Washington Mutual

Horrible experience over and over with this bank. Not this branch but this bank. They’ve transferred money into a closed account, they opened a cc but never sent it to me or did the balance transfer, they told me not to pay the cc balance on my old card because it’d be transferred to my new card– never was… then they changed the transfer limit after I already had it in writing and said the first round was a «mistake» although it’s from THEM. It’s been a nightmare. I phoned a supervisor who then transferred me to another «supervisor’ but in reality, I was just put through to another automated system that took forever to get through so rather than phone them back, figured posting this on Unilocal was even better. I’m tempted to put the employee badge numbers on here but will refrain, I’ll save that for when I go into the branch this week and close the accounts. I am not surprised JP Morgan took over– hopefully they will do some housecleaning and get the inept people out of there. The last thing we need during a recession are idiots mucking around with our money and credit.

my star rating just went up for wamu. not sure if she (name tag to remain anonymous) just didn’t want to try to pronounce my name or if she was flirting (hoping the later), but the sexy teller with bettie page bangs asking if she could call me ‘fred’ almost made me swoon. yeah, a guy, swooning. definitely fewer atm visits in my future… and more writing out withdrawal slips.

I’ve been a WaMu customer since university. I started an account here cuz back then, they were one of the only banks offering free checking. It’s been more than a decade later and I still have no problem with WaMu. But I’m one of those people that alwayz keeps their checkbook balanced. The customer service at this location is normally pretty good. It’s right by my work so it’s really convenient. The only thing to watch out for is that it gets incredibly busy during lunch time, so unless you’re prepared to wait in line, go in the morning or the afternoon.

This place gets one star for location. Pathetic customer service except for one young lady.
I am really disappointed with WAMU right now, this branch is awful and you cannot get a live person on their 1 – 800 number no matter how long you stay on.
I hate writing bad reviews about other businesses but they were begging for this one after treating me like some kind of beggar for wanting to wire money to a foreign account. You’re located in San Francisco’s Financial District… act like it.

Nope — true hate, but I do still bank here.
I no longer back with WaMu, IDK if Chase is any better.

Welcome to the New World of Customer Service,
Can we spit in your face now? Thanks, pleasure taking your money.
This is without a doubt the most incompetently run and staffed bank I have ever had the dubious pleasure of being a member. I will be joining the SF Fireman’s Credit Union the second WaMu finds the rest of the money that they lost from my account.
Who has heard of a bank that makes you do the leg work to reconcile their mistakes? Why should I have to talk to other Financial Institutions for them? Why do I have to call their customer service to get the correct number for my local branch to contact?
Why, oh lord, why?

I don’t believe in walls. I think people should be who they are, take down the walls they have up and just expose themselves (not literally) to the world. Small walls are important, yes, because if you expose too much, you might get hurt (or arrested). That is the way of this Washington Mutual.
This was the first WAMU i visited with the newer layout. They have taken down the generic glass wall that separates you and the teller… and they have made friendly little podiums. The tellers are approachable, and touchable (but i hear they don’t like that), and it just feels less sterile and more welcoming… as banks should feel. They don’t have any money at these podiums either… which is where their small wall comes into play. If you have a withdrawal… you go to a different area, a safe zone if you will, one that will not effect the teller. Personal, safe and efficient. If you ask, they might just tell you secrets too.

I do most of my banking by ATM, so I can’t tell you how the service is inside. Washington Mutual is so much better than Wells Fargo. I don’t know how I can go from one bank to another and go from having like 5 overdrafts a month to none when I am just as irresponsible with the same little pay checks as before, but somehow WAMU has covered my ass. Thanks. The Market street ATM is great because you have to use your ATM card to access the room with the ATMS. Having that door lock behind you means not having to look over your shoulder while juggling you bag, wallet, checks and deposit slips. Thanks WAMU. Keep the bankers in their pen. Online banking is a little slow to update (only reason WAMU doesn’t get 5 stars), but it is easy to access, and I love how they show pictures of the checks I’ve written.

I went here to open a new account as the bank I used in Maine does not exist in SF. The associate I worked with was very friendly and knowledgable. The only thing I didn’t like was how I HAD to open a savings account with my checking account and how I have to keep it open or I have to keep a $ 300 balance in my checking account. It’s pretty annoying as I generally use my checking account as a savings so I don’t have to keep two accounts.

A lot of people complain and bitch about banks. EVERYONE has that one horror story/​nightmare experience where some check didn’t go through, and then your rent check bounced and now you’re turning tricks at the local bar because you got evicted, blah blah blah. A message to all of you: ALL BANKS SUCK.
My philosophy is that banks are basically big gigantic DMVs with concrete walls and florescent lighting. They’re dysfunctional, bloated, horribly bureaucratic, and do not deal well with people who try to mess with the system. (Ahem, ((cough cough)), Like people who don’t endorse their checks.)
When it comes to banks, WAMU is certainly the «lesser of two evils». Their checking (and checks) are free and the service at this branch is reasonably decent. There’s really not much more a person could ask for.

