AFTRA-SAG Federal Credit Union

Do not put your money here. The fees are ridiculous — they will show you an «available balance» when you deposit checks, when in actuality the money is not available until the check clears, several days later. Then the fees pile up before you know what hit you.
I have paid more in fees to them then the transactions were even worth, because of the discrepancy.
They are also VERY unhelpful when you try and get it rectified.
Try someplace else.

TEN YEARS I have been a member in good standing with Aftra-​Sag Federal Credit Union Burbank Branch. I paid off my car loan with Aftra-​Sag Federal Credit Union.
I learned that you may file a complaint with:
National Credit Union Administration Office of Consumer Protection
(800) 755‑1030
or
(703) 518‑1150
Federal Credit Unions have guidelines they must follow. My complaint is being reviewed.
After Pam Burney left customer service went downhill.
No one returned phone calls instead had to hoof it into branch to get service.
The leadership team :
Jose Rodriguez
Luis Campos
Phil Weiss
The above «Leadership Team» is fond of mailing Two «UNSIGNED» Registered letters stating your accounts are being closed. I merely got heated when my FIVE figure money transfer notice telling me to veryify a NON-​EXISTENT Bank of America account. Plus I could reach «Ginger Harris» who wrote email stating NON-​Existent Bank of America account.
Sal and I did a money transfer from Aftra-​Sag Federal Credit Union to First Entertainment Credit Union.
Made the mistake of using «Bill Pay» over the phone.
Sal from Aftra-​Sag Federal Credit Union assured me and I had Sal repeat my Routing Number and Account numbers.
I received an email from Bill Pay representative «Ginger Harris» informing me to check my routing number and account number for my Bank of America account? I DO NOT HAVE A BANK OF AMERICA ACCOUNT.
I could not reach «Ginger Harris» by email or phone.
Outgoing message was «we are not able to take your phone call at this time».
To add insult to injury the Aftra-​Sag switchboard gave me hard time connecting with Sid Henderson. They declined to give me her email address. I had to DIG through my emails and retrieve Sid’s email address. IT WAS LIKE PULLING TEETH.
I had to hoof it into Burbank Branch explain to Sid Henderson and show Sid Henderson the email from Ginger Harris who neither of us could connect with?
Then I get TWO UNSIGNED letters stating: «Aftra-​Sag Federal Credit Union can not serve my needs and my account is to be closed within 10 days due to «Abusive language» on a recorded line. I never gave my permission nor was an announcement made «This is a recorded line».
Sid Henderson was wonderful straightening out the transfer.
The Two UNSIGNED registered letters stating my accounts would be closed were from the «Leadership Team».
Please have the Courage to sign your letters.
Instead I had to ask Sid Henderson via email no less than six times who is on the Leadership Team.
Is that any way to treat a TEN YEAR member of Aftra-​Sag Federal Credit Union?

I am returning here after hearing some appalling (but not surprising) stories about this place from a former employee Apparently, they have contempt for actors, call them derogatory names behind their back, and often mock customers by conversing with a co-​worker in a different language (that happened to me once — unbelievable.) Several years ago, they needed customers with large accounts to take their money elsewhere (weird, but Google «Aftra-​Sag Credit Union LA times 2010″) and employees were encouraged to be „cold“ toward customers over the phone. Well that explains a lot.
You can also go to
and read some comments by former employees. I guess it just scratches the surface, but you’ll get the gist.
Please PLEASE don’t make the mistake I did (for 25+) and stick around thinking they’ll improve or give you your hard-​earned money back. They never will and you’ll only lose more. I never thought that leaving my credit union could have such a profoundly positive effect on my life, but it did. We are so much happier and I’m just grateful I got my kids’ Coogan Accounts out so they didn’t have to lose money, too.
Schools First Credit Union is incredible — they actually respond to reviews, good or bad — they are BBB accredited and have an A+ rating. Aftra Sag FCU is not accredited with the BBB, they have never responded to complaints, and they currently have ’”no rating». They used to have an «F» rating several years ago, so my guess is they let the accreditation lapse so they could just have «no rating». They’d prefer to do this than to actually improve. Wow.
Do you really want to be a member of a credit union with poor reviews, disgusted ex-​employees, an F rating from the BBB, and a history of asking customers to take their money somewhere else? I certainly hope not. And if you’ve been stuck there as we were and are miserable like so many others –just LEAVE. Do it. It will honestly change your life. For the better.

