fair. Not a lot of physical locations, but they pay all other bank atm fees, so getting cash is actually easier using any other bank for free. read more

This is a wonderful bank! They really focus on customer service, are always friendly and helpful, and they don't charge any fees for my small business account. They would get 5 stars just for all that, but what prompted this review was the way they handled an overdraft. Due to my own inattention, I recently overdrew my account by a few dollars, and they called me right away -- on two different numbers -- to let me know about it. I was impressed at how they jumped on it, but was sure they would also hit me with an overdraft fee like most other banks would have. When I asked how much it was going to cost me, they said they would waive the fee! I just checked my account (now a few days later) and they were true to their word - the overdraft didn't cost me a penny. I highly recommend Mechanics Bank! read more

fast, no hassel, no line. Reasonable price for euros.

Consistently the best customer service, exchange rates and fees in the the Bay Area. Call ahead if you want particular denominations or large exchanges of currency. Keep your receipt and there is a no-fee buy-back. They also have an exchange at Westfield Mall on Market and Powell making it convenient. read more