Both Good AND Bad
Written: Aug 07 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Customer service IS first, and it shows.
Cons: You pay for all those helpful smiles with the relatively high fees.
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| TheRaven's Full Review: Firstar |
I've had my FirStar account for nearly ten years now, though I didn't use it much until the last four years (due to lack of money to put in it :).
Over those years I have found the service, at least in my town, to be top rate, excellent... every time I have had a problem I've been able to sit down and fix it, always with less than a ten minute wait (without an appointment). The cashiers are friendly, and the 'personal bankers' knowledgable and helpful. I spend most of my time on the Internet, but I happily do my banking in person because I enjoy doing business with people face to face.
I have regularly had minor problems with my account... charges that were spurious or excessive. I have always had these corrected, and in one case even had the charge policy changed. I appreciate how helpful they are when I have problems.
But the flipside is that I should not HAVE all these problems. Especially after the merger last year (Fall 1999) there were significant changes (for the worse) with regards to fee structures and account types, leaving an overall bad impression of their greed level. What used to be my favorite service is online bill payment... you set up scheduled payments for your rent, cable or whatever and they automatically mail out a check on a specified schedule. For a forgetful person like me that's a godsend. No forgetting, no bounced checks. However, after the merger they altered the deal... before, if there was insufficient funds to cover the check you were notified of the problem, and no check was mailed. You had to then send the check manually, but at least you didn't bounce a check on someone! But after the merger, they started charging as if I had bounced a check every time there was insufficient funds in my account! They didn't even have to mail a check, and they STILL charged me $27.50. While I was able to reverse all these charges after talking with one of the (helpful, friendly) personal bankers, silly charges like that should never have been created in the first place.
If you care about service, I know of no bank that treats its customers with more care and concern than FirStar. However, if you care about money I know of no bank that gouges it's customers with more spurious fees and charges either. Most people should probably pass on FirStar, and find a better home for their money. For me... well, some habits die hard. Besides, they'd miss me. :)
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
TheRaven
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Member: The Raven
Reviews written: 15
Trusted by: 14 members
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