Elevations Credit Union

Great service in the bank. So-​so service when it comes to house loans and car loans. Absolutely terrible service and reliability when it comes to credit cards.
Seriously. Do NOT trust that your Elevations credit card will come through for you when you need it. I have had multiple experiences when I had almost no credit used up, my limit is in the 5 digits and payments for a couple of thousands for air faire or similar will still fail.
Talking to Elevations representative is pleasant but useless. not a single time have they managed to resolve this issue.
Last time my mother was on her death bed. Due to the issues with Elevations it took 2 days more until I could purchase the plane tickets to go and see her. I had to by the tickets with another credit card (AmEx) who came through for me and raised my credit enough to do the purchase.
I probably talked 10 times with Elevations to fix this and they could not. In the end the 2 day delay caused me over $ 2000 USD. That’s how much air faire for my family increased during that time.
I did contact Elevations and complained. Do you think I got an apology? No. I did not.

horrendous customer service and predatory practices. For 4 days they charged $ 31 dollars every time we used our bank card — we didn’t realize we were overdrawn (very unusual for us, was a fluke), and had no way of knowing! It’s hilarious that they call that $ 31 a «courtesy fee». Thank you not. The only notification they gave us 2 days after the account was overdrawn was an email saying we had a notification that we would have to log in to see — I did so and I never even saw the notification. They said they would wait 10 days before a phone call. We have $ 420 in charges ($ 2 dollar coffee + $ 31 dollar courtesy fee). Customer service said it was a service we chose — it must have been some check box that was not understandable when we signed up. They would only remove $ 90 of the charges. They lost my business, I can’t wait to close my account. I feel terrible if this would happen to a student or anyone who could be devastated by this kind of practice. It’s NOT a courtesy!!! It’s a money making scam for the bank.

Closed today for a little snow! All of the other banks and credit unions are open! Really! I am totally unimpressed with this low level of service.

The WORST banking experience ever. I deposited a check that they wouldn’t accept on mobile so I physically deposited it at a machine. Because I wrote «mobile deposit» they deemed the check no good. That’s fine, but no one notified me. My account reflected a positive balance that evening when I looked online. I had a bill to pay so I wanted to ensure that the check had gone through. The next day, I go the store to make a purchase only to be told «insufficient funds». I then looked at my account and see that the balance was still positive, however, they charged me several processing fees. So I call them, and they explain the situation. The issue is that if the check was deemed no good, then how come I wasn’t notified? Why is it still reflecting a positive balance? The rep couldn’t answer my questions so I ask to speak to a supervisor. She comes back to tell me there is no supervisor I can speak with. No Supervisor. Great.
Total lack of customer service. It’s so bad that I’m going back to Bank of America.

I have been with Elevations for 8 years now first they raise my interest rate for know reason other than they say more rewards, but we pay for it… I used them for loans on my credit card and cash advanced till they did this!!! Now A letter saying they will start charging me 10 a month for not using my services that I can not longer use do to the fact of their credit card change in interest!!! EVEN IF I WANTED TO USE MY REWARDS BEFORE ALL THIS NO ONE AT THE OFFCE COULD HELP YOU!!! We pay to be members now they are no deferent than a bank or worse. I say eveyone should pull money out of banks and credit unions and lets see how the game turns around! Plus when you close an account you take a hit on your credit report!!! That is like holding someone hostage… Please do not use this credit union!

This bank is incredible. They go above and beyond. After having a recent problem with the Boulder branch of Budget Rental Trucks, who had tried to fraud me over $ 1,000, one of the people at Elevations stayed on the line on a conference call with me for more than an hour until our issue was resolved. The woman who helped me was amazing, and she deserves a medal of honor in employee service. She made my day better, and she made my loyalty to Elevations even stronger.

Member Service staff need to improve how they deal with customers on the phone and not come across as harassing. Pushing someone to make an overdraft payment continually after it was made clear the payment would be mailed by not one, but two customer service representatives is unprofessional. With the amount of frustrations I continually have to deal with this institution, I am done. I am seeking a new bank and will be switching very soon.

