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 BETHESDA, MD wrote Another Bank: Staff tries, but on two indepencent occasions in two different branches they provided clearly wrong..........
• Subscriber from FAIRFAX, VA wrote Another Bank: I appreciate that when you call, it is a person, not automated. They went above..........
• Subscriber from SILVER SPRING, MD wrote Another Bank: I love this credit union! The service, responsiveness to questions, etc everything has been stellar........
• Subscriber from CHEVY CHASE, MD wrote Another Bank: Too high staff turnover means staff is not always familiar with what is needed, e.g.,..........
• Subscriber from POTOMAC, MD wrote Another Bank: Still new........
• Subscriber from BETHESDA, MD wrote Another Bank: Try not to have to go inside. Deal with them by e-mail and ATM........
• Subscriber from LAUREL, MD wrote Another Bank: I was able to speak with the manager and get help quickly when requested........
• Subscriber from MERRIFIELD, VA wrote Another Bank: Definitely not the greatest bank, but there are many convenient locations through out the Northern..........
• Subscriber from FALLS CHURCH, VA wrote Another Bank: United tends to nickel-and-dime customers. It's like being bitten to death by a duck. I..........
• Subscriber from ARLINGTON, VA wrote Another Bank: The fees are ridiculous, until you have quite a bit on deposit. The staff, both..........
• Subscriber from LAUREL, MD wrote Another Bank: One very bad experience with acting branch manager who could not act or run a..........
• Subscriber from MANASSAS, VA wrote Another Bank: Speed of service is variable because staffing levels differ at various branches........
• Subscriber from ROCKVILLE, MD wrote Another Bank: I have been enjoying their service for 45 years!.......
• Subscriber from ALEXANDRIA, VA wrote Another Bank: COFCU started free online checking if you have direct deposit and electronic statements........
• Subscriber from ANNANDALE, VA wrote Another Bank: I use the Ravensworth branch. There has been no manager for the last two years..........
• Subscriber from ADELPHI, MD wrote Another Bank: All services are by Internet and mail (the physical bank is in Texas)........
• Subscriber from WOODBRIDGE, VA wrote Another Bank: I have been a member of PFCU for many years. Through multiple loans (Car, Home,..........
• Subscriber from SILVER SPRING, MD wrote Another Bank: Some tellers and managers sullen, unhelpful, MIA. Others polite, helpful........
• Subscriber from ALEXANDRIA, VA wrote Another Bank: This bank has been very helpful. My identity was stolen and they assisted enormously. Some..........
• Subscriber from MC LEAN, VA wrote Another Bank: Justice Federal Credit Union has been better than adequate in service, but the Falls Church..........
• Subscriber from ARLINGTON, VA wrote Another Bank: I love this bank. Everyone is extremely helpful and knowledgeable at all times. Service is..........
• Subscriber from WASHINGTON, DC wrote Another Bank: Their branches lack adequate parking. Their "greeters" should be behind the teller counter helping w/..........
• Subscriber from WOODBRIDGE, VA wrote Another Bank: They're quite simply the best bank I've ever dealt with. I've been with First Union..........
• Subscriber from CENTREVILLE, VA wrote Another Bank: Very good credit union but limited branches and ATMs.......
• Subscriber from BETHESDA, MD wrote Another Bank: one of the best value banks in the washington area.......
• Subscriber from FALLS CHURCH, VA wrote Another Bank: Very pleasant staff. Since there's not very many branches, can be difficult to get to..........
• Subscriber from BETHESDA, MD wrote Another Bank: Service got a lot better when our balance increased substantially........
• Subscriber from BETHESDA, MD wrote Another Bank: Multiple ATMs and branches are a great convenience........
• Subscriber from WOODBRIDGE, VA wrote Another Bank: I'm a loyal customer of the PFCU. Their service couldn't be better........
• Subscriber from ARLINGTON, VA wrote Another Bank: Overall better than satisfactory. It has been my primary bank for over 20 years........
• Subscriber from SILVER SPRING, MD wrote Another Bank: I keep getting stuck with unforeseen fees and charges. I'm also not satisfied with my..........
• Subscriber from SILVER SPRING, MD wrote Another Bank: Their customer service officers are couteous and very helpful. We have banked here for at..........
• Subscriber from POTOMAC, MD wrote Another Bank: Staff at local Potomac branch are excellent. Very low turnover--many have been there 20+ years........
• Subscriber from RESTON, VA wrote Another Bank: We have had two breaches of security with our major credit card companies, which gave..........
• Subscriber from FALLS CHURCH, VA wrote Another Bank: A standout organization.......
• Subscriber from SILVER SPRING, MD wrote Another Bank: I like this bank because I have been able to get really good CD rates..........
• Subscriber from WASHINGTON, DC wrote Another Bank: In this day of large impersonal financial services, it is delightful to deal with a..........
• Subscriber from ANNANDALE, VA wrote Another Bank: I have been with PFCU for over 30 years. They have always been there when..........
• Subscriber from ROCKVILLE, MD wrote Another Bank: On-line banking is fantastic. I love the on-line check depositing - fast, fast, fast and..........
• Subscriber from WOODBRIDGE, VA wrote Another Bank: We have used BB&T for most of our banking needs for several years and have..........
• Subscriber from GAITHERSBURG, MD wrote Another Bank: Have dealt happily with the Pentagon for many, many years -.......
• Subscriber from WASHINGTON, DC wrote Another Bank: Aggregate of all branches visited.......
• 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 SILVER SPRING, MD wrote Another Bank: M&T Bank took over Provident Bank a few months ago. All of my account numbers..........
• Subscriber from ROCKVILLE, MD wrote Another Bank: It took several tries to make the new officers of a charitable organization legal signatories........
• Subscriber from VIENNA, VA wrote Another Bank: The best of all the banking establishments experienced in the last year. However, branches are..........
• Subscriber from SILVER SPRING, MD wrote Another Bank: I have used Bank of America services on line, and at 2 Maryland branches. I..........
• Subscriber from BURKE, VA wrote Another Bank: I am a customer of over thirty years. Last month, BOA failed to renew my..........
• Subscriber from GAITHERSBURG, MD wrote Another Bank: very difficult to speak to a human being on the phone. Also, very few people..........
• Subscriber from ADELPHI, MD wrote Another Bank: Hard to imagine better services or lower fees........