Bank of the West

[TexKan]

how come? they quit a service or somethin? or have they just gone too global for dodge?

[Monster]

Speaking as a BOA customer I can honestly say that I've never had so many problems with a bank in my lifetime.

Don't get me wrong, their checking account services have always been fine, but a couple of years ago I got one of their secured credit cards (which I think they contract out to a company called "Card Services"). Anyway, everything was fine until I got a 'real' credit card and decided I didn't want the secured card anymore. That was in July of last year, and I'm still trying to get the associated savings account for the secured card closed. I have made AT LEAST 10 phone calls and written 3 letters, and all they keep doing is leaving the account open and charging me $3 dollars a month for it! When I call them, they say I have to have a zero balance, then it takes 4-6 weeks to close it, so I pay the $3 and sit in hope. Of course, 4 weeks later, another $3 monthly fee, another phone call, another "it has to be zero balance, then it takes 4-6 weeks". Repeat ad infinitum. I've talked to the local branch, they say they can't help because it isn't actually Bank Of America, which annoys the crap out of me because I set it all up through the local branch!

The other thing that annoys me about BOA is that they seem to think my primary language is Spanish! I have made numerous phone calls and written numerous letters about this too, and yet my correspondance still comes in Spanish! They just don't listen. Guess I am just a number in a system, not important enough to actually be heard, just important enough to keep taking money from. "Just bend over a little bit further, Sir".

I used to bank with Centera, but had been thinking about switching to someone bigger simply because I travel a lot around the country working, and was getting fed up paying $2 each time to get money. The straw that broke the camels back with Centera was that for the THIRD time in the same week their cash machine here in town was broken, so it cost me $6 in charges that week to use another banks ATM. I went into Centera and told the manager I wanted perhaps not all of the $6, but at least $2 of it back, he refused saying there was nothing they could do, so much to his chagrin I closed my account immediately, savings account too!

Here endeth the lesson...

[TexKan]

BOA has just been a good experience for me - I traveled south when I lived there and when I was with Fidelity - once I left Dodge I was in the twilight zone. So BOA has been a good thing. My home acct is there - I can still call onthe phone and get that small town service but why bother? My branch cashes any check from wherever written on BOA - so I used my checks here with no problem. Then I realized anything I need can be done with my ATM card. Nope - I'm a happy camper. I do have a BOA credit card - and have had no problem - course it's not a secured one and I don't have a savings with them. They are kinda high on the savings thing - you can get one for free elsewhere.

[deuce91]

Thanks for the heads up Monster! I was thinking about changing my bank, Fidelity to B of A, just because I do travel and it stinks not having an ATM to use. But I have found a neat trick that works for me. I buy a pack of gum or whatever and just get cash back from Walgreens or a grocery store. The $.25 gum is a lot cheaper than the $2.00 on their end plus another $2.00 on my bank fees. I seem to find those more regularly than ATM's in the big cities, and there's no transaction fee! Just another one of those quirky things I do!

[Army_of_One]

Products & Rates General Page

Here is a place to save some money and get a better interest rate on it than at a "brick building" bank. They have lower overhead so they pay a higher interest rate. The downside is that you can't walk into a bank and get your money you have to transfer it on the internet to another account. I bank mainly via the net anyway so for me it's not a big deal.

[Made in the USA]

Originally Posted by Monster

Speaking as a BOA customer I can honestly say that I've never had so many problems with a bank in my lifetime. been there, done that too
I used to bank with Centera, but had been thinking about switching to someone bigger simply because I travel a lot around the country working, and was getting fed up paying $2 each time to get money. The straw that broke the camels back with Centera was that for the THIRD time in the same week their cash machine here in town was broken, so it cost me $6 in charges that week to use another banks ATM. I went into Centera and told the manager I wanted perhaps not all of the $6, but at least $2 of it back, he refused saying there was nothing they could do, so much to his chagrin I closed my account immediately, savings account too!...

i don't know what got into Centera, either. they used to be a good bank, but i guess they are getting too big for their britches too. i have had alot of problems with some of them.

[rjazz67]

Poor customer sevice . GC Branch rude.

[lurker]

I take my dinero into the back yard and bury it for safe keeping.

[dodgehighforeve]

Originally Posted by Army_of_One

Products & Rates General Page

Here is a place to save some money and get a better interest rate on it than at a "brick building" bank. They have lower overhead so they pay a higher interest rate. The downside is that you can't walk into a bank and get your money you have to transfer it on the internet to another account. I bank mainly via the net anyway so for me it's not a big deal.

I use ING for a savings account. Works great, close enough I can get my money in a couple of days, but not so close that I spend it on a whim. The only reason I don't use there checking account, is because I often need somewhere I can quickly deposit a check or cash. Can't do that with them. So, I still have my BOA account, that I opened last year when I moved. Have had no problems with them as of yet.

[Made in the USA]

Originally Posted by dodgehighforeve

I use ING for a savings account. Works great, close enough I can get my money in a couple of days, but not so close that I spend it on a whim. The only reason I don't use there checking account, is because I often need somewhere I can quickly deposit a check or cash. Can't do that with them. So, I still have my BOA account, that I opened last year when I moved. Have had no problems with them as of yet.

Then how come you're always broke??
Can't you get one of those "gubbermint" jobs up there in Toe-peekie?? I hear the graft and corruption pays nicely!