Just moved into Colorado and was recommended to Elevations given our high opinion of our previous credit union. After almost a year with them, I have to say we would have looked elsewhere. The mortgage procedure went well, but banking with them has been nothing but headaches and wasted hours. Here are pros and cons from our viewpoint.
Pros — mortgage transactions went well (though we were only closed on the house two weeks before their home equity line staff started calling to see if we wanted to take equity back out of the house). Mobile check deposit seems to work quite well. Staff are always nice when I have to drive over 45 minutes to a local branch to get the simplest of issues resolved with their website and checking/​savings service.
Cons — we have tried over 10 times to get automatic mortgage payments and transfers set up, even talking to reps on the phone who set it up in the system manually, yet it never fails the next month comes along and no automatic payment occurs. Once we even waited 10 days thinking maybe there was a transaction «lag», but no. A phone call to the bank promises certain services (e.g. We will send you your new debit card in 10 days or so; we will be sending you checks in the mail…) with nothing having been received, only to call back again weeks later and be told there was no request in the system for those items. Trying access checking and savings accounts online is hit or miss. Even with cookies turned on, you still have to have them email or text you with an access code EVERY time you log on to be sure you are you, and hitting «register my computer» does not register the device — I’ve tried on my iphone, iPad and HP laptop. Also, I can’t access my account details online sometimes — just shows up as a blank page.
I hate writing negative reviews, but this credit union appears disorganized and to have not invested the time and funds necessary to allow users to bank there without significant frustration. We are currently looking for a new credit union. Hope this helps.

I am looking for a new credit union after 25 years with Elevations. They just don’t seem to be able to keep up with the most simple of digital banking tasks, they have held onto my international deposits for over a month without letting me know in a timely manner, their iPhone app was busted for weeks, and they don’t seem to be able to manage a simple line of credit loan. Repeated mess-​ups and inability to fix things easily. Sorry, Elevations, I miss your great service.
I’m downgrading to 2 stars, since now I have to make my mobile deposits elsewhere thanks to really bad software and clueless tech support. So disappointed.

Greg Roller at Elevations was originating a loan for my wife and I on a non-​warrantable condo. Everything was fine until 8 days before closing before Greg informed me by email that the loan would not go through. They had told me it was underwritten just days before. I had 25% down, and we have credit rates of 792. They cited the reason that their «business department» wanted more liquid assets, which it was clear from the very beginning what my liquid assets were. What an embarrassment. Mr. Roller did email me to inform me that the business lending underwriters have discretion and do not disclose to the loan officers what their guidelines will be in advance, and he asked me for feedback of how they can do better in the future. I’m not sure how you can be in business creating mortgages, telling customers that you meet all their guidelines, only to have an independent department drop everything just before closing.

In the past I have been very happy with Elevations, but in the last 12 months they’ve had me working harder than they are:
1. Took 6 months to resolve a mistake by their mortgage company that resulted in an adverse action on my credit rating. In the process one associate raised his voice at me. As far as I know, he got away with it.
2. They lost my deposit and I can’t pay them to call me back. Have no idea where my original check is, but it left me in a bind on vacation. No help from Elevations. No follow up from Elevations. No investigation on their part as to where my check went.
3. During a fraud alert they realized my birthday was wrong on the account. It’s been wrong for over 5 years. The agent was condescending and more worried about my birthday than the fact that someone in Georgia was on an epic spending spree in my name.
All I needed was some follow up and for them not to lower my credit rating for their mistake, but apparently that’s too much to ask. It would have been a bonus if I didn’t have to make multiple contacts regarding some of the issues — like I said, I’m working harder than they are right now.

Great for everyday banking; checking and savings. I have been with them since 1997 and they have always been my primary bank — even living out of state for 10 years. However, their loan officers and programs leave much to be desired. I have never been able to get a competitive auto or home loan through them. My other credit union always beats them on rate and term.

