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1. livingonthebeach
   Member Profile

   

   We have banked with Viking since they opened in WS over a year ago. Since then, the entire original staff has been replaced, and some of the replacements have been replaced. I just learned the manager Debbi is now gone too. The new staff really hasn't taken the initiative to get to know me and that bothers me. I have always been about relationships, especially with my money.
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   Recently opened a savings account at Washington Federal where I heard awesome stories of their stability, but was very less than impressed. Stood up at the teller line to open account. Found out they have restrictions on withdrawing your money...no more than $1,000 in cash in one day. That is a bank policy not an account policy. Just thought it was weird.
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   Any other recommendations for a stable, customer service friendly local WS bank/financial institution?

   Posted 3 years ago #         

2. vincent
   Member Profile

   

   These are the posts that make WSB my favorite local blog. I would also like to know what bank has the best hugs.

   Posted 3 years ago #         

3. beachdrivegirl
   Member Profile

   

   Is it $1000 on your debit card through a cash machine or in general you walk in $1000 in the bank?

   I think its the standard for debit cards to have limits on them. I would be surprised if that ever changd.

   On the bank recommendation after being very disappointed by Bank of America. (I would never go back) and shopping around. I came up with two banks that overall seemed to have good CD rates, good customer service they were BECU and Wells Fargo. I thought I was going to go through BECU but since mine and my fiance's checks come from out of state and we can not do direct deposit our funds would take five days to be available to us. Personally that turned me away so we went to Wells Fargo, they were very friendly and some great options for savings, checking, and more.

   Good luck!

   Posted 3 years ago #         

4. MrJT
   Member Profile

   

   First Mutual.

   Dotty and Linda have been there for years, but the whole staff is great. Local bank, althought they were just bought out by WaFed they are still doing what they do best. CUSTOMER SERVICE....

   Posted 3 years ago #         

5. livingonthebeach
   Member Profile

   

   beachgirl, the $1,000 issue was ANY customer cannot withdrawl more than $1,000 in cash on one day. I laughed and said "what it I want to deposit more than $1,000 in cash in one day"...she said OK.
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   Also, it is important that I have an on-line Bill Payer with my bank...WA Federal doesn't have one.
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   Thanks for the BECU and First Mutual recs, I will pop in and chat with them.

   Posted 3 years ago #         

6. flowerpetal
   Member Profile

   

   We switched accounts from that God-awful BOA to US Bank last October. I cannot remember the manager's name at the branch across from Jefferson Sq. but she is dear! And so is everyone actually. Darren is a loan officer there and has always been helpful even when it isn't a loan we are looking for.
   And not too many weeks ago we were in there on a Saturday morning and one of the tellers had baked cookies before coming to work and brought a huge plate of them with her for customers.

   Posted 3 years ago #         

7. beachdrivegirl
   Member Profile

   

   that seems a bit odd. Both Wells Fargo and BECU had on-line Bill Payer. You acutally get 7.25% interest on your checking account if you use on-line bill pay and get your statements electronically with no minimum balance.

   Posted 3 years ago #         

8. Sue
   Member Profile

   

   We switched over to BECU several months ago - it's been a wonderful experience and we are much happier than we were with WaMu (and glad we happened to get out before the WaMu issues). I love earning interest on my checking account for the first time in forever.

   Posted 3 years ago #         

9. Diane
   Member Profile

   

   are you sure the manager Debbi is gone from Viking; she had to take leave for couple months for surgery/recovery; she was the main reason I opened an account there; she was the best customer service BofA had; then she left BofA and the fees/cs were horrible, so I got the heck outta there years ago
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   I was able to open a free senior checking account at Viking, with interest, but the main problem for me is their very limited hours; I'm still with WaMu and love it; especially like that I can go to the Morgan WaMu up til 7pm weekdays and 4pm Sat, because I usually need to deposit cash and would never trust putting my cash in the deposit box
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   oh the other thing that made me totally crazy with Viking; I was supposedly all set up with my acct and told I could set up online banking; but their website would not let me get access; and when the bank is closed, there is no one to call or email for help; to me that was just insane; I had to wait til Monday when they opened to ask how to access my online acct, and by then I was beyond frustrated, gave up, moved on
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   also been with BECU for years; I was quite surprised at their new machine tonight, no longer need deposit slip or envelope, in fact there's a big sign warning to not use envelope, that it will jam the machine; the BECU folks came out to help, show me how to use the new machine, and were wonderful

   Posted 3 years ago #         

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