First US Community Credit Union

Posted to wrong branch

I used to bank here when it was Big Valley FCU. My son still has an account here, but not for much longer.
We left Big Valley in February. Read my review as to why.
My son is planning to switch banks as soon as he can because he keeps getting hacked, and they keep blaming it on the merger. Well, when they were Big Valley, we got hacked three times a year. Now that the merger is complete (as of March, 2015), accounts still get hacked. Their security is terrible. Just terrible.
Bank here only if you don’t mind having to replace your debit cards twice or three times per year. The best part of the hacking at this bank is that they won’t call you and tell you about it every time it happens. You get to log in and discover the theft all on your own. Good times!

They recently changed the way that your payment is applied to the loan. In the past I could make my payment and if I paid extra it would push out my next due date. I loved this because when it came time for the holidays I wouldn’t have a payment due until January.
Now the extra money goes towards principal which I understand the idea and concept, but it isn’t preferred my me. And I think I am more upset because this change happened during the middle of my loan term.
I think if they were going to change that policy they should do it for new loans going forward. Because when I got my loan I asked if I could pay extra and push out my due date and was told yes.
So to me they went back on their word.

I’ve had my accounts with First US for nearly 20 years and have always referred to it jokingly as «Cave Bank,» because their staff and all their functions seemed rather primitive and obsolete compared to others, but I didn’t realize how bad they really were until recently when I finally moved my accounts to another bank. Yikes! First US was barely operating in the 20^th century, let alone the 21^st — their online bill pay process is slow and cumbersome, the staff always seem suspicious of their own clients, and I always had to be on guard to prevent First US from robbing my accounts of hidden, exorbitant fees. I wouldn’t recommend this credit union to anyone, ever.

Well I did not have to use their banking services but I received great customer service when it came to getting some information.
So all I can rate them on is just that, «customer service» and that’s what makes it for me. And the place is spotless.

Never a line. No deposit slip to fill out. Friendly service. I love this CU.