First Commonwealth Bank

I've held checking and savings accounts with this bank for over two decades. They used to excel in customer service, but over the last few years, it has gone downhill tremendously. While I'm reluctant to switch banks due to the long relationship and the hassles of changing direct deposits and automatic payments, I'm seriously considering it for the first time this week.

Do not bank here; you will regret it!

I've been a customer of First Commonwealth Bank for less than a year, and my experience has been nothing but frustrating. It all started when the McDonald location in Pennsylvania incorrectly flagged my deposit as fraudulent. Once they realized their mistake, they began a pattern of harassment, frequently tampering with my account. My card has been cut off and flagged for fraud multiple times, leading to missing funds and unpaid bills. Whenever I finally regain access to my account, I find that $300 is gone. The bank continuously restricts my access, charges me fees, and today they even assumed my account was overdrawn and tried to charge me a fee. I took a picture of the notification to ensure that they couldn't change it later, as they have done before. I feel like this bank is stealing from me and tampering with my account. I reported these issues previously, and now I'm escalating my complaints and seeking legal advice. This treatment is unacceptable.

I have been a longtime customer of Bellco Federal Credit Union (decourses) until they were bought by First Commonwealth. The customer service is absolutely atrocious. There are long queues to call in for an issue where previously you could reach an agent within seconds.

Previously, you could come into the bank and have a new debit card made if you lost yours. On one experience in which I needed a debit card quickly, I came into the Wyomissing location only to be told that their debit card maker was broken, causing me a longer than normal delay.

Every time I've had to verify my account with their methods to get into my account (text, phone call, email) I never receive any of the verification codes to actually access my account. They have previously notified me that this is a known problem between Apple and their bank, but it still continues to go unresolved. I tried to log in earlier this week and was told I would have to verify through one of the three methods. I wound up having to use every method to verify, and never once received the verification code in order to access my account.

This is a very frustrating experience for your consumers and the primary reason I decided to leave your bank.

I went to First Commonwealth Bank on S. Market St. in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, to cash a check. I was informed that the checking account was closed. The manager who was assisting me did not mention whether I could open another checking account or if I could reopen the closed account. She was rude and seemed to have very little customer service skills. After suggesting that she get more training in customer service and computer skills, I took my check and left. However, I did call her district manager. After speaking with him, I decided that I did not want to open a checking account with First Common wealth Bank.

I signed up for a checking account online via a friend's referral. When submitting the application, it said it was under review and I would be contacted by someone within 24 hours. The next day, I received an email with a link stating that I was "declined" to open a checking account. I called today to see why, and they said that I had a West Virginia area code and my IP address showed WV, so I was "out of area." I have lived and worked in the state of Ohio for over 14 years. I am a resident here and my driver's license that I uploaded to their website during signup is for the state of Ohio. Yes, my area code for my cell phone is WV, but I've had that number for 25 years (literally) and I am not going to change it. Never have I been declined by a bank to open a checking account. The gentleman I spoke with said I could come to the bank in person and reapply. It's 2025, so I should not have to drive to a bank to open a checking account. Zero out of ten—do not recommend this bank.

Worst bank I have ever dealt with. Clueless, tattaooed, uneducated tellers. Their online banking sucks, but what is even worse is when you have,to go inside and speak to them.

So dissatisfied with this bank. Do not open an account here; I fell for the referral gift card bait-and-switch. Never got the gift card, nobody will help. I'm closing this account as soon as my new bank receives my first paycheck via direct deposit. Save yourself the hassle; it's not worth it.

First commonwealth does not back up its customers in the event they are scammed! They are insured but give you are hard time and treat you like you asked to be scammed. This is the first time I’ve been scammed out of money but in the last 2 years they have compromised my information twice on their end. Would not recommend them as a bank go elsewhere. Now I see why many of family members have left this bank over the last few years and so have the employees. All new employees the last year. 0 stars well would be negative if it would let me.

If I could leave a 0 star review I would. The company lies to you, doesn’t work with you, and honestly should have a law suit against them. If you ever call customer service it takes days, I repeat DAYS, to get ahold of the department you need just for them to tell you oh well. And heaven help you if you ever have to deal with Bobbi because she will threaten to hang up with you but in the meantime ask inappropriate questions and raise her voice at you. I hope they do actually record every conversation because a lawyer would have a field day with them in court.

