PenFed Credit Union Checking Accounts

Absolutely horrible customer service. They change fee structures without notice. I had a free checking account for several years, a few months ago they started charging $10 fee for checking accounts. That's higher than Chase, and they do that during Covid when people have no extra cash. PenFed sucks, I do not recommend them. The customer service rep I spoke with on the phone was snooty. I'd give ZERO stars if I could.

I have been with PenFed for over 20 years, going back to when I was in the military. PenFed was a good deal 20 years ago but they have failed to keep up with the times.

The first issue is PenFed is unable to deliver a functioning mobile app. This is no longer a luxury but a requirement. Paying bills using the mobile app works maybe 10% of the time and the app usually requires 2-3 restarts just to be able to view transactions. After complaining about this to the bank I was told to use the "web browser it works fine". I know the web browser works fine - I want to use the mobile app that you gave me that doesn't work... I am tolerant of bugs in apps and that they take time to correct but this has been gong on for 2 years. The app is garbage. Where does the $60 per year online bill-pay fee go?

The second issue is that I have applied for some form of credit approximately 5 times in the last 20 years and have been denied by PenFed on 4 of those occasions - I simply visited another bank, applied and was approved for credit in each case. The odds of getting a loan from PenFed are about the same odds as winning the lottery. Several of my friends and colleagues have had the same experience. Why be a member of a credit union if I cannot get credit?

Next comes the fraud detection department and associated process. I have been doing banking with another institution for a while now, I had a small business account with them and a personal account - never with has my debit or credit card with this other bank been locked due to basic activities. PenFed's fraud detection system is equivalent to a helicopter parent keeping their child safe from the dangers of walking through a grassy field. It's a constant nuisance and has caused several issues for my family when trying to pay for something only to have to switch to another card (from another bank) because the PenFed card is locked. Why have a card with PenFed that is suddenly locked every so often?

The final concern I have is the excessive advertising that PenFed does. It strikes me that they are overly focused on recruiting new members instead of keeping the ones they have.

It is a lot of work to leave a bank that you've been with for a long time but I have had it - I'm out.

Discrimination. Discrimination. Discrimination. Customer service and sales department keep apologizing, but you know their back office is racial profiling and backstopping approved cases with paperwork red tapes...

By far the best interest rates, customer service people are wonderful and sweethearts, no wait times for issues or requests. This is the best bank I have ever used, after just a week I transferred all my stuff over.

I've been a long time happy PenFed Checking customer that would have given them 5 Stars on every website under every category. Today that all ended today.

I had an NSF on a small ACH transfer. I immediately the same day went into to a local branch and deposited $400 cash to cover my error. I never even complained about the $30 NSF fee. Now, any check I deposit shows as unavailable funds for 9 business days. I'm just waiting for my last deposit to go out of unavailable status and I will close my account including my mother's large account that contains her retirement funds. I spoke with several customer service reps to fix the 9 business day hold, but they all concur in different language that their security department feels they don't need to do anything to keep customers. That's just bad business.

If there was an option for no stars that is what i would enter! I was with Fort Belvoir Federal Credit union before it was merged into Pentagon Federal Credit Union. I have had nothing but ISSUES!. Something was always going wrong. STHF when I deposited a check that was credited to my account and then over a week later it was reversed. There was an error so the check did not go through. This made my account overdrawn and they CLOSED MY CHECKING ACCOUNT and transferred the negative balance to my savings which caused my saving to be overdrawn WTF???! I did not receive a call or anything. When my card stopped working, I called and that is when I found out. I wanted to close that as well, so after being transferred several times, I was told to transfer the money and then i can close everything out. So I made a transfer, called back, then they said the payment will be rejected because I transferred to my checking account which is no longer valid. I have to wait 3 business day until it is rejected, then make the payment to my savings. Needless to say, this is just a summary(believe it or not) I called several times, always talked to a different person, and each time received different information or wrong information. NEVER again PenFed!

Worst bank ever. Can't even get direct deposits right. They love to give excuses though and are exceedingly good at that. Wouldn't recommend to my worst enemy. I look forward to leaving this bank as soon as possible.

I have one issue. When I call, I either get a busy signal or I have to wait for a prolonged amount of time. Customer service has been wonderful. I have encountered one bad rep however, I have been a member since 2009.

On Dec 23 2016 I went to PenFed Tyson location to make a withdrawal and experienced the most racial transaction ever. The teller hand me a pen to fill out my withdrawal slip, ok fine so far, place my money on the counter with two fingers, I went to give him the pen back he reached in his drawer and took out another one and slid my receipt to me with one finger across the counter. Wow!

Waste of time. Opened the account tried to set up direct deposit and bill pay and it was rejected was told I had to wait til my card came to use the account. Waited for the card to get here and now still unable to use it I call in and they say it's because I need a notarized copy of my id. How am I supposed to know this if there is no email or mailed letter to tell me to do so. Also there is an online message center they never even used it. I call back in to send them the notarized email of my id and was told now I need my as card a utility bill notarized. Which is not what the rep told me the day before. The two speaking to me was nonchalant and rude. Closed my accounts immediately. How can you trust a bank with your money they doesn't even have a proper way of communicating with their customers. Stay clear of Penfed