Union Bank

Most of the time service is slow. They need to have more locations and open on Saturdays and later hours… work with their customers not against us…

As a bookkeeper I work for many small businesses and so while I do not personally have an account with Union Bank, I have 4 clients who do. 2 of them closed their accounts & switched banks over the past 2 months and a third is ready to do so. 3 of these account holders were formerly with Frontier Bank, which was sold to Union. The issue is that suddenly the bank seems to have changed their check hold policy which is causing all sorts of problems for my clients. We are talking accounts which have never had a bounced check suddenly having deposits held for 3 – 5 days. This is playing havoc with the accounts and is very expensive. In most cases they end up paying the charge that comes through (funny how a payment made can clear in one day & a deposit made takes a week to clear) and then charge $ 33 for each «NSF». I can understand if it’s a customer who consistently bounces checks or deposits checks that don’t clear, but for customers with perfect records it makes no sense. In addition, they’ve closed their branches near where I work and live, so I have to go quite a ways out of the area to get to a branch that remains open. I can see why they are closing branches based on the amount of customers «jumping ship».

My first time at this branch. Their customer service swept me away. And I’m not even a customer. I decided on the spot to transfer my business account from Wells Fargo (8 years) to Union Bank, and to deal specifically with this branch. And, on top of all that, it’s Friday!!!

I am very happy with union bank. They go above and beyond to be helpful. I came in looking to create my first business account as a young adult after being turned away from other banks because of a credit issue that had been resolved, but was still reflected on my records and Stephanie was so great. She got special approval for me and then gave me an extra 3 months before I needed to have the minimum amount in my account, and set me up to be totally organized (because frankly I had no idea what to do). She continues to check in with me about my business and has helped me fix some mistakes I made and avoid getting fees for them. Stephanie & really all of the staff are the friendliest bankers I have ever encountered. Thanks so much for making my first year of business so much easier!

I was a customer of Union Bank for several years. Without warning, they started charging me a monthly fee.
Besides the fact that I won’t do business with bank that charges a maintenance fee, suddenly imposing such a fee without me agreeing to it ahead of time is nothing less than THEFT. Do you want your bank to steal your money? If so, open an account at Union Bank.
When I discovered what they had done, I called them to close the account. They refused! To add insult to injury (not to mention additional expense), they required that I appear PERSONALLY at the bank, during their ridiculously short «banker’s hours», to close the account.
So not only did they charge fees that I did not agree to, I had to take time off work to go to the bank in person to close the account, costing me even more money.
What a rotten, rotten bank. STAY FAR AWAY. If you do business with Union Bank after reading this review, you are a fool.

I had a terrible experience at this bank. I called about a credit line that I did not want and received some type of BS answer about why it has not been cancelled; this information was not correct. Second of all, they encouraged me to apply for refinance loan for my home. I made an appointment with the loan officer only to find out he was no where to be found when I showed up for my appointment. So, I met with his assistant who was very nice but knew a very little about the loan that was supposedly was so great for me. I decided to go forward because it would be advantageous for me to lower my mortgage payments. I completed all of the loan information and I was on my way to the bank when I received call from an assistant telling me her boss was not available and could I come in at 2:00 pm. I said no, since I had another appointment. As of this date, I have not heard from the loan person and it has been 2 weeks ago. It is very difficult to complete a loan application and takes a considerable amount of time. I did not appreciate the fact that this guy stood me up and has never made amends nor has he tried reschedule the appointment. So much for Union Bank and their loan department. The credit line issue still has not been resolved by the bank.

