Most Customer Friendly US Bank?

[thetreble 19]

Dear Y'all-

3 years ago I opened up some accounts wtih Washington Mutual which has just been taken over by Chase bank. Slowly they have tried to merge over the last 4 or 5 months.

So, while my accounts were with Washington Mutual, I was getting Chase cards. While I was banking online at WaMu.com, Chase was beginning to transfer all accounts to their bank, etc.

This weekend was supposed to be the final merge. A week and a half ago I lost my debit card and since then, have called both banks wondering when I can get a new card. I have been promised cards over-nighted to me and then some representatives have told me they don't even see my account at Chase.com at all. Yesterday I called again and I was getting really tired of this Representative telling me that I don't have an account with Chase (which I obviously do since WaMu does not exist anymore!) so I asked ot speak to a manager. When he basically denied my request I asked again in a more aggressive way. All of a sudden I hear this message go on the phone about "company policy on civility" and that "you may no longer call here to Chase". They blocked my phone number? All I did was ask for a manager and the CSR just didn't want to deal with me.

So, I'm pretty fed up and looking for a new bank. The two banks that are close to me are TDNorth and PNC. I will take a look at others if I have to, though.

I am looking for a bank with GREAT customer service. I first opened my accounts with no social security number. I have had a SSN for 2 years now. However, after 2 years of trying to put my SSN on my account, that never happened. I still have no SSN on my account due to poor customer service.

So, any suggestions?

[Sprailenes 47]

TD all the way. Not only have they been nothing but helpful to me since I have opened my account, they treat their employees really well. It's all around a good bank.

I have no complaints.

Also, write a nice long letter to that bank and let them know how dissatisfied you are and also let them know that you will be telling all of your friends and family about the terrible service you received there. Don't just walk away, let them know. And thank you for the heads up, I will never even consider banking there and will let others know too.

[Udella&Wiz 325]

Wachovia / Wellsfargo seems pretty good to me. Now we mostly do stuff online, but they've always been courteous to me and our chequing account doesn't have any fees or anything. It was pretty straight forward to start an account and get a bank card.

The switch over thing is a pain - a few years back when !/2 of Canada trust became TD CanadaTrust and then the other 1/2 became Bank Of Montreal it was a freaking pain.

My parents ended up with 2 TD Canada Trust accounts and 1 BoM - it all depended which branches were switching.

Anyhoo - Wachovia seems ok

[MissStacey 1]

Mel and I have have a joint account at Capital One- maybe it is just that particular branch, but I don't care much for them. We don't use really that account anymore.

There is a Fidelity bank at the end of our street, Mel has had an account there forever. I opened my first account there because it was so convenient. So far I am really liking them, they are really friendly there and when I use the drive thru, I bring Cooper and they give him doggie treats.

[Ban Hammer 12,835]

usaa is the best bank imo.

[Y's_habibitk 2]

Bank of America has always had superb CS when I have called/emailed or used their online customer service chat windows with any issue.

[minnew 4]

usaa is the best bank imo.

Ditto to that! Cannot wait to get USAA after I am married! Awesome customer service! I still want to keep a local bank and I had a WellsFargo bank account from when I was in college in the U.S. So far WF has been great, they also gave me a CC, to which the credit limit has slowly increased over the years.

[Carlawarla 1]

We bank with a Credit Union, and I banked with the Credit Union and Royal Bank in Canada. Here, I'd not bank with anyone other than a Credit Union.

[Arabella 4]

usaa is the best bank imo.

Not everyone can bank there Charles!

(I can- ex military spouse)

[BermyCat 1]

usaa is the best bank imo.

Agreed. They're the best auto/home insurer too. They even have a spot for you alien number when you create you account online.

We also have an account at Wachovia. They've been fairly good too.

~ Catherine

Edited July 29, 2009 by BermyCat

[scandal 951]

I'm going through the Wamu/Chase conversion too.

I first became a Wamu customer about 10 years ago when we lived in California. I had started banking with Wells Fargo in the US, got fed up with their high fees and commissions on every damn service, and went to Wamu for the no-frills no-fuss no-fee checking accounts. They also rebated other bank's ATM fees, and heck - they even provided no-cost credit scoring!

