Mechanics Bank

This branch and Mechanics Banks as a whole have changed significantly since my original review 3 years ago, and unfortunately it has changed for the worse. In late 2014, Mechanics was acquired by way of a hostile takeover. The service has declined and I have little hope for the company. I’ve begun moving my accounts to a credit union.
I’ve had some terrible service at the Concord branch lately. In January 2014, my wife & I went to open a savings account for our son who is a minor. Upon arriving, the manager told us we’d be helped in just a minute. We sat for well over 15 minutes while the manager chatted with another customer; the person he said would help us was nowhere to be found. After 15 minutes of waiting we asked the manager if we should make an appointment instead, to which he said we’d be helped right away. It took another 5 minutes for the account manager to come out and see us. I got the feeling that her demeanor went from negative to positive once she saw our account profile — but honestly it shouldn’t take a large savings balance to get decent customer service. Once we were helped it took another 30 minutes to complete the forms for a simple savings account.
To make matters worse, we received a call today indicating that the Mechanics account manager had us sign the wrong forms and that we’ll have to return to sign the paperwork again. I really have no confidence in the competency of the Mechanics Bank Concord branch.
II sent this description of the January event to Mechanics Bank’s corporate office and was assured twice that the regional manager would contact me. Guess what? No call or email. I think the whole company has given up trying.

I love love love mechanics bank! Never have any problems/​issues with customer service. I left US bank years back due to rude tellers and never looked back!
Concord, Walnut Creek, Berkeley… all good!

Terrible. Outright Terrible.
I was coming from Trader Joe’s, and I needed a roll of quarters. I figured I could pop in the bank and walk out with a roll of quarters… well not here.
I walk in midday on Wednesday, and it’s completely empty. Literally, I was the only customer in the building. I wanted to mention this because I want you all to know that this teller that I walked up to was not servicing anyone until I walked in.
I approach the counter and lay down a $ 10 bill. The teller asks what my account number was… really? I need to give an account number for a roll of quarters?!? The teller asks her manager if she can give them to me, to which the manager gives the teller this «Why are you asking this» face and tells her to give me a roll.
Just when I couldn’t be more annoyed, the teller tells me she doesn’t have a roll handy. Really? This is a bank! She then counts out quarters individually and tells me I can get $ 7 of quarters and $ 3 in ones. The sheer laziness/​incompetence of this teller made me so mad I grabbed my $ 10 and stormed out of there.
Mechanics Bank, you really suck. And you lost a potential customer… over a roll of quarters.

I have opened two accounts with the bank both personal and business. Let me begin by saying Kevin and Mark the managers are wonderful. Kevin went out of his way to help me transition from a bank that I had been with for 19 years without a problem. He has saved me and my company money and time. Kevin Schwartz cares about and delivers top notch customer service and experience. I can’t say enough good about Kevin, Mark, and the bank.

After finally growing tired of useless fees from Wells Fargo I swithched to Mechanics and I could not be happier. Free checking with direct deposit, yes! Great and secure online banking, yes! Amazing Tellers that send birthday cards out to customers, yes! Knowledgable bankers to help you with your finances past, present, and future, yes! Mechanics bank and the staff specificlly in concord consistantly go above and beyond great customer service.

Edit/​Update:
I have bumped up my rating to 5 stars now that I have gotten more familiar and comfortable with Mechanic’s online banking set up, plus this…
I can’t think of one place who has a security guard who will walk you to your car holding his umbrella to shield you from the rain if you happen to have left your home AND continue to hold the umbrella up for you while your trying to get your toddler strapped in her car seat. The bankers inside are all equally as helpful and friendly, service does not get any better than that. By far the best no brainer move if you are considering leaving BofA or any other big, faceless bank.
We just switched to this bank for our small business. I’m so impressed with their service. In one day their business service person, Marc, personally delivered our paperwork, new checks with our name printed on them, went to whatever county office to register our fictitious business name. We were grateful and relieved to have these time consuming things taken care of. I went to the branch for a deposit and when I got out of my vehicle, the security guard promptly met me in the parking lot to escort me into the building.
I took one star away for the online banking, as it is tricky for me to navigate just yet since I’ve been used to bofa’s online system.