This is a BANK that is «Acting» like a credit union. They give nothing and take, take, take. After being screwed over once again, I finally closed my account. I could go on but the thorn I had in my side since 1992 is finally gone.
Follow up:
Seems Steve H. and probably other have had similar problems, that’s why they have rehearsed answers to the charges

I have been very pleased over many years with AFTRA-​SAG Federal Credit Union. Previously I had accounts at a couple of banks. For those of you who are complaining about the minimum fee you might want to take a look at all the other banks out there. Their fees and the requirements have been raised so much that I had to finally closed my second account. Compare the minimum you have to keep in those banks to waive their fees and you won’t feel so bad about our credit union.
The Burbank branch of our credit union is my home branch. I have had many questions and needs and Elaina and Sid have always worked hard to help me solve my problems. They always are so patient with me and willing to check out whatever I ask. The men and women tellers are warm, friendly and actually know their job which these days we all appreciate more and more.
A credit union has more restrictions than banks which makes our money and accounts safer. They also were created for the members but they also have overhead. Their fees are the most inexpensive I have found these days.
When trust is sorely lacking with so many businesses and large institutions it is so nice to know that I can still count on my credit union.
I highly recommend this credit union and especially the Burbank branch.

I have been a member of the Aftra-​Sag Credit Union since 1978. I have availed myself of just about every service they provide – Savings, Checking, Car Loans…
My experience with the Credit Union has always been a distinction from conventional Banks – in the personal consideration and attention I have been given.
The Burbank Branch happens to be where Elaina Medina works in the Loan Department. I have known Elaina, since my very first Auto Loan, in 1978 (When the Credit Union was in a building where the Hollywood Highland Complex now stands.) Ever since, I have been «saved» on several occasions, by Elaina’s knowledge and timely Credit Union Loan Specials.
As a practical consideration – I find that the Credit Union Rates of Interest (Paid on Savings, and Charged on Loans) – are notably competitive with the ‘Major Banks.‘
Elaina Medina and the entire staff at the Burbank Branch – you have my vote of confidence – with appreciation for a job well done… with a Smile!
Onward and Upward!
With Appreciation,
Brian

I don’t understand most of the negative comments about these folks. I have been a member here for at least 25 years, and I have nothing but good things to say about the institution and the people who work there. They are always friendly, accommodating and competent when I have dealt with them. I use them for my personal accounts as well as business accounts. I also had a mortgage through them for several years which happily is now paid off.
Then of course what you bring to the table very often dictates what you appear to get back.
I would strongly suggest to anyone in our business looking for place of integrity and understanding to deal with their money for them to check out AFTRA-​SAG FCU.
I doubt you’ll be disappointed. Especially after dealing with the mega-​banks and their impersonal ways. Not to mention their politics.

Great service! There’s never a long wait, great, free parking and convenient location. The tellers are super friendly and it’s so nice to walk in and have them remember me! All phone interactions have been great as well — I had my card information stolen and getting that taken care of was as easy as I would have hoped for!

Amazing place to do business, it makes banking a fun and pleasant chore! I love the location it is nice, clean and relaxed, but the most important part its The Amazing group of People that work there starting with Sid, Elaina, Eleonora, Tyra, Kalya etc etc!
Love those Ladies!
Thank you for everything and God Bless!
Highly recommend this location!

Very bad service, walked in to open a new account no one bothered to approach me. I sat for 5 min and decided to approach myself and ask for help, the lady (short hair with lots of actor pics on her desk) who was working at new accounts told me to wait.(cause apparently she was busy doing nothing). Finally she called me to her desk, and 10 min later she asked me to move so another person could help me. So I moved, after sitting for 10 min with the other person they asked me to move back to where I was sitting before, so I just walked out. The lady at new accounts should not be employed at all she has no sense of what customer service is, if I was her boss I would fire her.

