Banks with the best customer service

Banks with the best customer service

ATMs dispense cash and account balances.

Smartphone apps let you deposit checks.

Websites let you pay bills and transfer funds.

[...] what if you need some old-fashioned customer service?

Unfortunately, lots of local banks fall short.

Bay Area Consumers’ Checkbook and Checkbook.org surveyed banking customers (predominately Checkbook and Consumer Reports subscribers) and asked them to rate their banks for customer service.

Checkbook found substantial differences.

Generally, small banks and credit unions rated higher than the largest banks.

Among the banks that rated highest for overall service were First Republic Bank, Bank of Marin and Mechanics Bank, which were all rated “superior” by more than 80 percent of their surveyed customers.

[...] some large banks, including Well Fargo, Chase, Citibank and Bank of America, each received “superior” ratings for overall service from fewer than half of their surveyed customers.

[...] a few large banks rated fairly high:

[...] Bank of the West was rated “superior” for overall service by 70 percent of its surveyed customers.

Among credit unions, standouts include Contra Costa Federal Credit Union, Pacific Service Credit Union and Redwood Credit Union — all rated “superior” for overall service by more than 90 percent of their surveyed customers.

[...] although Pacific Service Credit Union originally was set up for just PG&E employees, now anyone who lives, works, worships or attends school anywhere in the Bay Area can join.

Many banks received their lowest scores for “reasonableness of fee policies.”

Because banks increasingly rely on special fees to boost profit, Checkbook advises that you review your bank’s policies, and consider taking your business elsewhere if you think you’re being charged unreasonable fees.

Website

Counties served

Branches

First Republic Bank

Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Sonoma

Mechanics Bank

Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco

Chevron Federal Credit Union

Contra Costa, San Francisco

Contra Costa Federal Credit Union

Contra Costa, Solano

Redwood Credit Union

San Francisco Fire Credit Union

Star One Credit Union

UNCLE Credit Union

The Chronicle is partnering with Bay Area Consumers’ Checkbook magazine and Checkbook.org, a nonprofit consumer group that rates service firms and professionals, to help you find the best services in the Bay Area.

Chronicle readers can read the full article on banks and credit unions through Sept. 30, 2015, at www.checkbook.org/chronicle/banks