Wainwright Bank

[mamajoan.livejournal.com]

Can anyone share their experiences with Wainwright Bank, good/bad/indifferent/etc.?

I just opened a new checking account with them about six weeks ago and so far they have managed to screw it up in quite a few ways. It's really getting irritating. I love the idea of a green, socially responsible, involved-in-the-community bank, but I also really need it to be, you know, a competently functioning bank.

Thoughts?

Comments

[srakkt.livejournal.com]

I've been having fantastic experiences with them. Got direct deposit working just fine, and such. They sent me new cheques when I moved after only having the account for six weeks, even, just to make sure that my address was correct on them (not very green in terms of paper waste, but incredibly convenient)

[daft.livejournal.com]

I've banked with them for years, with minimal problems. There was a teller at the Harvard Sq. branch who was always psychotically rude to me, but I haven't had to go in there in ages (and I believe it's closed now.)

[elements.livejournal.com]

I've used them for 7 years and never had a problem.

[mamajoan.livejournal.com]

really...and how long did it take you to get a debit card? (if you did) Because I opened the account seven weeks ago and still have not gotten one.

[mamajoan.livejournal.com]

yeah, the Harvard Square branch is closed which is a big minus for me since I work right there -- but they seem to have a new one that is supposedly opening in "fall 2007."

[joylewis.livejournal.com]

Horrible horrible horrible.

I finally closed the account after four years of incredibly bad service, complaining to the bank manager and the president of the entire bank. Everything from bad service at the counter to them refusing to take a deposit to cash deposits not showing up for days to having a scheduled automatic payment deducted from my account six days early (and being told I should have funds available for scheduled payments at all times, regardless of the scheduled date.)

Also, my debit card was "compromised" every four months for the last year and a half. They would tell me to call to get a new card, would cancel my existing card, and then I'd have to wait for two weeks for a new one.

I love the idea of a community bank, too, but theirs is a complete wreck.

[srakkt.livejournal.com]

I got my debit/ATM card within a few days of opening the account.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_meej_/]

Only six years, here, but also never a problem, and wonderful service when we had things that needed resolving, such as all the bizarre paperwork our lender was looking for while we were applying for a (non-Wainwright) mortgage.

[cnoocy]

You're better off without it. The Harvard staff was horrible.

[in-parentheses.livejournal.com]

Wow. It's so interesting to hear such drastic differences. I've been a customer for 4 or 5 years now, through several moves and a mortgage application, and it's been an overwhelmingly positive experience. Everybody (on the rare occasions I actually talk to a person) has been friendly and competent, and everything I need gets done in a timely manner.

And whether you go with Wainwright or not, pick another local bank, because I love love LOVE being part of the SUM network. Don't let Bank of America tell you it's inconvenient to go with a small bank -- there's a SUM-affliated bank on every other corner, and you never pay ATM fees at any of them. Brilliant.

[thegecko.livejournal.com]

Something of a problem recently. i opened an account around january and everything's been fine, but we just opened up a new account for my wife at the beginning of September and still no debit card. i called a few weeks ago, they said they'd send a new one. still no debit card. i called last week and they said something about a system problem and we should have the card this week. i really hope it comes this week, i don't want to have to call them a third time.

make sure you call them about this. if the original hasn't come yet, it probably won't.

[talonvaki.livejournal.com]

I've had an account at a Credit Union since 1984. I have two now, The Golden 1 in California, and the Telephone Worker's Credit Union in Boston. Credit Unions are vastly superior to banks. They're non-profit, you're a "member," not a "customer," and the fees they charge are reasonable, and usually charged only when you really deserve to be charged (the Golden 1 charges $3 if they have to move money from savings to checking. If I'm so stupid as to let my checking account get so low, I think it's fair to get charged three bucks).

There are all sorts of Credit Unions around, and they're generally small and community-oriented. I know there are some that are open to Somerville residents, but I don't know of any specific ones to direct you to.

[srakkt.livejournal.com]

Some are great. Others blow goats. For years I was with both Navy Fed and Marine Fed, and while Navy Fed was awfully good (ATM's in every naval base, even around the world) Marine Fed had better locations around North Carolina. Needless to say MFCU was seriously terrible.

[mamajoan.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I already called once and they said that when you open your account online rather than in person, they put a 30-day "hold" on the debit card application. Which pissed me off because if I had known, I would have gotten my ass into a branch to open the account. But anyway, it has been a lot more than 30 days now and still no debit card, so I guess I'll have to call again *sigh*

[saraheeyore.livejournal.com]

I've had similar problems with getting replacement cards. They also made it very difficult to change my name with them.

Other than that, though, they've been fine. Some of the tellers in Harvard Square can be unpleasant, but the ones at Davis, Central, and Alewife are nice.

[thegecko.livejournal.com]

generally i like them, i think because they try to be socially responsible, etc, and frankly, they're not BOA - which makes them awesome.

one thing that annoys me however, they don't offer paperless statements - something about by law they have to send paper. but BOA offers paperless statements... basically it's pretty much impossible to win.

one more problem - before heading off to costa rica on our honeymoon, i called them and told them where we were going, and please don't not let charges go through because you think they're sketchy. i still ended up having to call them from the car rental place in costa rica to get them to let the charge go through.

[secretlyironic.livejournal.com]

I've had nothing but a good time with Wainwright, especially after they redid their website and improved the online-banking thing. And I love the service at both the Kendall and Davis branches!

[inahandbasket]

we're into our 4th year with wainwright, no major complaints. They're not a giant super-polished customer service machine, they're a small local bank.

The only complaint I have is that their web banking shows out of state checks as deposited and available before the funds are actually available in your account by a day or two. irritating.

[concrete.livejournal.com]

OK, is there another bank/credit union in the area that has better service than Wainwright?

[tolchocky.livejournal.com]

I just opened an account there at the beginning of Sept., and everything so far has been fine. Of course, compared to *#$#@ BankNorth, pretty much anything is an improvement.

[ukelele.livejournal.com]

Huh. We didn't have any problems with that last year when we went to Iceland & England.

[cos]

I've had pretty great service from Wainwright, I've been using them for years. I have had some issues with the credit/debit cards, which unfortunately they have to outsource to some other company - apparently that's common for small banks, they don't do their own cards, they have companies that specialize in cards do them. Online banking used to be weak but they made it much better last year. Unfortunately they introduced what to me is a major flaw: you're only gauranteed to be able to see one month worth of transaction history on the web site.

[cutieperson]

MIT Credit Union!

[magid.livejournal.com]

I'm extremely happy with Cambridge Savings Bank (and have been with them for over a decade).

[ron_newman]

Wainwright has always been very good to me.