Help me find a new bank - Wells Fargo sucks
I need a new bank. Wells Fargo has committed unforgivable sins of customer service, so I’ll be switching within the next week. Does anybody really like their bank? I’m looking for a pretty vanilla checking account with a branch that I can walk in to. (Because I like walking in to the branch.)
The story started about three weeks ago when I ordered new checks. I had changed the address on the account some months ago and asked twice to confirm the address both on the account and on the checks. The current address is on the checks, and we’re sending them to your current address. Wells Fargo sent the checks to my old address, anyway. Thanks, guys. You’re great.
So now there’s a box of my checks sitting god knows where in Temple City. Wells Fargo graciously offered to put a 60 day stop payment on the whole box — an offer I took them up on — but after that: nada. Nothing they could do, the banker told me. They offered to switch me over to a new account, but that would mean that I would have to fiddle with my direct deposit and with the external accounts I have drafting directly out of my checking account. If I have to go to all of that trouble, why wouldn’t I just move to a bank that doesn’t send my checks to the wrong address?
The best part? At one point the banker tried to bust my chops for waiting as long as I did to ask about the checks. Hello? Would we be having this conversation in the first place if you didn’t send my checks to the wrong place?
For all you banks playing along at home, here’s what you’re supposed to do in a situation like this:
- Apologize. Up front. Don’t demand that the customer remember the name of the teller they spoke to before you admit that you screwed up.
- Put a permanent stop payment on the checks in question.
- Next day — and by next day, I don’t mean “third day” — a new box of checks to the customer in question.
- Apologize again. Seriously.
- Give the customer a tracking number for their checks. “It’ll get there in seven to 10 business days. Trust me.” doesn’t cut it.
So while I will graciously accept Wells Fargo’s tree-freaking-day air checks (The banker told me “next day” not once but twice while she was trying to make up for what she admitted to be their mistake. Thanks again!), I’m not staying with them any longer than I absolutely have to. If you love your bank, I’d love to hear why.
July 30th, 2007 at 11:42 pm
Most of my early experiences with banks convinced that banks suck (that’ll be a 7 day hold on that cashier’s check which is supposed to be just like cash. You’re under 18? Sorry, you can’t have an ATM card, [I did say early]). I’ve been using credit unions ever since and much, much happier. I concluded that I was NOT their intended primary customer — businesses are.
You don’t mention just where you’re walking from, but in the LA area, I’ve had very good experiences with Lockheed Martin FCU and am still a depositor there. I believe you’re eligible to join if you live or work in Pasadena. There’s probably other personal qualities that entitle you to join.
Other credit union features I appreciate: you can go into any other credit union and make a deposit to your branch from it while talking to a real person. And there’s no fee for ATM withdrawals from “coop network” ATMs (up here in WA, that means “those in any 7-11″).
July 31st, 2007 at 9:14 am
If that’s your criteria, get a credit union. Heather’s right.
July 31st, 2007 at 9:17 am
Walking from our place in Monrovia and from the corner of Lake and Colorado in Pasadena ;)
Stephanie has had an account with a credit union for years and years now. They’re always really cool about everything. I like them a lot. The only reason we don’t just go with that is the walking in to the branch thing. (Their office is in West Covina, which is a bit of a schlep.) Does this “any other credit union” bit you mention work across credit unions? That might be pretty cool if so.
July 31st, 2007 at 1:30 pm
As far as I know. It’s not exactly the same as being there, but in small, minor ways (I tried to use my credit union here to deposit a large check to LFCU and had left my wallet and my account number at home . . . so they wouldn’t do it. But they let me deposit the check to my local account without trouble. I suspect they couldn’t look up my account number at the remote institution without me showing ID).
Also, I’m sure you can’t open up things like CDs or get loans via a remote branch.
“CU Service Centers” is the term:
http://www.creditunion.net/
Re: lockheed, by the way:
http://www.lockheedfcu.org/Membership/Sponsor_Companies/Listing/
Dave joined when he worked for Overture. (Yahoo! Search marketing is listed as a sponsoring company) But you can pay $5 to the “Acheiver’s club” to be a member if you don’t work for a sponsoring company. And their branch in Pasadena is AT Lake and Colorado :-)
July 31st, 2007 at 1:32 pm
Please tell me that you’re kidding about the “Acheiver’s club.” I am nothing if not an achiever.
July 31st, 2007 at 1:36 pm
(As it turns out: you’re not.)
July 31st, 2007 at 3:50 pm
Not sure about checking, but HSBC is the home of my savings account. I’ve been pretty happy with them. The account plan I have is a more hands off approach, but their interest rates are great. Actually, all of our dealings with HSBC have been positive, and I’m considering opening a checking account there too.
July 31st, 2007 at 3:54 pm
Oh. Forgot to mention. I think WAMU isn’t great. Their customer service is iffy at best. Stay away from them, despite their “free checking” adverts.