With ATMs, online banking, and other options, getting great customer service from a bank might not seem as important as it once was. But you'd still like to be able to get solid advice and assistance when you need it. Our surveys of consumers reveal that a number of area banks give superior service. With others, an ATM may be as close as you ever want to get to a bank employee.

Read our article and findings (available exclusively to CHECKBOOK subscribers)

Back to Washington Consumers' CHECKBOOK Table of Contents.

Sample Subscriber Comments/Reviews About Banks

CHECKBOOK provides subscriber comments on their experiences with the firms they use. Please remember that individual subscriber comments are informal. Subscriber comments may give you insight into the types of features and problems that exist in a service field, but are not the best basis for selecting or rejecting a specific firm. To assess the quality of a firm's performance, we recommend that you give more weight to the percentages of favorable ratings. Those percentages are generally based on much larger numbers of consumers' ratings (the number of consumer ratings is noted above).

As You Can See Below, Some Banks Get High Praise from Their Customers. Some Others Don't. So Choose Carefully.
Here Are a Few Samples of the Thousands of Comments CHECKBOOK Has Collected on Hundreds of Different Banks.

• Subscriber from ARLINGTON, VA wrote Another Bank: They are unaware of their own policies. Thier fees are the highest in the area...........
• Subscriber from ALEXANDRIA, VA wrote Another Bank: Unfortunately, they've been taken over by a national bank. I've been a customer for 20..........
• Subscriber from GAITHERSBURG, MD wrote Another Bank: It is convenient to have online banking........
• Subscriber from FALLS CHURCH, VA wrote Another Bank: Keeps raising rates, sometimes double for no apparent reason........
• Subscriber from WASHINGTON, DC wrote Another Bank: Wachovia as an institution is in serious trouble. It sends written communication over the signature..........
• Subscriber from WASHINGTON, DC wrote Another Bank: Have used for thirty years.......
• Subscriber from ARLINGTON, VA wrote Another Bank: Very good online services.......
• Subscriber from WASHINGTON, DC wrote Another Bank: My wallet complete with all I.D (including passport) bank & credit cards was stolen in..........
• Subscriber from ROCKVILLE, MD wrote Another Bank: I'm usually an ATM user, but the few times I've needed to go inside and..........
• Subscriber from OAK HILL, VA wrote Another Bank: very convenient around these parts and offer a decent/fair service.......
• Subscriber from ASHBURN, VA wrote Another Bank: Very friendly - opened a child's bank account here........
• Subscriber from ROCKVILLE, MD wrote Another Bank: PNC is now in Riggs Bank's old location on Dupont Circle. I had used Riggs..........
• Subscriber from SILVER SPRING, MD wrote Another Bank: Overall we have been very happy with the bank and its services, esp. the online..........
• Subscriber from WASHINGTON, DC wrote Another Bank: Mediocre at best........
• Subscriber from ALEXANDRIA, VA wrote Another Bank: quality differs from bank to bank, but once you find a bank with friendly staff..........
• Subscriber from SPRINGFIELD, VA wrote Another Bank: They are even better than First Virginia, which they bought out........
• Subscriber from SILVER SPRING, MD wrote Another Bank: I use the Military Bank Branch in San Antonio TX. My contact is by phone..........
• Subscriber from SILVER SPRING, MD wrote Another Bank: Sandy Spring Bank is an excellent bank to deal with. I have all of my..........
• Subscriber from LORTON, VA wrote Another Bank: Fantastic!!!.......
• Subscriber from ROCKVILLE, MD wrote Another Bank: Gave access to my checking account 2 years after I divorced my spouse and removed..........
• Subscriber from UPPER MARLBORO, MD wrote Another Bank: They know and care about me........
• Subscriber from FALLS CHURCH, VA wrote Another Bank: We had a recurring problem--over about 10 mos.-- getting an incorrectly applied fee resolved. Each..........
• Subscriber from ARLINGTON, VA wrote Another Bank: Only complaint is that occassionally the ATM is out at the Lee Highway branch, yet..........
• Subscriber from BETHESDA, MD wrote Another Bank: Just set up a savings account for my daughter with $500. The first months interest..........
• Subscriber from FALLS CHURCH, VA wrote Another Bank: A standout organization.......
• Subscriber from ROCKVILLE, MD wrote Another Bank: Immediately took care of a problem I had with a faulty ATM transaction. Staff are..........
• Subscriber from BARNESVILLE, MD wrote Another Bank: Where else can you go where the tellers greet you by name? wonderful customer service.......
• Subscriber from ROCKVILLE, MD wrote Another Bank: A small, conservative bank that knows its customers. Provided good service and the most competitive..........
• Subscriber from OLNEY, MD wrote Another Bank: The staff at the Olney Branch are incredibly friendly, welcoming, and just a breath of..........
• Subscriber from SILVER SPRING, MD wrote Another Bank: Excellent service and banks and ATMs available everywhere in Silver Spring area. Also good for..........
• Subscriber from ANNANDALE, VA wrote Another Bank: I have banked with Chevy Chase for many years. I really like the staff at..........
• Subscriber from ANNANDALE, VA wrote Another Bank: I have several accounts with Certificates of Deposit here. I have received good rates each..........
• Subscriber from OAKTON, VA wrote Another Bank: Applies to Oakton, VA branch.......
• Subscriber from COLLEGE PARK, MD wrote Another Bank: Excellent on line banking services........
• Subscriber from WASHINGTON, DC wrote Another Bank: I had one bad experience (when I lost my ATM card overseas) but otherwise they..........
• Subscriber from UPPER MARLBORO, MD wrote Another Bank: Terrible fees and service.......
• Subscriber from FAIRFAX, VA wrote Another Bank: I have my mortgage with them, and have been very pleased. They have closed some..........
• Subscriber from SPRINGFIELD, VA wrote Another Bank: Online capability is terrific. Good financial institution. Limited locations and free ATMs limit their utility..........
• Subscriber from CHANTILLY, VA wrote Another Bank: Daughter's debit card was compromised overseas. It took more than 3 weeks to have her..........
• Subscriber from SPRINGFIELD, VA wrote Another Bank: They are the best. The branch in Fairfax Station is the best bank around. They..........
• Subscriber from ANNANDALE, VA wrote Another Bank: Used to be excellent but since Wells Fargo took over they suck too now!.......
• Subscriber from POTOMAC, MD wrote Another Bank: These folks actually *want* your business!.......
• Subscriber from ALEXANDRIA, VA wrote Another Bank: As with most banks the amounts charged for returned checks particularly when they are presented..........
• Subscriber from ARLINGTON, VA wrote Another Bank: Always solidly excellent.......
• Subscriber from LAUREL, MD wrote Another Bank: One very bad experience with acting branch manager who could not act or run a..........
• Subscriber from ASHBURN, VA wrote Another Bank: Bank of Amerca has great customer service and excellent access to atm throughout US........
• Subscriber from BETHESDA, MD wrote Another Bank: Service got a lot better when our balance increased substantially........
• Subscriber from ALEXANDRIA, VA wrote Another Bank: Customer service over the phone is adequate to superior. Service at the branch (Bailey Crossroads..........
• Subscriber from GAITHERSBURG, MD wrote Another Bank: drive thru is very slow.......
• Subscriber from ROCKVILLE, MD wrote Another Bank: I found that the bankers within my neighborhood branch were very helpful. Unfortunately, the bank..........