North Island Credit Union

Don’t use Marilyn. I tired and tired to be patient with her. She is clearly uneducated with the auto loans. Anytime I would ask if what I was doing ok or if there was anything else I needed to do on my end i got «everything SHOULD be fine». I finally lost it when she would tell me she would be in for the day and another employee would notify that she had the day off due to her working on Saturday. this happened three times. I do apologize to every other employee at the El Cajon branch for my attitude and my yelling inside at the branch. I finally started dealing with Melissa A? and could not be happier! She gave me straight forward answers. Yes, they were ones I did not want to hear but she was educated and helped finalize my loan and a new purchase!!! I couldn’t be happier with Melissa. Oh by the way, Marilyn even told me the wrong term, interest rate & monthly payment!!!
Thank you Melissa!!!

Christina H. Is one of the best tellers I’ve ever encountered. She was very polite and friendly. I’ve been to this branch a few times, but she definitely stands out. It was a great experience.

It is my first time there and I really like the good professional service I received there. Christina, the teller, was very nice and helpful. Completed the paperwork for me and explained to me how to do it next time I‘m there in a very professional way. Several staff to help so no waiting. Available parking spots.

Best place for consumer and business banking

My husband and I have been customers of North Island Credit Union for well over 25 years. We have received consistently excellent service. When assistance has been required, we have received it in a timely manner in-​person, online and over-​the-​phone. Courtesy and competence DO matter. The employees at the El Cajon branch have ALWAYS treated us well.

It’s been my credit union for 15 years. It’s a credit union. They cash my checks. Service has been spotty at times, but for the most part the tellers are fast and efficient, loan officers are friendly.
WHEN YOU GO– they’ve closed a couple of locations recently (of course the ones that were more convenient for me). If you have one close to you, get a membership and they’ll cash your checks too.

I have been banking with North Island for over 5 years. I opened my account in Santee and have had a pleasant enough experience. I have also always had stellar customer service on the phone. Questions clearly answered, with confidence and never rushed.
However, despite a generally positive experience, today I decided to close my account with NICU. My mother was cashing a check of mine and the teller was suspicious because the signature didn’t match my drivers license. My mother shared that I was out of town and she was handling my financial matters, including using my debt card. (NOTE: It is NICU policy that ONLY the card holder whose name is on the may use the card, even if there is a joint account name.)
I accept that the «security» division was notified by Manager Leslie because of my infringement of debt card policy, and that my «access» to «debt card privileges» was revoked. However, I do not appreciate the lack of professionalism, ignorance and her extremely derogatory attitude.
I do not need to get into the specifics of the conversation, but it was enough for me to decide to close my account. It was also enough to persuade me to write a review about my experience. I am a working class (ex) patron, I’m a teacher. I don’t believe in big business or bailing out wall street. I find the power of a community to be self sustaining and sufficient empowering and important. These are a few of the reasons I decided to open a checking account with a credit union. I felt channeling money through this credit union was part of being an active citizen in my community.
Banking at a credit union means that you are an important part of the system. You are part of the capitol that allows working class people to get educations, homes and cars. You should, at all times be treated with dignity and respect for your patronage.
I cannot express in words the disrespectful attitude Leslie displayed. I will be taking my (small) paychecks to another institution with more appreciation and courtesy for the people who make the credit union possible. While you may never encounter a situation where you are dealing with the branch management, beware of the risk.
With all due respect, Ms. Leslie you will continue to lose costumers if you fail to acknowledge your «deltas» in financial management.

For the now closed branch in Santee~ Remember that clerical error YOU made a few years back, I would just like to extend my gratitude for it being a ding on m credit report, because you have lousy incompetent staff by your own admission when I went it to clear this up a few years back there is a nice negative ding on my report, I just found out because I just requested a copy, I was trying with all my might to be nice because of the excellent service provided by the El Cajon manager, but far too many inexcusable happenings with this bank over the years.

This branch is total JUNK.
A. Whenever you call this branch, you can expect to hold anywhere from 6 – 20 minutes… before getting anyone live on the phone. Then they may have you hold an additional handful of minutes while they try to help you. UGH, hire people to just do customer service if your phones are that busy and your staff is that slow.
B. When you visit this branch, make sure you ask Information your specific questions before waiting in line for a teller. They only deposit and withdraw. Nothing more nothing less. But no one will tell you this until you wait and finally get up to a teller. They just point you to the sign in sheet behind the counter (NOT in plain view) and act inconvenienced by your moronic questions. Oh, and those «Information» desk people? Non-​existent, which is why I waited to ask the teller.
C. Get a receipt for any and everything you do here. If you deposit, if you withdraw, if you change your address, get confirmation on paper that you did it. I have a joint account with my hubby and when we moved and changed addresses, they somehow forgot that I was standing there in the branch next to him when we changed the address, and only changed HIS. This caused all correspondence such as «your card has been linked to a security breach with online bill pay, your card is no longer active» to go to the OLD address, along with the second notice, and my new card! Which someone in turn stole and tried to use. Which in TURNS turn, made me look like a total idiot at the mall the other day trying to buy a $ 200 leather jacket and my card was denied. I’m suuure the lady believed me when I told her «I just got paid, I swear I have money in my account»! She looked at me like a thief, I felt dirty. Can I sue for emotional damages?
So guess what I had to do to resolve that? Yup, waited on hold for 8 minutes, to wait on hold again for 5 minutes, to have someone tell me I need to come in in-​person and get a new credit card because they already mailed me one that never got to me safely. HAH. At least they changed my address for me over the phone… after I recited my secret codes to them like my social security, blood type, worst fear etc…
All I have to say is I’m glad it’s free checking and low interest rates. And I guess I never would have known about the fraud protection/​coverage if this hadn’t happened, so I’m a little more educated than I was yesterday…

I love this credit union. My car loan, my free checking, and savings is all done through this branch. No other bank can match the convenience of online banking, drive thru teller service, and upright customer service like North Island. Kathy Ellis is one of the most personable and helpful financial advisor ever.
Although I still deal with Bank of America, I prefer North Island to make my larger transactions, merchant services and transfers. I always feel a sigh of relief every time I step foot inside. The whole bank and tellers alike are very laid back, but very professional.