I had a credit union in California that was absolutely amazing. I switched to Elevations after moving here because I heard great things about it. They have mediocre customer service. It isn’t awful, but it isn’t stellar, either. Everyone seems a lot slower than service I have received in the past. First of all, holding an account with Elevations requires that they hold $ 25 in your savings account that you do not have access to. This is fairly standard, but at my old credit union, I believe the amount was a $ 5 minimum that accrued interest. However, the $ 25 just sits there and does not accrue interest at Elevations.
However, the real reason that I am disappointed in Elevations is because of how I was treated when my entire bag got stolen a few months ago. I keep two stray checks in my wallet at all times instead of carrying around a check book. Since my wallet was stolen along with my bag (that contained my MacBook, iPhone, and many other valuables), it was an extremely stressful situation, and I simply needed to cancel my two checks that were in the wallet.
The representative I spoke to was well-​aware of the situation, considering that I was also cancelling my card and ordering a new one simultaneously. He informed me that cancelling a check would be $ 31 dollars. Not just $ 31, but $ 31 per check. That would have totalled in $ 62, which was an amount I could not afford, as I suddenly needed to replace the valuables that were stolen. He informed me that it would be cheaper to do it online, which would still total in $ 30 for cancelling both checks. Immediately, I resolved that I would just go to the bank in person and close my account. (I had back-​up identification that would suffice.) The only reason I did not end up closing my account was because my wallet was found over at the creek with both checks still in it, so I didn’t end up needed to cancel nor close the account.
I had issues with Elevations before, but this was the tipping point for me, and I have been extremely disappointed in Elevations ever since. I would have switched to Boulder Valley Credit Union by now, but I’m moving back to California in 5 months (and consequently back to my old credit union).

My experience with this credit union was awful. I bought a car locally and decided to go with these guys since they were a local CU and the dealer could easily get things setup for me. Fast forward a few weeks, Elevations never once contacted me through mail, a phone call, or email about my new auto loan, despite having payment due in a week. I tried to call them to log into my account that I had no details for, but they couldn’t verify my identity after giving them literally every piece of personal information possible. I had to drive 30 miles from home to their closest location to Denver, and finally was able to log into my own account. Their website was so broken, though, that I couldn’t transfer money in to make my monthly payment! I had to revisit their branch and show them on their own computers that it wasn’t working. I still haven’t been able to make the payment, and will have to write a check in a branch location at the last second so I’m not late on my payment. They have made it so incredibly hard to pay off my auto loan… it’s as is they want me to default. I will be refinancing immediately with another bank, just to avoid this hassle every month. These guys are absolutely clueless, and I would not recommend doing business with them.

I shouldn’t write a review while angry but, they’ve done the same thing to me twice. I go in there for a loan, sit down with a loan officer, input my/​our info. Pull our credit (both A+ over 740), debt to income (both lower than the 45% for preferred), I’ve been at my job for more than 3 years, reasonable rent payment, no defaults, etc. the loan officer says «I see no reason that you won’t get it». Next day get a call saying a myriad of reasons why we are not approved. The first was that I haven’t been at my job long enough, really? 3 years isn’t long enough for a small personal loan? Then it was that the loan would make my debt to income ratio skyrocket from 32% to over 60%? Then it was because my girlfriend/​co-​signer only has 2 credit cards (that are both in excellent standing and low to zero balances). The excuses just seemed to keep coming as to why they couldn’t get us a loan. The customer service from the other times I’ve been there have been ok, slow but friendly. I don’t see what Elevations is offering me over a traditional bank besides my membership fee and a place for me to keep my savings account???

I just joined Elevations after moving to Boulder recently. Janet helped me establish my account, and was very helpful in suggestions for other questions re the area that I had.
Very friendly service. Did not give a 5 because this is my first exposure, and will see how it goes!