Union Bank! (Webster Street, Oakland)
I haven’t experience the others (Union Bank), but I have been coming to this bank during my lunch hour to cash my payroll check since the location is close to my place of employment; and, also because my employer (Alameda Co.) one of their many accounts, is drawn at Union Bank. Anyway, the atmosphere there is very quiet, and after dealing with one of Union Banks teller (VIVIAN) I can see why the atmosphere is also unsettling and dark when dealing with her. After dealing with her on, Friday June 22, 2012 around the 1:30pm hour, while I was waiting in line I was praying that didn’t have to deal with her, (Again) and when the next person that was next in line ahead of me, who also would have been Vivian next customer, he looked at me and told me that I could go before him. He (Customer) didn’t want VIVIAN to service him and I wonder why?. However, though my prayer wasn’t anwser this time, reluctantly I decided to go ahead to Vivian.
After going through the process of cashing my check, Vivian, without asking me how I would like my cash back, she quickly counted my money back to me, with a couple of times messing up and even asking me if she had first given me my change before counting out the paper dollars. With myself being who I am and as the customer I ask Vivian if she would please place my cash through the money counter machine, and immediately her response to me was: «WHAT FOR»? Now mind you, I am at a bank and when making a request the bank teller response is, What for? Nothing but a frown attitude of expression was all over her face as I responded back that I just wanted to make sure that I have an accurate account of MY MONEY. Vivian than stated that the machine was not properly working because it was out of ink, but that If I would like to wait, that she would go replace the paper and INK so that the machine THAT WAS REALLY NEVER OUT OF ORDER. Vivian was offended that I made such a request not trusting her count.
This second time I had this negative experince regarding this issue with Vivian, as I also had this experience with another teller at Union Bank. Unfortunately, I didn’t get her name.
After this incident I was going to make a report with the branch manager, Herman Badgett, but decide not to as I’m sure that nothing would be accomplished to resolved this matter and nor would Vivian unprofessional behavior regarding her poor customer services skills would have been addressed.
To think that I was even considering opening up a direct deposit account because, Union Bank never seems to be busy. But! because of tellers like Vivian, I can see why. However, this weekend I decided to open up an account with Wells Fargo and though this bank is much more overloaded with crowds of people during the lunch hours, but with my soon to be direct deposit there (Wells Fargo) I will no longer have to deal with the unprofessionlism of people like VIVIAN.

Closing this account ASAP
Closing my account as soon as these effers let go of my funds. Unacceptable –11 day hold (okay, 10 if you don’t count Memorial Day) on funds that I was just going to roll around nekkid on… Not really… I need my frickety, frackin’ MONEY to pay bills because I’m trying to be responsible and grown up and shit…
I called around noon today and I was told by Claudia — «I can make a phone call to the bank the check was drawn from to get the funds released» — I said — you obviously have phones, I’m talking to you on one… why haven’t you done that already?
Claudia: Yes, we have phones and know how to use them
Me: Then make the phone call
Claudia: I will call you back this afternoon
4:45 pm — I’ve been waiting all flippin’ PM for Claudia’s call — seriously needing to roll in a lot of money.
I call and ask to speak with Claudia — I’m told she’s not available and that she can call me back ‘probably’ — I’m incredulous because I’m certain they close at 5 pm so I tell the man that I need to get it handled before 5 and he snickers saying «she can call you back.» I say — but you’re closing at 5! — No — we close at 6.
I give him my number and Claudia calls back at 4:59 to tell me the funds are available.
I forgot to ask what time she had this information because — again — I really have to roll in some money and toss it in the air and shit and she may have prevented me from doing that earlier…
Gotta go roll in all my money now…

Been banking at this branch for years — they are OK for service and the on line banking is good — people are friendly and don’t ignore you — so far they have responded really well when I need to call them about my account. So for a bank — good place!

THIS IS THE WORST BANK EVER.
having had an account here since i was 13, i should know. this branch in particular, which i’ve used for the last few years, has caused me nothing but problems. they charge ridiculous fees and they place completely arbitrary and excessive (ten day!) holds on checks from reputable businesses, occasionally when they’ve accepted checks from them before.
as a long time customer, i had my final straw yesterday. these assholes won’t be getting any more of my money.

i have actually had no problems with uboc in the past several years that i’ve had them. well, actually, there was one time my checks didn’t get to me in a timely manner, but other than that, nada. i like that they have a parking lot, and that i’ve never had to wait too long. the customer sevice has been friendly, and their online system works for me. only real complaint is that they are fairly small, with only a couple branches around, which makes atm withdrawals annoying at times.

Really, this bank policies make no sense what so ever. So, they put hold on everything. When we deposit a check from another large reputable business they put a hold for 10 days, keep in mind we have an established account, never with a NSF or overdraft. They put a hold. They said to bring a certified check and we do and they put a hold for 5 days. We bring a check from another depositor of Union Bank and they put a hold. Now, we bring cash deposit the cash on a Saturday, they do not make the cash available till next Tuesday. WAMU offers a better relationship and their policies do make sense.