Toni writes in…
I’m a Decatur resident and regular DM reader, and appreciate the feedback from other readers about their favorites around town. My husband and I are looking for a bank and would love to hear what your readers recommend.
Probably should expand the request to credit unions as well, since they have often made an appearance in these sorts of discussions in the past!
nelliebelle1197
Scott
Upatoi Boy
Scott
Deanne
Scott
Deanne
Julie
sfmaster
Chris
Decatur Metro
Robert
First Pint at Leon's Goes For $2,650
Shouldn’t the header be “Least Disliked Banks In and Around Decatur”?
Emory credit union. May not be the best for your money, but polite and helpful
Delta Community Credit Union. NEVER use a bank!!
+1 for Delta Community CU
+ 2 as a happy Delta Credit Union customer. We have several accounts there and enjoy NOT using the bigger banks. I left my car keys in the Ponce Delta branch last month, and the bank closed while I was in CVS. A super nice employee unlocked the door and delivered by keys, enabling me to pick up my small kids from daycare. THAT’S CUSTOMER SERVICE!
We also have one account at Fidelity in order to use their safe deposit boxes, which Delta doesn’t have. We like Fidelity, too, but prefer the credit union concept.
I really like Fidelity Bank on Commerce Drive (the small branch) Everyone is very friendly and helpful.
Second vote for Fidelity!
I miss Decatur First Bank.
Me, too. We really lost something there. The people there were so kind to me when I was in over my head trying to settle my parents’ estate. Especially as I was usually weeping or venting my frustration. Not a pretty customer.
Since then, Fidelity has been satisfactory for our household banking. Although their walk-up ATM located in the drive-through lane is a little scary.
I also keep a secret stash in Georgia’s Own but that’s just a habit left over from when it was Georgia Telco and I worked for the telephone company.
FWIW, Private Bank is a sponsor of the Decatur Book Festival. If that festival is important to you, you might want to support its sponsors.
I’m a fan of credit unions. I use a work-related one and the teens have used Delta Community Bank–it’s handy and walkable and the staff have been very helpful, e.g. when arranging to use ATM abroad. One caution: it is QUITE crowded on a Saturday morning. I recommend either avoiding Saturdays or getting there just as it opens. But I see that inconvenience as a sign of how handy and economical Delta is. There’s an outside ATM machine that’s free for members of any credit union. It’s quite convenient especially if you are going to the CVS/17 Steps/Pastries A-Go-Go shopping plaza anyway.
While I’m on the topic of the CVS/17 Steps/Pastries A-Go-Go shopping plaza, I hear that folks have been booted who parked there, patronized a merchant there, but then went somewhere else to shop, e.g. across the street to Sawicki’s. Haven’t experienced that myself yet. I think it’s stingy, if legal, and has the potential to hurt the merchants there. It’s just as easy for us to drive to the CVS near DeKalb Medical and all the other merchandise in that plaza comprises discretionary vs. necessary purchases.
That parking issue was much discussed here a a few months ago: http://www.decaturmetro.com/2015/04/24/free-for-all-friday-42415/#comment-546240.
Yes, it’s legal.
Yes, it’s legal. Maybe I should have used the wording “…stingy, although legal,..” Whether the policy is wise is another story. If the parking lot gets a reputation for booting folks who shopped there, customers may avoid the lot which will hurt the merchants. I don’t know if the merchants have any say in what the parking lot vendor does or in the selection of the vendor. If I were a merchant, I’d be willing to let someone run off for a little while to shop nearby as long as they had spent money in my place first. Perhaps time limits, e.g. 2-3 hours, is a better idea than limiting parkers to plaza shopping only. I can’t imagine that it would more than 2-3 hours to get one’s hair cut, eat at Pastries or the Asian or pizza place, or shop at CVD or 17 Steps, never mind drop off one’s dry cleaning or use the Delta ATM.
BTW, I misnamed Delta. It’s Delta Community Credit Union. You don’t have to be a Delta employee–residents of several metro counties and employees of several businesses/organizations are eligible to join.
To be honest, I’m not sure why anyone uses a bank instead of a credit union with lower fees, good service, and emphasis on the members. I’m sure there’s lots of good reasons but they don’t seem to apply to my life.
We use a credit union for our personal banking and love it. However, a local CPA told me that for my business I should use a big national bank because their online banking is far, far superior. (You can access way more info.)
Yes on the online banking. Georgia’s Own just got it and it is lacking. And I could not get a credit union to help me with a new mortgage. So I switched to a national bank and got a great deal.
While conducting business at Delta CU this week, there was some commotion in the parking lot. Apparently, some out-of-town visitors had gotten booted. They said they had asked the attendant if it was okay to park there. He said yes, but failed to mention it was only for that shopping center. I know it’s the responsibility of each patron to read every word on the posted signage, but you have to feel bad for unsuspecting visitors.
Chase at the corner of N Decatur and Clairmont…
Everyone is friendly and professional, deposits clear overnight as long as deposited at the branch by closing time at 6pm or by 11pm through the iPhone app.
I miss Decatur First as well and was extremely unhappy with customer service from Fidelity Bank when they took over DFB.
We’ve used Private Bank since it opened here and have been very pleased. Service is friendly, fast, and efficient. And they have popcorn.
Is it ever used? The popcorn machine always appears in the front window, empty, and looking unused. At least when I walk by (which is admittedly not usually weekdays). Maybe they clean it well
This has been my exact experience as well. Because they don’t have their own ATMs, Private Bank has enacted Decatur First’s old policy of covering any and all ATM fees, which saves me probably $15-$20 a month (Fidelity did not continue this policy when they absorbed DFB — one reason for my dissatisfaction there). I also like that they are locally owned.