Entirely unprofessional mortgage/​refi experience here, which I will describe momentarily. But first, a quick summary of my other experiences there.
The tellers and regular banking staff I’ve worked with at this branch have always been professional, which is why I’m giving them 2 stars. The location is convenient, and the wait time both to conduct business with tellers and to meet with other bank staff is kind of slow. Not glacially slow. But slow nonetheless.
The bank will charge you a $ 25 membership fee, which is refundable when you close your account. However, you will need a minimum $ 25 account balance throughout the time you bank with them. Just a head’s up on that.
But if you are shopping for a mortgage or refi, **TAKE YOUR BUSINESS ELSEWHERE!!** I originally took out a mortgage here in early 2010. My loan officer (now stationed at the Table Mesa branch), was not great but passable. She was spacey and floated in and out of contact… That should have been a red flag, but I was fortunate enough to have a stellar real estate agent that had my back and kept her on task.
In mid-​2011, I attempted to refinance. I contacted the same loan officer, who started the refi process. Long story short, she made a mistake and initiated a mortgage that Elevations in fact couldn’t honor. Instead of admitting as much, she lied about some federal regulations changing (they had in fact changed 18 months ago, before my original mortgage was even in the works — she acted suddenly very confused when I pointed this out), and tried to pressure me into a 5-​yr ARM by telling me I had 24 hours to make a decision, then changed her mind and said I could take more time to make a decision. I refused the ARM and when I asked for a reimbursement for the $ 500 that had been drawn for the appraisal, she said she wasn’t sure I could get it back, then said I might be able to get some but not all of it back. I hung up, called her supervisor and complained. Her supervisor, Lisa, apologized and suggested I work with her directly. Same high pressure sales tactics — first for a mortgage whose monthly payment was over half of my monthly pay (!!), second for the same piece of s**t 5-​yr ARM. I declined both «deals» and stated I needed to be reimbursed ASAP. She agreed but informed me that it would take a few days. The following week I left for a long trip in the mountains and 10 days later re-​emerged to an unchanged bank account. I left a nasty voicemail — she feigned surprise at the situation, but promptly reimbursed me that very same day. That finally ended the 6-​week-​long fiasco, but it made me question why two weeks prior it was a process that needed a «few days» when I was coincidentally about to leave on a trip… the cynical person in me has a lot to say about that, but I will let you draw your own conclusions, dear reader.
My take home lesson is that there are much more honest and pleasant financing institutions to be found in Boulder County.

Blah. This is a review for ECU as a whole. Honestly, they kind of stink. Their customer service stinks for a smaller company. Their ATMs aren’t up to par with Wells Fargo or BoA, either.
I ordered checks from them and they got lost and never came. I didn’t receive any notice of when I should get them or any follow up. So after two weeks I emailed them and they had indeed been lost. 14 days later I had checks.
Recently my debit card had to be canceled and another one was ordered. I’ve got to wait 10 days to get it. My BoA debit card was ordered and to me in less than 5 business days.
The advantage of smaller companies is supposed to be quick services. ECU just doesn’t have these. Probably switching to WF in the fall

Do not get a mortgage here. The loan officer we interacted with here was negligent. We almost lost our earnest money because Greg Roller, who still works there, couldn’t be bothered to call my place of business to confirm my employment. He called me, I kid you not, 2 days before closing to say that the loan was not going to go through. Suffice it to say, I dropped everything, left (stable) patients in the waiting room and raced over to diagonal. When it came out that the issue could be solved with a phone call, we got his supervisor involved and a few hours later it was solved, but omg I nearly had a heart attack.
Location is convenient for us, but they’ve made too many mistakes. We do part of our banking here, and I’d say one phone call in four leads to deposits in the wrong account, obnoxious calls from their 1800 numbers and late fees that they eventually, after wasted time on our part making calls, reverse.
I’ve had an account here for at least 15 years. Not a fan. Do very little banking through them. If I wasn’t so partial to my account number, I’d have closed the account years ago.

I joined Elevations when it was University of Colorado FCU in 2004. They had an office in the Tivoli student union on campus at Auraria where I joined, and I have never had any problems with these awesome folks.
Since they are based in Boulder (and I live in Denver), I have only visited a branch in person once in Westminster (outside the UofC FCU office at Tivoli, which is now a Public Service Credit Union). I make use of the CU service centers located conveniently nearly everywhere for deposits (including having my sister in Indiana deposit a check in my account at a CU service center location… convenient alert!).
A bit of a hassle is the fact that if I want to change my ATM pin, I literally have to drive up north to make the change at an actual branch. Its no big whoop. I have only spoken with friendly, professional people whenever I have needed to contact the call center. They go above and beyond the normal range of customer service to take great care of you.
I would go running and screaming from Wells Fargo to join Elevations. I also had a car loan (snagged a killer interest rate, to boot) through Elevations, and NEVER had any problems. Convenient online banking services available for free, and I can transfer freely between all my accounts (savings, loan, etc).