Can smaller banks compete? Yes!
Written: Nov 08 '99 (Updated Nov 08 '99)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Low fees for online banking / direct deposit account, good customer service
Cons: Only a handful of branches in Bay Area, ATM fees
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| ryanpsims's Full Review: Union Bank |
Union Bank of California lured me to their bank after numerous offers of free cash - free $50 if you open a new account, free $50 if you use their online banking. After being a customer for the past 5 months, I'm happy with my customer service and the fees they haven't charged me.
Basically, I'm as electronic of a customer as you can get. I have the direct deposit / online banking account - which limits me to a certain number of in branch visits and telephone information calls. I write checks with no fees, I use online banking with no fees and I'm very happy with that relationship.
The web based online banking services are dreadful. Besides being slow, the interface is fairly difficult to navigate through. It's impossible to edit a payment service once you've entered it in. Mistype an address? Too bad. However, the online banking works very well with Money 2000. For me this is the only way to go with the account I have.
Also, Union Bank of California suffers from its size. It's a small California bank this means it has a few branches and a few ATMs. In the San Francisco area there are only a handful. Because of this, when I need to take cash out I usually visit a competing banks' ATMs. This means fees both from Union Bank and the bank that hosts the ATM.
It bothers me that my relationship with a 'brick and mortar' bank has been reduced to what I would have with a net bank. Everytime I walk into a branch or call the phone tellers, I'm angered because I have to keep track of how many times I've bothered the bank this month. While I would like this to be different, I understand there are costs. Besides, I've never felt like a faceless customer with Union Bank.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
ryanpsims
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Member: Ryan Sims
Location: San Francisco
Reviews written: 3
Trusted by: 8 members
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