BIZNOTE: Chase Bank closing a West Seattle branch

5:35 PM WEDNESDAY: Chase Bank is closing its branch inside West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor). The announcement came in a letter sent to customers. The notice says it’s closing as of December 30th, but doesn’t cite a reason. We’ve contacted Chase with followup questions including why; we won’t get replies until tomorrow (we’ll update this story when we get them(. Meantime, we asked Thriftway management if they have plans for the space; none yet, we’re told, because they just found out a few days ago. The branch originally opened as Washington Mutual when Thriftway opened this building in 1998, rebuilt after a fire the year before; Chase took over in 2009 after WaMu failed. Chase has three other branches in West Seattle – Admiral, The Junction, and Westwood Village.

11:35 AM THURSDAY: Just got answers to our questions from Chase spokesperson Darcy Donahoe-Wilmot. Why the closure? “We are continually evaluating the location of our branches to best meet our customers’ needs.” No other West Seattle closures. As for what happens to the people who work at, and customers of, the Thriftway branch: “The deposits will be moved to West Seattle branch and employees will go to nearby locations, all will have a home with us. The ATM will remain on site.”

Rick October 14, 2020 (7:37 pm)

Will they keep the ATM?

WSB October 14, 2020 (7:41 pm)

That is one of the questions I asked Chase.

1994 October 14, 2020 (8:03 pm)

There is also a Chase Bank in White Center, so near to West Seattle.

Diane October 15, 2020 (2:01 am)

received my letter today, so sad; loved having access to this branch open til 7pm; then shopping in Thriftway

Beckyjo October 15, 2020 (6:18 am)

There are two more locations in West Seattle. One in the Alaska Junction and one in the Admiral district. (although the Admiral location is Temporarily closed.)

Stickerbush October 15, 2020 (6:31 am)

Why anyone would choose to use a New York bank like Chase Manhattan is beyond me. Why not keep your hard earned money in a local institution like BECU or Washington Federal? Keep it local and benefit your community!

M October 15, 2020 (8:41 am)

#1 reason is the threat of Cyber Security on the smaller regional banks. They simply can’t counter the attacks from places like North Korea and Iran.
- Wes C. Addle October 15, 2020 (11:59 am)
  
  This is sarcasm, right?!
- WS98 October 18, 2020 (12:56 am)
  
  @M, this is not true. I’ve worked in finance cyber for decades and it is irresponsible to state that smaller, local banks can’t protect against cyber attacks. BTW, you forgot to mention Russia, the country where the majority of the most sophisticated nation state cyber attacks originate. This year, their malicious focus is dead set on election interference.

Wendy October 15, 2020 (7:43 am)

The Admiral branch is temporarily closed.

Sillygoose October 15, 2020 (7:50 am)

This is so sad!! First the drive through now this!! Good luck employees you have all always been very kind and professional.

Lola October 15, 2020 (8:00 am)

There is a Chase Bank in WS on the corner of Oregon & California Ave. The old Washington Mutual Bank.

WSB October 15, 2020 (10:29 am)

As mentioned in the story, West Seattle has three others – Junction, Admiral, Westwood Village.
Sillygoose October 15, 2020 (1:25 pm)

Yes I know but I live in Morgan Junction so this was my bank!

happywalker October 15, 2020 (8:18 am)

The Chase branch in Fred Meyer on 1st Ave S in Burien also shut down . They closed their ATM as well.Wonder what that all really means.

WSB October 15, 2020 (10:44 am)

Thanks! Was that recent?

zephyr October 15, 2020 (8:20 am)

Quote: Why anyone would choose to use a New York bank like Chase Manhattan is beyond me...You might want to re-read the WSB article. This started out as a Washington Mutual bank branch. Many of us had been with Washington Mutual (and Pacific First before that) for years. Chase bought them out following the spectacular demise of Washington Mutual in 2008. Here’s a link to an NPR article: https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95076157   ..

Sorry–the link doesn’t work. You can copy and paste it in your browser:
https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95076157

Stickerbush October 15, 2020 (10:49 am)

Ah, thanks, that makes total sense. Sad what happened to Wamu.
- BetteDavisEyes October 15, 2020 (1:21 pm)
  
  The REAL story of what happened to WaMu is far sadder and far more shocking, but would make you very angry at Chase Bank and the Federal government. The media, including NPR, bought hook, line and sinker into the cover story spun by the FDIC, US Treasury and Chase Bank, but those who were on the inside know a very different truth. Someday, I’ll write a book.
LarryB October 16, 2020 (3:05 am)

When the Feds gave WaMu to Chase, I gave my business to BECU. It was hard because my mom worked for Chemical Bank for over 30 years, and Chemical acquired Chase and kept the Chase name. But by then they were owned by JP Morgan, and I was totally done with all that.

Joan October 15, 2020 (8:23 am)

Good riddance!

wseaturtle October 15, 2020 (8:56 am)

Stickerbush. I agree and support credit unions when possible. But I don’t find BECU very convenient for my purposes, drive to Tukwila if you need a teller, and they pay the worst interest of all. No thanks. Last year I tried Washington Federal was a huge disappointment. Sound Credit I like a lot. They are in Burien, and I think they just opened a branch near the junction. Even with my measley little account, their service is great.Homestreet presently offers the best interest, but is a little cumbersome due to covid.That’s too bad Chase is closing, they had convenience/hours that the other branches didn’t offer.

WSB October 15, 2020 (11:12 am)

If you’re looking for a credit union, note that Verity (WSB sponsor) also has an in-person branch in West Seattle, in The Junction, right next to Chase, in fact. So the BECU branch in The Whittaker doesn’t have tellers?
- Wes C. Addle October 15, 2020 (12:01 pm)
  
  Not sure about tellers, but I’ve met with people there several times to handle anything I’ve ever needed help with.
- CC October 15, 2020 (12:59 pm)
  
  No, that BECU does not have tellers. The employees there are for other bank services. Our kids set up savings accounts and we had to do the first deposit at the ATM (with help from the employee that set up the account).
- Sillygoose October 15, 2020 (1:29 pm)
  
  No the branch on Fauntleroy is a nonmonetary location lots of employees but they are just there for account set up or questions.
- Diane October 15, 2020 (5:15 pm)
  
  no, none of the BECU branches have tellers anymore, for several years; which is why I can no longer use my BECU account; the only way to cash checks or get cash or deposit cash (I don’t trust putting cash in ATM) is to drive all the way down to Tukwila corp office where they have tellers; Verity also has no tellers; thankfully Sound CU does have tellers, so I may open an account there
Diane October 15, 2020 (5:17 pm)

Sound CU opened a branch in the junction years ago, and thankfully they do have tellers

Chris October 15, 2020 (9:05 am)

I would be so happy to see a local small business, perhaps even a woman or minority-owned shop, go into this space. What a great opportunity to empower a local entrepreneur while preserving the relationship of high-quality family businesses.

Rick October 15, 2020 (9:18 am)

Just called, sad the branch is closing but the ATM will remain.

savoirfaire October 15, 2020 (2:47 pm)

I wonder if there are enough WSECU members in the area to warrant a mini-branch? I know I’d love to have one closer by, especially with the bridge / working from home making it more of an undertaking to get to the Fairview or UW branches.

KM October 15, 2020 (7:43 pm)

Many credit unions have shared banking – I’ve done transactions for my WSECU account at Alaska Federal Credit Union and Sound Credit Union, both in West Seattle.