Community Chat

[BlueFinch]

@homedecor1 Exactly. Two of my large banks shuttered down and turned off the lights at the beginning of the pandemic. Now there are just little bank-in-a-box sites for ATM's and some will set up banker appts. I think the banking industry just took advantage of the situation to cut their bottom line.

Meanwhile, some banks still have a drive through only. People are sitting idle wasting gas for up to 40 minutes to deposit a check.

If you have to call, you get someone working from home and wonder -- who are these employees? Have they been appropriately vetted for the job? And, are their online sites really secure? That's a lot of personal identifying info passing back and forth. We'll be on our own, if hacked. I don't know why more people aren't complaining.

[SouthernBee]

@BlueFinch : I am with you. My bank just finished merging with another bank and really less customer friendly or service. If I call and the wait time is over an hour and if they transfer me to someone else we get disconnected or truthfully hung up on. Talk with three people and get three different answers. They are pushing paperless statements. I have a home equity line . Previously I could go on line and make an extra payment to the principal. Told the other day : just make a call and do it over the phone or call and schedule appointment to come into lobby for help. 😳🤷‍♀️Rant over.

[proudlyfromNJ]

My bank is small but you need an appointment to go inside.

[chickenbutt]

I was in both of my banks yesterday, and it was business as usual.   I wonder if this is a regional thing, or smaller banks are struggling - or what.

It was unusual to even have to go into both banks, as I usually just keep track of my account online but every now and then have to do some sort of transaction that requires me to go inside.

It would be a real drag if banks stopped doing in-house business!

[BlueFinch]

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@RollTide2008 wrote:
I haven’t been inside a bank in years.

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@RollTide2008 I've never gone often either, but dangit, when I need to go, I want the doors to swing open for me. It's the least they can do. Show some customer courtesy. JMHO.  

[BlueFinch]

@chickenbutt Yes, the smaller banks have really suffered, but mine are some of the larger banks and they've been shutting down their lobby/banker access one by one, or vacating. It's ATM's, or a few teller's for a long line wait, if the lobby is even open. 

For example USAA is shutting down all of their physical access banks except for four across the entire country. The online reviews are horrible.

So many military personnel have been in other countries trying to navigate their banking from afar, with nothing but roadblocks. They find out their account is locked and they're trying to find out why, etc. Multiple inexcusable problems. They say they're investigating, but it goes on forever.

Same if you have a charge card with them. Dispute and wait for unauthorized charges to be resolved. Most are saying you're treated like the villain, not the victim. 

It's our new normal. I don't like it. It's destined to get worse, too.

[Sooner]

I can walk in or drive through but haven't been in in some time.  I can call and do anything I've needed to do, including take money from an IRA by calling in advance and signing at the drive through.  Easy for us!  

Most is done on the web.  Hooray for that!

[Kachina624]

@BlueFinch    Something has happened to USAA in the past 2 or 3 years.  They've turn their financial services over to a new administrator and things are a mess.  Fortunately I've not had a problem that required a phone call but I've avoided using my credit card because I'm afraid I might have one.  Trying to access your account online is worse than trying to break into Ft. Knox.  I've never gotten in.

[Meowingkitty]

Ok, my husband works for a bank and is in charge of finding seats and reorganizing people at different locations for maximum efficiency. First of all most people are not back 5 days a week and then there are not enough people to begin with. Thus the need for an appointment. They don't want to or need to staff fully as in the olden days for the few people that do walk in and ask for things they can easily do online themselves. They are maximizing people, space and effort and most importantly costs.  Most banking can be done online. Why on earth would you sit in line to deposit a check? I know there are some people who just can't or won't but come on. This is the 21st century and like it or not it's only going to get more prevelant so you might as well get used to it.  And yes it is safe, secure and accurate. So they want you to use it.

[Gorgf]

Interesting comments. I have one Credit Union and three banks in a small town. I have my retirement and insurances automatic deposit and deductions in the larger bank. I used to go on line years ago  with them but it was such a security hassle with questions and picture puzzles to get in to my account and if not used often locked out and start over to set up. Maybe it has changed?

My day to day minor stuff like small bills and donations are dealt with the C.U. They  recently no longer will give you a balance or inform of overdraft  by phone and it is all on line and up to you to check.  Pushing also to use your cell phone to scan.   Both still send a hard copy of the monthy account unless you want paperless. I hope that continues.

I have friends that don't have a computer or WI-FI. She still is able to call the same bank as I use to check her balance. I am afraid that on line banking will be the norm and less options.