I always felt WAMU was a bully. I overdrafted a number of times because of a discrepancy in actual money and displayed money. Free stuff isn’t really free. You know; the regular «Big Bank Bully» schtick.
Then, I got my card stolen. Calling customer service on the phone was terrible. They did NOTHING. By nothing, I mean, they didn’t do ANYTHING to correct that I was now in debt and with no card. I was pissed.
I go down to this center on Market. I talk to their rep. She assures me everything will be OK. I don’t believe her, but I have to.
I got all my money back, got a new card, and walked out of there with money in my pocket after 3 days. I felt like it wasn’t real. The bank was actually GOOD to me.
All banks suck; they will try trick you somehow, but WAMU is the most transparent in how they trick you, so you can easily dodge their antics.
WAMU is a good bank. I’d rather trust it than Bank of America, anyway. Just make sure to deal with people whenever possible; robots suck.

Dear Wamu,
You are the shittiest bank ever. You thrive on poor people. Students, unemployed and the like are your bread and butter.
In this day and age EVERYONE must have a bank account to accomplish basic needs such as finding housing. You know this and try to undersell other banks with LIES. By offering «free checking» to people with only a minimum balance requirement of $ 1 you attract the hoardes of locals who live just around the poverty line (or even somewhat above it).
You then profit from being sneaky about these people’s accounts. You consistently report different balances through each of your venues. A statement on an ATM will say one thing, a teller will tell you a different thing in person, your phone banking will say a different thing and your internet banking will say a different thing from that. By doing this, you try to keep customers in the dark about their balances. On the internet you might say that ATM charges have gone through, when in fact they haven’t. You may report a higher balance than is actually there, so that people will overdraw (because of your discrepancy) and then you charge them $ 25 per overdraft.
I know numerous people who you’ve screwed over. You’ll put a rent check through (that there’s money to cover) and then turn around and tell the rental agency you’re denying it. Then you’ll allow something to be double charged, using the second charge to overdraft someone. You also consistently hold atm charges, sometimes for up to a month, until someone’s balance drops enough for you to overdraft them by putting all the charges through at once.
Your customer service is shitty. You offer no normal protection and you’re one of the banks that now offer «High Interest Loans» in the form of allowing an atm charge to be approved when there isn’t money to cover it. This way you profit from confusing your customers.
I recently had one of my ATM cards sucked back into your ATM after hours because I didn’t grab it soon enough. When I called the branch the next day they claimed not to have it, and told me I’d have to order a new one.
Well, I did, and it’s been almost a month with no card. Your customer service can’t figure out what happened to it, but won’t issue me a second one. I’m sick of this.
You’re not a bank, you’re a sleazy corporation that exploits those that don’t have enough money to keep a padded savings account. People have to fight to get their money back when you steal it through overdraft charges that occurred because of your off reporting. I’d wager most people don’t fight back.
I had to throw a HUGE FIT to get charges reversed and only after I did did you admit that it had been your mistake. I’d sooner trust my money to a mattress than I’d trust it to you.
Good riddance. I’m taking my business elsewhere.

I just joined WaMu when i moved here. So far, i like it. Free checking! Plus savings! I think just about anyone can get an account, even with no job. So that’s great. There’s atms all over the city, as well as branches, so thats convenient. As far as this branch goes, i’ve been in a few times to use the atm and deposit checks. There’s always a long line for the 3 atms. Popular branch i guess… Yesterday was the first time i had to use the inside inside part, to open up a IRA. I love the way it’s set up! Instead of a counter, there are little stations. Everything is all computerized, and money falls out of the counters! And you use your debit card! I didnt use all that, i signed up to talk at a desk and got called right away. I spoke with a rep named sheila and she was very helpful, even though she didnt know much about IRAs. She called someone who did know, got the info, and helped me. And trust me, i needed it — i know NOTHING about this stuff! So, highly reccomended…

its always there when i’m downtown, but what is up with wamu with not having more branches.
it gets what it needs to get done, but there just has to be more branches around the city.

this is a very convenient wamu location for me. after work, i can easily jump off the bus and cross the street to deposit my day’s earnings in the ATM machines provided inside…
usually there’s not too long of a line and there are 3 ATM machines.
i barely ever use the tellers at the bank but one time i had to get a SWIFT code so my brother in the UK could wire some cash…
the teller was friendly and helpful.
i’ve never experienced banking problems with wamu

I have loved Washington Mutual. But this particular branch … I deposited two checks at the ATM. I then went to pay some bills, but the online bill-​pay, well, it has been broken all week. The next day, my account was debited for one of the checks, but not the other, because «ATM DEP ADJ — MISSING ENDORSEMENT»
Now, I never endorse my checks, and the one other time this has ever been an issue was for an unemployment check that REQUIRES endorsement. And what happened then was the branch called me and I came down and endorsed it. No biggie.
So, I come down to the branch, and the guy’s like «well, its with the back office» and they’ll mail it to my old address. No offer to update my address, no offer, like other branches, to call around and figure out what’s up. «Where’s the back office?» «San Francisco.» He sends me away with the f*cking 800 number, which I call, and after a LOOOONG wait, they transfer me to somewhere else, and that ring and ring and ring and rings and I get an answering machine. I leave a message, I never hear back.
Meanwhile, my money is being mailed to WALNUT F*CKING CREEK and the online bill pay is still busted. I am so f*cking pissed with these yahoos, you’d think this was Wells Fargo!
–danny

I love Washington Mutual! I have to post this. I have both a savings and checking account with them. Every month $ 25 goes from my checking into my savings. I forgot to factor that in this month, so when they did that a check I had written that day overdrafted me. Then of course I got charged $ 25 for overdrafting. I talked it over with one of the tellers at this location and he understood the situation and gave me back my $ 25 overdraft fee. That rocked!!! Go WaMu