BECU

BECU is a great bank when things actually work. Their fees are almost none existent and their credit rates are substantially lower than all the major banks but the second there is some kind of issue, particularly if it is with one of their credit services, everything goes to hell in short order. I have seriously had less trouble getting banks with notoriously awful customer service (read as Bank of America) to make things right than I have with BECU. Half the time the people at BECU Card Member Services phone line don’t even know what went wrong or how to fix it and they just transfer you to someone else that makes you go through the entire spiel again starting with having to once against give your account number and all your security question answers to yet another person wasting my time over and over. The checking account and credit card branches are ridiculously disjointed and will just keep blaming the other side for whatever issues you are facing rather than actually resolving your problems. It’s also extremely frustrating that you can’t get anything taken care in their Neighborhood Financial Centers. Go there for a credit issue and they refer you to the worthless phone number on the back of your card. Go there to make a deposit/​withdrawal and they send you to the ATMs out front. Go there with a question and usually you get «I’ve never had that happen before» or some lame excuse about how they are having computer issues.
I stuck with BECU for awhile because their rates are so good and I travel for work so being able to pull money out at any 7 – 11 is very useful. But I’m done done using BECU as my primary bank. I’d rather pay the annual fee and higher interest rates at a larger bank and get the support staff that comes with it.

Predatory lendor, disgusting, not like other credit union experiences I’ve had. Buyer beware, I’d move on to next option even if it seems more expensive– it won’t be, what they’ve done isn’t worth repeating just take my word this bank and many of its associates are disgusting.

BECU is the BEST. Their newly revamped Android app makes depositing checks super easy and fast. I almost never have to go into a branch location because they have made it so easy to just do everything from a Smartphone! Plus, they’re in the co-​op bank network, so you can use a lot of non-​BECU ATMs for FREE throughout the city. I can’t tell you how many times this has saved me. Because yes, this city is growing at an exponential rate and the ATM in Capitol Hill can get busy.
I also really appreciate how up front with everything BECU is, I have never been surprised by any hidden fees or weird charges to my account. Quite the opposite, you get a VERY high interest rate on your first $ 500 in your savings account. Which I didn’t realize right away.
And now I’m going to slooooow it down (lights go low, smooth music plays). In addition to being convenient to use, straight forward, and a great community partner, BECU’s customer service truly goes above and beyond. I was trying to get an overcharge from a huge corporation (no buzz marketing for you today satan) reversed on my account, to no avail. I had spent HOURS on the phone with this stupid corporation and still, the money wasn’t being refunded. I called BECU and a customer service rep literally three-​way called with the stupid corporation and I to resolve the issue. She was in my corner 100% and used the phrase «my client» liberally. I felt like I was in court and had the best attorney ever. It was AWESOME.
BECU, I want to have your baby. I LOVE YOU!

In the time that I’ve had BECU, I’ve been nothing short of frustrated with their lack of customer support.
Today, I finally made the decision to close my account.
1) They don’t have half an idea where ATMs exist. And if you end up using another banks ATM, don’t expect getting reimbursed for the ATM fee.
2) They outsource EVERYTHING. Even basic things such as loans. When you’re able to secure an interest rate of 3% on a student loan through another bank and BECU gives you a quote at 9%, what does that tell you? Not-​for-​profit my ass.
3) I learned the other day that there is no grace period on their student loans, unlike EVERY OTHER LENDER: including Sallie Mae! Just graduated from college? No job for a month? Why don’t we destroy your credit by forcing you to pay back what you owe immediately! I’m fairly certain this is against current federal banking regulations. Here’s some food for thought: if Federal Student Loans and other private banks can give you a better rate with more benefits, why would you even bank with these guys in the first place?
4) I cannot remember a time that I haven’t spent less than 30 minutes waiting for a customer service representative at any of their locations.
5) The Washington State Attorney General’s office has received 419 complaints about this bank in 2016 (just over a month). Currently, they have three investigations including two discriminatory lending practice cases. What does that tell you?
The idea that you should be part of a credit union because the savings are passed down to members is a hoax. This bank is a scam.

BECU is terrible. You can’t do half of the things you could with a big bank (Key, Bofa, Chase) — it’s so frustrating trying to do anything like depositing funds, transferring money or paying on a car loan.
There is a reason I wouldn’t have my money in BECU. Maybe Bank of America doesn’t care about me as a customer but at least their systems are reliable and I don’t have problems with them.

I love this branch they are always super friendly and take care of my needs right away.

