I've had my Citizens Bank account for little over a year now, I have not yet for once find the bank and it's staff to be any of use, these are just my experiences others might have better reviews. What I say is true, happened to me personally and might never in a million years happen to you so don't base on your judgements on a single blog post.
Call me paranoid, but after reading some news on Bank of Am. I had been splitting my personal and business bank accounts apart, my only regret -- got lazily and picked this bank from across the street, called Citizens bank (I'd never like to look at color green again). I only wanted to open a business account but came out with six accounts. The bank signed me up for both a personal and business account (it's the only way they can offer me a business account) -- in the personal account there is checking, savings + money market and I haven't count the business side.
I wasn't happy with this setup, with these many accounts money are scattered everywhere, how can that in anyone's right mind be any benefit to me?! month after month I asked the manager if I can close the whole or parts of personal accounts, because I do have other bank for managing personal cash flow, 'oh no, that's how we operate.' -- Fine, call me a sucker i'll put up with more account and bank cards than I ever needed (and people were wonder about why banks crush), let me say it again I was never happy with the set up, not to mention their statements and online banking is the worst, I even had managers tell me they can not give me a free statement -- a fee has to be charged! -- for what? your ink toner? As for online banking, for some reason a few month ago they decided to switch from mastercard to visa thus locked all of my bank accounts offline, I went to the local manger, contacted by phone, then went back to the local manger all just to simply reset up my online banking again (I'm excellent when it comes to tech. and I can say it's ridiculous how they make me visit the local branch on the littlest tech issues, like to reset my password, as if 3hrs on the phone wasn't enough). Till that time I should have close down the account, but it was a week later.
Funny the bank clerk actually reminded me that I need to get out of this bank. I was making a deposit of $2k at the window, a new clerk looked confused, ask which checking accounts I'm depositing to, "personal" I said (it's the only way, then I have to logon at home to transfer to business, can't believe I have to put up with this), why not deposit directly to business? Last time I got schooled by the clerk that they can only deposit to my personal account, since I don't want to start the argument everytime during deposit I just suck up and let them do their thing. This new clerk then looked up asked in a short anger tone "well I have two PERSONAL checking accounts which one do you want to deposit to, one has $x and the other has $x which account?" A bit upset, I mean how can a bank not understand how to deposit people's money, I replied a bit harshly (I know it's not her fault, sorry) "that's a ridiculous question to ask, I should only have one personal checking account, the other must be business checking you work for this bank you should know this by now.", "well how much you have in your business checking so I can confirm the accounts" she then replied, the heck I know, luckly I knew something like this would happen and had my personal check book with me, here is where the story got funny, I took out the check book, showed her the account number and told her "I want the money deposited to this account" ... wait ... wait ... wait ... she called two other people (no introduction who those two were) all crowed over to her screen and point all over the screen at my account (I guess my privacy didn't matter that much), they could be floor sweepers for all I know. Finally in an unpleasant tone, she said "Fine give me the check I'll just deposit it to this account, either way the accounts are all yours ... and next time you should make it clear which account you want to make the deposit"
Em, wait a sec. did I mention I didn't want all the other junk accounts in the first place? now a bank clerk tells me my accounts are too confusing even for her?! that's the last string i was hanging on, now I got the confirmation. Forget about the deposit, got my check back went directly to the manager and closed ALL of the accounts to rid of all account related issues.
Went for a walk to Citibank, lay down the rules -- "I'll not open such accounts as personal checking, saving or any other junk you will force me to open." "I only want a Business account, here are the money I want to deposit, either make it work or I'll just stay with Bank of Am for both personal and business." Tho the manager at first did express that inorder to open a business account I do need a personal account, but after I lay down what I wanted (after all don't forget I'm the customer and they are the service provider), a short phone call to the higher up, a business account it is, not baggages attached, now my money flow couldn't be more smoother.
Also I don't know if anyone here ever had the chance of comparing citibank's banking slip (the receipt you get back after deposit or other transaction ) to citizens Bank or Bank of Am.'s ... growing up in New York our family always had CitiBank accounts, sometimes I even think my frustrating with other banks might be because citi had me spoiled rotten. Now back to Citi I remembered why it was our family's trusted bank in the first place, even small gestures such as deposit/banking slips are designed to make sure you never get confused what's where, every time you make a deposit a detailed summary lays out where everything is, no more wondering and guessing. It makes me chuckle that after I closed my account with Citizens Bank, the manager gives me a bank slip/receipt of $135 along with an envelop of cash (more than $135) --- I wanted to ask what the heck does this slip of $135 proof (he didn't tell me, shouldn't that be his job to explain?), which account did he get the total sum of $135? but to save some breath I just counted my actual money and left, I honestly think if I had asked he will charge me for a statement. Sigh, I'll run when I can.
One thing I recently discovered about life: simplify, simplify and simplify. By simplify I don't mean closing all my bank accounts and dig a hole somewhere in the woods to store cash, no by simplify I mean to have everything clean and clear, if it's a bank then I need my statements to be clear, each time I make a deposit I get a good understandable summery (not some half banked version), a solid online banking where I don't have to take time and visiting the bank, where the clerks actually knows what they are doing, explains to me where the money went to (not the other way around) .... that way I worry less about tasks other people are paid to do and in return that simplifies my life.
Next agenda ... close flickr account because I don't ever use yahoo email why open so many accounts just so I can upload photos online, there are many new services that doesn't require such actions and i'll switch my business to them.
