S D Medical Federal Credit Union

I love coming to this branch when certain employees are working. On a few occasions, I worked with Geneiuve and she has the worst customer service. Looks at you like she doesn’t want to help you. No smile, no how are you doing, NOTHiNG! And when she hands me my slip she just shoved it across the counter not saying anything. What a, you know what! Next time I will just wait for another teller to become available rather than work with her.

I used to swear by this credit union, now I swear AT it. I have been a member of this credit union since 1989. It used to feel good to have found a banking institution where I felt like part of a family. Everyone always knew me when I came in and even used my nickname on the phone when they called me. All the staff would go out of their way to answer questions and make transactions quick and smooth for me. I was out of state for 3 years but still retained my IRA, share, share draft and auto loan through SD Medical. I returned in 2003 to California and applied through the website for an auto loan. I received a call 10 minutes later saying how nice it was to hear that I was back in town again and where was I working? I said I’m not working yet. She said well, good luck and BTW your loan is approved. A few years ago I went through a bankruptcy and was careful to coordinate with the credit union, refinancing my vehicle at an astronomical interest rate and lowering my payments. I was assured that I would be able to keep my CU Mastercard although my credit line was lowered drastically. Keep in mind I have never made a late payment or bounced a check with the credit union or with the Mastercard issuer. Ultimately they canceled my credit card along with access to billing statements, forcing me to go to the credit union office in MV (from Arizona) to make sure it was paid in full as I needed to call from the office to get full payoff info and pay it instantly. Apparently somehow a charge ended up on the Mastercard (I have no way of knowing what or when, of course… no access to records). I was not notified that I owed additional money on the canceled card so it was charged off in the bankruptcy (no notification to me) and the credit union refused to continue to report my continued timely payments to my auto loan to help me rebuild my credit. Now they refuse to reissue my Mastercard as well. Oh, and they will charge you a fee if you bring change in to exchange for bills. A recent reviewer is correct — Matt Cavarlez is impossible to reach, speak with, and is of no assistance at all. I just paid off my auto loan and am ditching this crap hole for a better credit union. Even banks are starting to look good.

I too wish there were no stars to give this horrible little credit union. I have had the worst experience with this BANK (they may as well be a bank). They have an employee that is disrespectful and very pushy… even refused to take payment then told me it was a hold on the account, so the person that was there to make the payment left, my friend was not sure if he should give them the money… After all Matt placed a hold on the account after we spoke on the phone and I informed him a payment would be made on Monday.

I wish they didn’t have stars for this horrible bank I recently got injured at work and my income was reduced by half almost and was having a hard time making my monthly car payment so I asked for the to add it to the end of my term I’m not sure of the bank term first of all the collections guy was so rude I wish I remember his name comparing my harsh situation to his own long story short they couldn’t do that so they decided to send me to collection now on this month my car got repoed why? Because on my monthly payment I didnt enter the right account number and they couldn’t call to verify after I entered my phone number I called left a message and got nothing so I call them in the a. m turns out since I didn’t make my payment last month they figured I wouldnt this month either they verified my account number and said okay thank you go get your car now and I still had to pay 200+ that is some bull! I am now trying to get a different lender!

I’ve been using this credit union as my main source of banking for years. One reason is that it is a small system. If I’ve had a problem, I can easily make a call and speak to one of the employees who knows me by name and get clarification. It’s definitely not big banking, but you have many of the same features like online banking and use of lots of ATM’s through a union network.
They offer a personal service that many «big banks» just can’t offer because the tellers have been moved or are no longer with the organization. It truly is a family type of business that I’m proud to support.

I chose this bank because it was small and thought it would be better to avoid the long lines like the more recognized banks we all know.
My experience has been up and down until today. Today made me want to close my account. I’m a self employed graphic/​web designer & DJ, so most of my checks all come from different companies and some of those checks are personal checks. The first time I tried to cash a personal check they held it for about 2 or 3 weeks. They told me it was because my account was new to the bank so I accepted that at the time. I’ve been with them since 2008, about 2 years now and today they told me I couldn’t cash a personal check. I couldn’t cash a personal check with my own bank because the funds in my checking account aren’t sufficient enough? I wasn’t aware I needed a certain amount of funds in my checking to cash a personal check. Granted I have over-​drafted here and there but I was always quick to correct the balance once I found out but I NEVER bounced a check, EVER. The thing is, I’ve cashed a personal check there before with less funds in my checking account AND the amount of the personal check was the same amount!
So my conclusion. You can not cash a personal check if you don’t have enough funds in your checking account (it was a positive amount) unless they are having a good day? Makes NO sense to me at all. I wish they could’ve explained this to me a little better but I was simply told I couldn’t cash the personal check because I didn’t have enough funds in my checking account.
I gave it 2 stars because there is one employee that seems to really care about the little people struggling, trying to make an honest living in this economy. I believe she works at the branch inside the Navy Hospital near downtown San Diego. I think her name is Jenna. As for the rest of the staff, they are usually friendly but I don’t think they are the type of establishment that understands that some people do struggle and live paycheck to paycheck. Most times people in my situation only need a bank to be able to use a debit card to pay bills and cash checks which leaves us barely anything left over to put into savings. So if you’re in my situation I would not go with this credit union.
I usually go to one in Mission Valley because it’s closer to where I live. But now I’m thinking about closing my account and switch to a different credit union or bank. They are giving me such a hard time just trying to cash a couple hundred dollars. I would understand if my transactions were in the thousands each time then yes I would be flagged most certainly, but that is not the case. So when I get the chance I will be closing my account. Nice knowing you.

Been banking here for almost 10 years. Nice location, never more than 2 people in line at a time. «Small town» feel. Not a mill where they push you in and out and always ask for ID– because here they recognize you!
They also don’t charge you to do business with you in PERSON– what a concept…