I like the BECU as a basic bank and use it but since closing my other non-​credit union account, I find I miss out on services and coverage.
Eg. I needed a notary. BECU only notarizes signatures, not documents. Bank of America would do documents but only for account holders.
We traveled to the Caribbean. BECU had no ATMs from which we could draw funds! Seriously? This is an issue with other international travel while my other banks over the years were all members of International banking networks.
These are only two of the many examples of service issues. So, great basic bank but I sometimes miss banking features and am considering another bank.

I can’t give BECU one star because they aren’t worse than big banks but lately I’ve experienced such a massive drop in customer service from them. They don’t listen. They are rude. They have been nothing but a pain in my ass for the past year. Its even coming to the point where I’m thinking about switching. BECU, get your act together!

Found out I can deposit checks using my iPhone now. No need to hoof it across Broadway anymore!

Here’s the skinny…
I am so, so glad I switched accounts from Chase to BECU for the following reasons:
* Staff within branches couldn’t be better. They’re real, and so am I. They make me feel like a valued member vs. just another number!
* It’s obvious that BECU is customer not profit focused. From financial literacy classes, to great APR rates, hands down you won’t be able to find better out there!
* Member photos within branches are a HUGE hands down win for me. Diversity and inclusion shine of People of Color and LGBT families are represented, which is AWESOME!
In my opinion, BECU’s areas of opportunity are:
* Faster processing ATM’s. Machines don’t accommodate simple transactions that get you in/​out when you’re in a hurry. I think this attributes to there always being lines galore
* Faster speed within online banking. There’s always lag time when I check my credit card account

BECU is not really a bank, they have like two branches where you can cash a check, Tukwila and Everett. If all you do is pull money from a machine maybe it’s ok but if you need real banking services, look elsewhere

This busy Capitol Hill branch is where I had the joy of opening my BECU account during the mass exodus from for-​profit banks in 2011 – 2012. Every banker I’ve ever spoken to at this or any BECU branch has been incredibly friendly and helpful even with the swelling waiting areas given their rapidly growing popularity.
To cope with their growth they’ve added an ATM at this location. The virtues of a credit union are many: 6% interest earned on checking & savings accounts with a balance less than $ 500, highly favorable rates on loans, and best of all, the money stays here, it doesn’t flow into the pockets of Wall Street investors.
Though BECU branches may not be plentiful, the beauty of credit unions is they work together so you can use the ATM sans-​fees at virtually any credit union nationwide!

This is the Neighborhood Financial Center where I opened my accounts. Please note, BECU is a bit non-​traditional and what you might think of as a «branch» is actually more of a service center. People who help you do what employees of banks or credit unions that sit at desks and not teller cages tend to handle.
For «teller» style transactions, there are ATMs, where you can withdraw up to $ 500 ($ 200 more than most institutions) per day and deposit cash or imaged checks. I’ve heard from a friend that if you need immediate credit of a cash deposit, you can talk to one of the employees and since these are modern ATMs (no envelopes!) they can credit your account the same day (note, I did not say for checks!). BECU does have two traditional branches, their headquarters in Tukwila and a branch in Everett, which I assume is near Boeing.
There are also drop slots for deposits (basically a «night drop» at most banks/​credit unions) but they no longer carry out shared branching this way. I think is because CUSwirl transactions always require photo ID and obviously dropping an envelope in a slot cannot provide that.
If you need some account history, you can talk to a m.s.r. at the center or view /​print transactions at a computer designed to access online banking. There is also a phone so you can reach the phone bankers if needed.
I like BECU for these reasons:
* Member Advantage Savings and Checking– Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus and his name is dividends paid on both savings and checking accounts. Sadly, the super high rates of the mid 2000s are gone, but you do receive a higher rate on your first $ 500 and an average rate on the remaining balance in *both* accounts.
* BECU GOLD Debit MasterCard — Recently, the institution upgraded all its debit cards to «gold» level with MasterCard. If you sign for a transaction, a few extra perks you’ll probably never need to use, but are there nonetheless are available.
* Co-​op and CUSwirl member — this means that if you really did need a LARGE amount of cash or some other specialized transaction, you can go to another member credit union and carry out these transactions. Co-​op means fee free ATMs nationwide, including in most 7-​Eleven stores.
* Solid online banking — very accessible, prompt replies to secure private messages, a good mobile banking app for smartphones, and now you can even do the «take a picture of a check deposit with a smartphone» to make deposits on the go.
* Phone bankers available expanded hours — while not 24/​7, BECU is open later M-​F and on Saturdays.
* Community event sponsorships — BECU reflects my values and sponsors many community organizations and events I care about. I like that my fellow members agree with my personal politics.
The one con of this NFC when I lived in the area was that it is BUSY BUSY BUSY, so I was frequently waiting. Population density has its tradeoffs. :-) I’m not sure if that got better now that there is a downtown NFC.

