Alexa Sklar

I had found this credit union while I was in college in the San Fernando Valley. A number of friends used them at the time. I had only good experiences. The application process was so easy. I had a free checking and saving account there. I also had my first car loan and mortgage with them. The rate was low at the time. Applying for both was a fast process, as loans go. The customer service was awesome. I really like credit unions; they do treat you like a valuable customer, not a bank number. As with most credit unions, there just aren’t enough branches.

I have had State Farm insurance since I bought my first home, fifteen years ago. My parents always had State Farm when I was growing up. My dad always told me to have a well known insurance company. I have been very pleased with them. I’ve only had one claim. I had wind damage and it was taken care of quickly. The adjuster was very professional. Their rates are not the cheapest and I do not have my car insurance thought them. As even with the multiple policy discounts they are still too high. They do get five stars for customer service. The wait to speak with someone is never long. I also like their website.

My husband and I had accounts with First Entertainment Credit Union when he worked in the entertainment industry. We enjoyed banking there, the tellers were always friendly, and there was never a wait. I think it was $5 or $10 to open the savings account to join. In addition, people were always impressed when I used my debit card. The card had movie spotlights and was just a beautiful graphic are a debit card. People thought I was famous or married to someone that was. I agree with the other reviewer, there aren’t enough branches. When we moved up state, we had to find another bank.

I moved to a small town in central California. The bank my checking account was with didn’t have a branch within sixty miles. I was always told look for a credit union, so I found this one. To open a checking account, I had to also open a savings account. I have to keep $25 in the account to buy my share into the union. I have had a great experience. They have online backing and have a Visa debit card. The first time I made a deposit, there weren’t any slips. I told the teller. He informed me, I just need your account number, which is only six numbers long. Then we can agree on which account and the amount of the deposit. That’s it, nothing to fill out. That makes me happy, especially when going to the bank with my three young kids. They also have Saturday hours until 2:30pm now. I highly recommend them.

I remember when there were other banks and Chase bought them. I was a Washington Mutual customer. Then Chase took over. The only good experience I had with them was, it was easy opening a second checking account with them online. The main problem I had with them was, I owed them money on two credit cards. I went bankrupt in April 2010. All my debt was discharged in BK. However, I still had one checking account with them. In January on 2011, they transferred out all the money from my checking account. I spoke to Chase and was told it was to payback the credit card debt I owed them. I informed them it was discharged in BK. After faxing a number of documents and being insulted by their employees. They finally put the money back in my account. The money was gone for 5 days. They made it appear it was gone for only 2 days. Then two weeks later, they did it again. This time to pay off the money I owed for the second credit card I had with them. After another fight and 5 more days, that money was put back. I then sued them for violating the Fair Credit Act. I won and will never have anything to do with that bank again.

I have been a customer with Mercury Insurance Group for over fifteen years now. I have never had a problem with them in all that time. I was in an accident about 10 years ago. It was a hit and run. The adjuster was very professional and caring. They took care of everything so quickly. I had my car fix and back in my garage faster than I thought was possible. I went through a broker to get my insurance originally. I was concerned that it wasn’t a State Farm or AllState kind of company. After all this time, I have no worries about that anymore. Their rates are always the lowest for me. I even gave that “other” company, 15 minutes and they were $500 more a year. I tell all my friends to try them.