The lack of Private Bank ATMs is exactly why I bank there. It’s nice to be anywhere in Atlanta or in the US and not care where your bank’s closest “free” ATM is. Just find anyone’s ATM and use it, Private Bank picks up the fee. Also, I think some of Private Bank’s staff are folks from DFB.
” I think some of Private Bank’s staff are folks from DFB” Including the President.
I love this thread, and not just because I work in retail financial services technology. (I know, I know, i’t s just as exciting as working for Apple, Google or U2, truly!)
I echo some of the comments made above – use a CU for ATM universal access, tricky loans, or hi touch and personal service.
Use a national, regional or online only bank for the mobile/tablet apps, more robust online products/services and a broader comparison of loan rates.
Now, for a selfish question — has anyone seen or used the new “Interactive Teller” units popping up around town? The names vary, but they allow you to talk privately with a teller (who is usually stationed miles away) who can do more than a simple ATM can do. These are often open longer than bank hours – e.g. 7am -7 pm, or 24h, and sometimes even 7 days. Usually they’re at the bank property, but could also be found set up at other high traffic areas, like malls, urban centers, etc.
If you’ve seen them — what do you think?
We’ve been very pleased with Georgia United credit union. Free checking, great customer service, and a good rebate credit card.
If your family has or had a connection to the military, it’s worth checking out USAA Federal Savings Bank. My father only served for a couple of years, but that makes me and my children eligible to bank there. Great service.
I wholeheartedly agree with the recommendation of USAA. However, I believe the banking may be open to anyone, not just those with a connection to the military. I think it may just be insurance that is restricted to military and their family members.
I agree with regard to USAA as well. Outstanding company. And yes, you are correct. Banking is open to anyone. They also pay your ATM fees, and have outstanding online banking and app.
USAA’s gives awesome customer service for car insurance. For home insurance though, they can be picky. They wanted so many repairs to my original funky Decatur home before insuring it that I couldn’t afford it and used a less picky company.
Anyone but SunTrust (Sage Hill branch). They could not be less helpful.
I am leaving Bank of America after 20 years. The level of errogence from their underwriting is unbelieveable. Customer service is the worst nationally. Gotten to big for their britches. I have gotten the most community banking envirnonment from Fidelity. Free checking over 50. I am now transfering my business account to a no fee accout from Bank of America.
I don’t understand the constant need for ATMs. I just get cash back when making purchases and rarely have to worry about a special stop at the ATM.
What kind of shady activities are the rest of you involved in that require so much actual cash money?
I just like to have a little jingle in my pocket, as my grand-pa used to say.
Oh, you know, underhanded stuff like using cash at the grocery store and restaurants. It’s all very cloak-and-dagger….
Debit cards put you at risk of wiping out your cash if card is lost or stolen- I just go with ATM-only card and credit card.
Ditto. Don’t see the advantage of debit cards, only the disadvantages.
Because YDFM.
Some argue that if they can crack Target, Wal*Mart etc and steal your debit and credit card info, they can get anyone. Cash doesn’t leave your personal info in their POS systems.
So it comes down to “who do you trust more” with your financial info – one bank (who already has your info anyway), or hundreds of retailers susceptible to breach?
I’m sure you meant “Point-of-Sale” systems but I had more fun inserting the other commonly used expression. It might even make more sense that way.
I’ve been doing this for years and the “other” meaning still pops into my head first. 😉
That’s why ApplePay is the best – no credit card number to steal. It is the most secure payment method out there and some would say even better than cash. If only more places accepted it.
Come October 1, merchants will need to upgrade their terminals for EMV cards and Apple Pay will follow suit.
If it was just karma and worth the effort to me (switching payroll deposits, online bill pay, etc) I would join a local credit union. Just not worth it to me. yet?
While it is cool to hate on the big banks, I have had no complaints with Bank of America for the breadth of services and the local office at Clairemont and Commerce. Foreign currency orders, safe deposit box, local convenience. Big banks do offer a broad range of offerings and and can a better (depends on bank) online experience if they have it in-house. Whatever account I have is free with direct deposit.
I use an online bank for my savings, and they refund fees for 5 ATM transactions per month.
However, as another mentioned, BoA’s mortgage division has been a train wreck several times I have used (or tried to use) them. I recall a “no paper” refinance over a decade ago that seemed to have as much paper as a normal paper refinance … and they would mess things up, ask for second copies of items I provided, etc. I use a local mortage broker now. I used BoA (and got “locked in”) due to a mortgage guaranty my employer provided when I was first hired, and BoA was a partner in accepting that guaranty (now long since irrelevant).
We’ve had such a great experience with Bank of North Georgia for a home loan. (We do checking/savings/insurance through USAA.) When we call or e-mail the woman who closed it for us, either she answers the phone or our e-mail or she forwards to another real, live person at her branch for handling within an hour or two. No impersonal customer service and/or waiting forever on a 1-800 number. The rates are good as well. They even send old-fashioned birthday cards (signed)!
Love Private Bank of Decatur. Many of the folks are from the former Decatur First. Small-town feel, in that the employees know your name and are very responsive. Use any ATM but never pay a fee. They will pick up the phone and call when they detect something wrong with your account. Also, we just refinanced our mortgage with Private Bank, and they were great.
Plus, they are quite engaged with the community. PBD sponsors or supports many Decatur events, and you often see president Judy Turner there, too.
Only negative is that their online banking security is so strict it can be frustrating/difficult to log in and take care of business.