Great location right inside the Broadway Market next to QFC. Two ATM’s are available 24 hours a day and their small business center is always bustling with activity during their normal hours. The staff here that helped me with my accounts were very helpful and professional. Overall a very good experience.

This is the most convenient location for me, especially now that the ATM at Paramount that I referenced in my other BECU review has been removed (boo!) It’s located in the Broadway Market, right next to the QFC.
It can get busy, but I pass by this way often enough that if there’s a long line, I leave and come back later some other time. It would be great if the ATMs dispensed $ 10s in addition to $ 20s but that’s pretty rare these days.

I came in to see if I could open up a savings and checking account before going through the motions to close my accounts @ BoA before they all bite the bullet. I had to wait about five minutes, but no biggy, I was talking to someone about setting up an account within five minutes. My dad banks with BECU, and I knew he would get 25 bucks if I referenced him, but I got 25 as well– sweet! The lady who helped me out was really nice, answered all my noob questions without judgement, and sent me on my merry way after about 45 minutes. I know that there’s only two BECU locations with cash and tellers, but really, there’s enough credit unions around that are available I won’t hold it too much against them. Plus, the amount of money that can be taken out via ATM also helps make up for it.

The ATM here is so ridiculously s l o w. I always end up waiting here for at least ten minutes.
And also, wtf is up with them not having any cash? I asked to trade my $ 10 bill for a roll of quarters, and the girl told me to go to QFC because they have no cash there.
Other than that, this location is convenient, I like my interest rates, and it’s not Chase.

Five stars for service!
4 for the wait. I wish there were more BECU service places, but they seem to be popping up. Here, I almost consistently I wait in line of about 3 – 7 people.
Besides the wait, this is the best service center you go to for banking.
The CSR will help you for everything from getting a low interest loan, getting your debit card to work, to helping improve your credit score. All the staff I’ve worked with are completely knowledgeable and will be honest without sounding like they’re pitching a sale. It means a lot about the integrity of the company.

What do you think of when the word «bank» comes to mind?
Bailouts? Cheating CEOs? Getting «free» money (Yes, that’s right, nearly free money thanks to Uncle Sugar and the «Federal» Reserve) and then using it to gobble up toxic assets? Then having those toxic assets blow up on them and have you foot the bill?
That’s what I think about.
I’m talking about YOU Wells Fargo. Washington Mutual, Bank of America, Chase… doesn’t matter, they are all crooked.
And then there is BECU. I may be naïve, but I’m somewhat secure in the fact that they aren’t part of any of these shennanigans.
What’s more, this little nabe bank simply kicks ass when it comes to friendly customer service.
Let me provide an example…
I recently shut down one of my companies and closed the bank account after being relatively sure there were no outstanding receivables or debts. The very next day I was cleaning my office and found a check for $ 1,200. Ouch. I went back to my big, soul sucking business bank and they explained that I was SOL.
So I took the check to BECU and was told that it might be possible to deposit that check into my account. I tried it and it worked.
All my dealings this far with this company have been stellar. Thanks for being a great neighborhood bank! +1

I walked into the QFC in hopes of finding an item to buy to get some cash, and ended up spotting this branch (it’s one of the «financial neighborhood centers») of BECU while browsing the isles for something to buy. One of the people working was nice and I chatted with her for a moment (while waiting for someone else to finish up at the ATM). Turns out this branch has been open for about 2 years already.
BECU in general — I’ve been with them for about 2 months and it’s been fantastic! The customer service has been AMAZING, it’s been wonderful to be able to call in and have them recognize what the neighborhood «U-​District» is, and I love earning a little bit of interest on the funds in my checking account (as well as on those in savings)!
The best thing, however, was when I learned of the existence of «snapshot ATMs» that scan your checks when you deposit them, have a picture of it show up on the screen and your receipt, and have the money appear instantly. (I know they have one of those in the U-​District and on campus, this branch however seems to just have a drop box for deposits).
There are also very few branches that have «tellers.» They let you take care of all that at the ATM’s and come to them if you have questions or are trying to set something up or… something along those lines. I really like that.