I had Bank of America ages ago, left because of the shoddy way they structured their online banking. After that i went to Washington Mututal (when they still existed,) same issues. I had a job afterward that banked payroll with The Mechanics Bank, so to make things easy for cashing checks i just signed up. 8 Years later it’s the best decision i’ve ever made. The online balance is fair, and shows you what you’re REALLY working with, you don’t get the idea it’s structured to rip you off. Every time I go into the Concord Brach, or the Pittsburg brach everyone there is friendly, and always knows me by first name. Love this bank, can’t say enough good things. The Security Guard outside is my favorite person, EVER.
Every time i’ve ran into an issue with an outside source, everyone here at the bank has gone out of their way to make sure it got taken care of easily. I recommend this bank to everyone I know, and will continue to do so.

The security guard in front is very nice, he stops traffic for EVERYONE not just Mechanics Bank customers.

I have been a customer of Mechanics Bank for almost 7 years and I have never had any problems. From the Concord office Security Guard who greets you at the door, the branch manager who greets me inside and to the teller who takes care of my transaction. I am called by my name and I am not just another account number like the other banks. The bank has been around for over 100 years and has a wonderful «family atmosphere» reputation. You can feel that the employees enjoy working for Mechanics Bank. I love not getting charged an ATM fee when you use a non-​Mechanics Bank ATM. The location is ideal, Trader Joe’s and Starbucks share the center, and always plenty of parking available. No reason to be with any other bank and my money is safe. Thanks.

Mechanics Bank is the real thing, a community bank where the employees really care about their customers. All of the people in the Concord branch of the Bank are friendly and helpful. They will always go the extra mile for their customers. I highly recommend Mechanics.

i have mixed feeling with this bank. i will start with the good stuff. the security guard is wonderful, makes sure everyone is safe from crossing the street to opening the door, he dererves 5 stars
unfortunatly the staff has a lady named debra golden that has soured my experience with this branch, she has refused to deposit a check into my account, no cash back, that had deposit stamp on it with the account number and made me travel to another location the was happy to help me and gave me no grief, she should look at the price of gas now days and wounder why people anr not happy wasteing time and gas when she could easily have helped me.

When: May 16, 2011
Location: 1770 Concord Ave. 94 520
Company: Me
Crowd: People that need money or want to deposit.
Loved: The security guard. He walks you across the street so you wont get hit by any cars and when it’s raining he would walk you to your car and hold an umbrella over your head so you wont get wet. Erick the teller is pretty nice too. He transferred from the Lenardis Mechanics bank to the Concord one which I think is a big mistake since the customer service here is so bad.
Dislike: The manager there, Debra Golden and the teller Cheryl Woodworth.
Service: So bad that I was so glad I don’t have an account there anymore. I just had to go there to cash a bonus check my boss gave me because the bank that I have is out of my way.
Total: $ N/​A
Side note: They charge you $ 5.00 for every payroll check they cash for you, which was nothing because they told me before I cashed it. They have never charged me for every bonus check or personal check I brought in to have it cashed. They did that day and I told them that it’s a bonus check not a payroll and they said, they still charge that extra fee. I told them that they never did that before and they said that they’ve been doing it wrong. I also told them that the Mechanics bank in Walnut Creek or Pittsburg never charged me even if it was a payroll check. And the teller, Cheryl Woodworth was going on and on about how they never stay on top of things and completely bad mouthing the other banks, but same company, which I thought was tacky. I told her that this bank should stay on top of things as well before bad mouthing other companies. Shameful! They should also take a customer service class as well. It seems like those 2 ladies don’t even know how to smile. It’s a depressing hole everytime I come in.
I’m sorry Sercurity Guard and Eric. If it wasn’t for those two ladies, I would of definately given you guys 5 stars.

So a couple of years ago this branch had a pretty publicized armed robbery. Because of it’s location – part of the entryway to both Starbucks and Trader Joes, its sort of a blind corner. Needless to say… lots of foot traffic and autos-​moving-​very-​fast.
My review believe it or not is not for the actual bank but for the guard they’ve had posted outdoors since. This man is the epitome of engagement. I’m convinced he greets and makes eye contact with every person whether footing it, or rolling on by. He sort of inserts himself into your day whether you like it or not – with a smile, kind word or two and will even serve as a crossing guard to make sure you don’t get side swiped by someone on a mad hunt for the perfect machiatto.
I’m ashamed to say I don’t know your name, but often you’ve brightened my day… so thank ya!

Wonderful customer service, with the small bank feel! We love it!