Over the years I closed down the original Wamu account (joint with the Ex) and opened 2 new ones there (solo for me, joint with my fiancee). I also have a couple of Chase credit cards. Now with the merger of the two, the Chase website has automatically migrated my Wamu accounts so I can see everything on one page. So far I haven't experienced any glitches. My only regret is the loss of the free Wamu credit scoring (Chase has abandoned that). We'll see how good they are about grandfathering the other free services Wamu had, or if they'll slowly start introducing Chase fees for checking, not maintaining minimum balances, etc.

Sorry to hear your phone experience with them treble. I haven't needed to call that often, but on the occasions where I did call (both Wamu and Chase) I don't recall anything as nasty as you've described.

In Canada I bank with CIBC. Fees on everything. The concept of no-fee seems unheard of in Canadian banking. I recently have been in a prolonged tug of war with my local branch (Bloor & Runnymede in Toronto) regarding GIC that is maturing. They used to allow me to give phone instructions. Now they're insisting that I must come in person to the branch. Banks suck.

In Israel I bank with Hapoalim. I've tried three there - Leumi, Discount, Hapoalim. They all suck. Fees and commissions for every damn thing.

[SapphireDreams 71]

We bank with Chase. But we've always been Chase, never WaMu. My in-laws LOVEEEEEE Chase. I guess they get really great service because they have been banking at the same place for years and they have tons of money. They also don't do online/telephone banking - they don't trust that stuff and go into the bank for everything!

Anywho, we just had an issue with our debit cards - my husband never got his debit card on our joint account. He called and they fixed it pretty easily. Got the card a week later. I hate how they can't just give you a card in the store like in Canada... but I guess the VISA symbol is pretty convenient and worth the wait.

That's unfortunate that you had a bad experience. If I had to make a switch I'd probably go with TD Bank. We have a friend who works there in Corporate and he loves it. It's open on Sundays, which is pretty sweet.

I do have to say though that customer service is not always dependent on the company, but also by the person. When I worked in a call centre, you could get amazing reps who would bend over backwards to make sure the customer was helped above and beyond... whereas some reps were not into going above and beyond. Could've just been a bad egg.

Scandal - Everything with Chase is pretty much free, well at least everything I use so far. The only catch is that you have to either have 5 transactions or a direct deposit in your account. Which I find hilarious, because like you said in Canada they charge or everything! The more you use, the more they charge! Seems to be the opposite here! Everything is also free on a Premier Checking... I think you need a minimum for that, not sure...that's what our joint account is and it's been good.

[reeses16 8]

Treble, what a crazy story! I was a WaMu customer and my accounts have been converted to Chase. The quality of service and products are much lower now. Recommend trying Bank of America.Accounts opened on the East coast are fantastic (best bill pay I've used) and the people are friendly and helpful.

Depending on your needs you may want to try an online bank (www.highyieldcheckingdeals.com). I really like Redneck bank (OK) and Charter Bank (AZ) they both have excellent customer service.

[J&K 0]

We bank mostly with Navy Federal but like USAA you have to be military, DOD contractor, or family member of someone who is a member.

The customer service I've had with them is excellent, plus they were the first place who gave me a 'real' CC without any real history (Emacipation had the same experience I believe).

They are really expanding their locations, and have be very stable throughout all of the banking kerfuffle, still lending. (In fact John and I were looking at getting some info from them about a possible mortgage soon)

[Emancipation 2]

We bank mostly with Navy Federal but like USAA you have to be military, DOD contractor, or family member of someone who is a member.

The customer service I've had with them is excellent, plus they were the first place who gave me a 'real' CC without any real history (Emacipation had the same experience I believe).

They are really expanding their locations, and have be very stable throughout all of the banking kerfuffle, still lending. (In fact John and I were looking at getting some info from them about a possible mortgage soon)

Got to agree... Navy Fed all the way.. they did give me a thousand dollar credit card without any questions after a few months with an account with them. You do have to qualify to have an account with them sadly, but if you want to marry into my family you are welcome to..