If I could give this horrible, backward institution negative stars I would. Got a car loan with them, paid it off over 5 years and noticed the service and fees got worse and worse. It started with charging $ 15 for a checking account if there was not a minimum balance maintained. I closed the checking account since I keep the bulk of the money in banks that are convenient to get to and have decent websites that work. Then without any warning they started instituting a minimum for savings accounts. I had a little bit of money in my savings and was shocked to see that they’d drained my account. They’d never informed me of their change of policy and when I asked them to do the right thing and refund my money they refused. Keep in mind this is after I had paid off my car loan with them over 5 years so we had a long relationship. I closed all my remaining accounts and will never again use them. They have somehow forgotten that the whole concept of a credit union is to protect their customers from these kind of abuses.

Kayla was of immense help to me the other day. She actually stepped aside and taught me how to use a website to pay my property taxes — which I realized, while I was at her teller window, were due that very day! Way above and beyond. She was patient and kind and helped me with my finances in a way one seldom sees anymore. I’ve long loved the services of the credit union– this was one more good (actually great) experience, which convinced me to write a review.

Great to be at a credit union and not at a big commercial corrupt bank.
However, there is one flaw that I cannot get a decent answer on. I am trying to do my accounts (for tax extension in October) and I tried to download the transaction history as a csv so I can sort my expenses etc. But there is no information on these transactuons, just «Debit transaction» or «ATM transaction». What is the point in downloading that? I called and the guy said there was no way of getting that information. I am 100% there is a way, a very simple way. It would not be rocket science to include this in the download file. Please fix it. Otherwise it will add hours to my accounting, and I imagine everyone elses!

Worst bank ever! Terrible hours and online banking is always down or server too busy… good luck ever trying to pay bills online thru them or trying to check your balances etc. I would give them less than one star!

This use to be the best bank around, a Credit Union that really worked for it’s customers. But lately they have joined ranks with all the Big Banks and charging for everything they can greedily create. The last straw… I had a penny (1cent) in my overdraft that came up after I had paid the owing amount. Naturally I called the bank to ask for a credit as I recalled they did not accept payments online under a certain amount. But I guess that changed as the bank refused to credit me a penny and said they would be happy to take it from my checking account, and happily they did!!!
Incredible dimwitted customer service, whatever happened to good olé
common sense!

Great personal service! It’s like going to a small town bank. No surprise fees, low minimum balances, good online banking!

I am happy with the service at AFTRA-​SAG Federal Credit Union in Burbank, CA. Thanks to the staff there who are always helpful and pleasant…

An EXTREMELY CORRUPT excuse for a credit union. Do NOT fall for the boastful lies about this place posted in the fake five star review apparently posted by one of their own employees.
I have been a member of SAG and of AFTRA for many years. Years ago, trusting that this credit union would somehow be ethical to Sag Aftra members, I deposited my savings here and opened a long standing account. Sad to say… my account was illegally and immorally EMPTIED by these crooks.
Never ever ever sign up for their e statements. These are not regular statements. What they are is an avenue for this corrupt bunch to change the rules you signed up under… in good faith. They did it to me… they WILL do so to you too.
Do yourself a favor… read through the many other damning reviews of this corrupt credit union BEFORE being foolish enough to trust them with your money.
I just wish Unilocal had been around when I so naively trusted them with my seven year old daughter’s and my money.
This place gives credit unions a bad name. Their managers refuse to give out their last name… as their manager, «Mario», told me…“to protect us from our angry customers”. No kidding, their customers are angry. Sane people don’t appreciate being routinely tricked and cheated by their own credit union.
These corrupt people deserve a class action lawsuit. They’ve earned it.

The fees continue to increase. This is supposed to be a credit union not a friggin bank.
First Entertainment Credit Union is much better.

The Good: The tellers are friendly and helpful. They are really nice to deal with when you apply for a loan. There are a lot of ATMs on the FCU Co-​Op Network.
The Bad: No customer service after hours or on the weekend. There is a mandatory 24 hour hold on all deposits over $ 100 made through an ATM. On August 1^st, if you do not have a minimum balance in your savings account they will start charging $ 5 a month and $ 15 for checking.
I’ve been a member for over 13 years now, and prior to June I would have given them 4 stars. But now that they are going to start charging if you can’t keep a minimum balance in your savings and checking of at least $ 250, I’m going to give them 2 stars.
As my husband and I both have our own savings and checking accounts here, we have the potential to be charged $ 480 a year. I am sad to say that I am going to have to take our accounts somewhere else.