Firstar is last on my list
Written: Oct 05 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: nationwide banking
Cons: impersonal, expensive, poor customer service
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| amazin's Full Review: Firstar |
I agree wholeheartedly with the opinion of foster. I opened a checking account with Firstar when I moved to Wisconsin, and for the first few years of having my account, I was pleased with their service and felt satisfied with my account. I felt I was doing business with a professional organization with a strong reputation and financial foundation.
Then they went through a number of acquisitions and mergers and transitions, and I, as a customer, felt my business was no longer wanted. First, I had enrolled with their online banking as soon as it was offered, having been told it was a free service. Within months, I was charged $10 for internet banking, and when I called customer service about the charge, I was told that I was charged $10 because I had not used the online banking. It was explained to me that if the bank offered online banking, it was expected that their customers used it, and if I did not use it within in the month, I would be charged $10. Considering the lack of reliability of their online banking at that time (I experienced problems getting on their website frequently), I was pretty upset. I was also upset by their inexperienced and rude customer service.
Then, as foster had experienced, my checking account was switched over with another set of fees, regulations, and stipulations without my review or approval. Suddenly, I was being charged if I made more than 4 visits to a teller within a month, if I used my ATM more than a few times at other banks' ATMs, if my balance ever dipped below a certain minimum at any time during the month. These charges were assessed without my prior knowledge or approval. As a consumer, I was not allowed to choose what kind of account was best for my bank use--Firstar chose it for me.
I found it increasingly difficult to do transactions at my local branch as lines got longer and longer and the tellers seemed less trained in customer service. In addition, the ATM at that branch frequently went down. When I finally went to close my account, in fact, I had to wait quite a few minutes for someone to assist me, and when she did assist me, she seemed overworked and harried. The branch was extremely short of personnel and with the constant changes they were experiencing as their systems merged with other banks, the people working there always seemed frustrated and overworked. It was a strong sign that Firstar management did not have things under control.
I moved my accounts to a bank owned locally and was pleased by their warm reception, excellent customer service, and reasonable rules and fees. And I *never* have problems getting online to check my account balance.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
amazin
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Member: Jennifer
Location: Port Washington, WI
Reviews written: 8
Trusted by: 2 members
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