Sefcu A Federal Credit Union

I had opened accounts at a «regular» bank here in NY state before moving here in order to make the move smoother. After a year and a half of high fees, computer «errors» and plain cheating in the times direct deposits were credited, I pulled my business out of the «regular» bank and switched to SEFCU on the recommendations of several friends.
The move SEFCU was a great choice. My daughter, a college student, changed to SEFCU as well. SEFCU has services specifically aimed at students, as well as services she will need after graduation as she starts her career. The employees at this branch have always been helpful and courteous to us. The only times I have encountered long lines were the times I expected them — Fridays at lunchtime and right before a major holiday.
Another reviewer has (unfairly, IMHO) given this branch and SEFCU a poor rating — in which he felt it necessary to use foul language — for reasons that probably do not affect the average user of SEFCU. Most of his complaints seem revolve around his business. Remember, credit unions are customer owned and changes that allowed broader customer base reflect owner voices, but US credit unions usually offer services aimed at the individual. The change to inclusion of a larger customer base is the reason they changed their name; SEFCU gives a nod to their past, when they served only state workers, yet drops the old wording that implied texclusivity.

So, here are my thoughts on this institution as a whole, and this branch in particular.
Institution: SEFCU caters to State Workers, hence the name State Employees Federal Credit Union. There are few every day fees on accounts, and there are no glaringly high minimums that you need to worry about. The fun ends there, however.
–Want to get a printout of your last 90 days of transaction history that will meet FHA guidelines? Gotta go to the branch and pay a few bucks. Not a big deal depending on how far the underwriters make you go back.
–Online Banking: SEFCU’s online banking is a fucking joke. You can’t deposit more than $ 1000 checks with «iTeller.» Most people have direct deposit these days. I run a business and my clients cut me decent sized checks. I have to go to the branch, and wait in line. More on that later. Also they seem to like doing maintenance when I need to get in there for something important. Sometimes it goes completely down and the people at the call center basically can’t to shit.
–Business Banking: because of what I mentioned previously, this is not the bank you want if high availability and business services are things you take seriously. I’m in the process of moving all my accounts as we speak. It is a long drawn out process.
–They finally got Apple iPay. This was after members practically kicked down the doors to the boardroom.
Hoosick Branch:
–They have this weird café type setup, which bothers me. The line sometimes queues out the door because of there the line starts and ends. They are trying to be cool perhaps? Huge pain when I need to come in and deposit checks.
–The patrons: there is a special place in hell for the people that pack the lobby and the drive through. When I come in to do checks. I have everything endorsed, deposit slips clearly filled out, ID’s ready if need by, account numbers written everywhere so the tellers can get me in and out quickly. Most of the people that blow in here seem not to have any clues about proper bank etiquette. Every time I go in here, there’s some Luddite who has never heard of a deposit slip. The last time I was in there the guy in front of me waited until he got to the teller before he endorsed 9 checks and hemmed and hawed about what amounts were going into which accounts. This seems to be the norm every time I go in.
–Staff: the only real redeeming quality that this branch has. The setup sucks, the institution is kind of a pain, and the patrons are dreadful. The girls that handle the customers are great and are always helpful to me. They are the reason this place gets 2 stars instead of 1.
How to keep me from transferring all my accounts to TD Bank:
I know I’m not SEFCU’s ideal customer, I run a business that deals with B2B stuff, and my time is serious money. I bill out at $ 95/​hour. I have to take an hour out of my day to deposit stuff. If SEFCU offered private banking services for checks over $ 2K or account holders with daily averages of 5K or more at their branches, or maybe instituted a policy of «no tickey no washey» to people that didn’t have all the proper fields filled out on the deposit slips and proper check endorsements, it would save this guy a lot of time. I’m sure others could benefit. I speak for the detail oriented people who give a shit about the rules and care enough about their money to help the tellers do their jobs better.
Anyway, that’s my take. Hope this was helpful or at the very least informative.