I wish I could try this bank, but. I applied for a simple checking account and was turned down. Their letter told me to call and find out why. BTW, I am not on checksystems i have decent credit and have a stable income. After reading other reviews, I think they did me a favor.

I have had a business checking account with FCB for about four years. Seems like the bank stuck in mid 1900s. They hold my checks for seven business days. Checks usually take 10 days to clear. It is ridiculous. Their online banking shuts down about 11 pm eastern time every night. I can only get $500 cash out of the ATM and spend up to 2k per day. There have been many times the bank didn't cash a check I gave people. I am changing this outdated bank very soon.

They have worked with me from the beginning. I appreciate the service that they provide. I hope I can continue to count on them in the future.

I have had an issue with the Natrona Heights branch since January 2022... I called every 2 days starting the middle of April to speak to a manager, and NO ONE RETURNED MY CALL... So I called the 800 number, and they helped me with quite a bit, but NOT ALL OF THE MONIES THAT WERE TAKEN, WAS RETURNED. Then this week, I was instructed to call the Natrona Heights branch, with NO ACTING MANAGER, then, was told to call Pittsburgh mills branch, who told me to call harmarville branch which transferred me to the deer lakes branch. I spoke with a girl there, who said "she will advocate for the consumer", and then proceeded to tell me what the Natrona Heights branch told me. WHICH, AGAIN, WAS NOT THE CASE AT ALL... MOST LIES... I HAVE BEEN A MEMBER OF THIS BANK FOR 42 YEARS, AND AM NOT ASKING FOR ANY EXTRA MONEY, JUST THE MONEY AND OVERDRAFT CHARGES, AND ADDITIONAL FEES CHARGED BECAUSE SOMEONE STOLE MINE AND MY HUSBANDS DEBIT CARDS... THE GIRL AT DEERLAKES, MADE ME FEEL LIKE A THIEF... SO HAPPY SHE IS AN ADVOCATE FOR THE CONSUMER... SHE PROCEDED TO TELL ME... NATRONA HEIGHTS BRANCH SAID MY GRANDCHILDREN STOLE MINE AND MY HUSBANDS DEBIT CARDS... MY GRANDCHILDREN LIVE IN A DIFFERENT STATE... 2 OR 3 YEARS AGO, WHEN MY GRANDCHILDREN WERE HERE, THEY DID USE MY CARD... A VERY OLD CARD THAT I HAVENT HAD IN OVER A YEAR AND A HALF... FOR ABOUT 15 OR 16 DOLLARS... REALLY... YOU WOULD THINK, I AM TRYING TO ROB THE BANK OF THEIR MONEY... I JUST WANT WHAT I AM OWED. NOTHING MORE, NOTHING LESS... AND JASON, WAS NOT A VERY GOOD MANAGER, AND POSTED LIES ON MY ACCOUNT THAT I SUPPOSEDLY SAID... MOST FALSE... AND FOR SOMEONE WHO IS AN ADVOCATE FOR THE CONSUMER, SURE PUTS A LOT OF FAITH IN HIM. BECAUSE "THEY ARE FRIENDS "... I just want this taken care if. Why is it, THAT THE PEOPLE THAT TOOK OUR CARDS, GET OFF SCOTT FREE, AND I HAVE TO JUMP THRU HOOPS, JUST TO TRY AND GET IT FIGURED OUT... FIRST COMMONWEALTH WENT TO HEck IN A HANDBASKET, WHEN THE OLDER PEOPLE THAT WORKED THERE RETIRED... NOW, IM APPARENTLY A LIAR AND THIEF... THANKS FOR NOTHING..

11 years I've been a member there. I keep the account active for credit purposes. because my account is "inactive" according to their well hidden policies, they steal $5 a month from it without notification/warning.
A simple email would have been lovely. No, that's too easy, and they want to keep the racket going.
Customer service is spotty. I can only reach them if I call a branch. Their "main" number is useless.

I applied for a credit card from CommBank. I travel a lot and the card they were promoting provides Qantas frequent flyer points which would have been handy.

After applying, I was barraged by a series of unreasonable requests and though the statement and tax office summaries were more than enough, they kept asking for more, as if they don’t want to do business. I eventually got fed up and withdraw my application.

The other thing, they have a very fractured communication. For example, you send them 3 documents, they look at only one. Or they ask for a response but they don’t read it. And when you eventually call them, they can’t see all previous communications.