Patelco Credit Union

Every time I go to Patelco Karen is always extremely nice and friendly. She treats me like I’m a regular customer even though I am not always in. I believe in treating others how you you would like to be treated and Karen takes that to the next level. Thanks again.

We’ve been Patelco members for years, mostly just for deposit accounts plus a couple auto loans where we got very competitive rates.
Recently, we had to do a wire transfer for a home purchase, and Mary H at the Livermore branch was extremely helpful. She was very friendly, helped us through the process, and made sure it was done right. Thanks for such a great experience!
By the way, it’s a nice touch that the branch has a small kids table to keep them occupied while we finished our business.

Best Credit Union EVER. We needed to complete a wire transfer and Mary H. Was incredible. Right under the wire!
When we moved to Texas two years ago we kept Patelco and used the online app for all our check deposits. Easy peasy !!!
They have always given the best service

I was extremely satisfied with the service that I received recently from their branch manager Joey. He’s very professional, very reliable, knowledgeable, answered all my queries, and went beyond his duties in assisting me. His customer always comes first before anything else. I am very impressed for the excellent service that I received, and really looking forward to using this bank soon.

I used to think Patelco was much better than big banks and also the competitor (down the road, which really sucks as a CU). First of all, they pay nil on interest. Savings, checking, you can have a lot of money in the bank and you might get 35 cents interest. They put holds on checks. Other places don’t do that when you deposit checks. Why a hold? It’s ridiculous.
Last but not least, I had a recent incident that has me thinking about going to a different bank. I received payment via a visa card for disability/​unemployment. I was told, in the letter, that I could go to my bank/​credit union, and they would be able to withdraw the funds from the card into my bank account. I showed up at Patelco, and I was told by the receptionist (who was actually rather rude) that they don’t do that. That they didn’t have equipment to do this. So I would have to go to Bank of America to take care of it. So I drove downtown Livermore to bank of America with only ½ hour to spare on Saturday. The gal was as nice as could be. She was trying to get me to open an account there, and I suppose I should have. They were able to withdraw the funds and give me cash, to which, I then drove back to Patelco and got the same teller. I told her it was HIGHLY inconvenient and that I was thinking about switching banks. She deposited the cash and left. it took over 1.5 hours to do this transaction with all the run around. I just think Patelco used to be a small time bank, and now they act like a big bank and opened up membership to everyone. Their rates ARE not competitive, and for businesses, they charge $ 5 a month unless you have over 50 grand in the bank. That’s right. Commitment household means 50K. It’s less at other banks. So think twice before you bank at Patelco. You get mediocre service and rates, and the fees and piddly interest of big banks. BTW, vote no on their tax exemption status. If you look, they can afford the taxes with all the money they charge for interest on loans and cards.

I will never go back to a regular bank after receiving the type of service that I get at Patelco Livermore. They all are there to help in any way needed from simple explanation to investment information. The Supervisor named Karen Lewis is amazing and really exemplifies what Patelco is all about. I brought my daughter who at the time was a minor. I introduced her to Karen and asked if she could help get her set with a savings and checking account. My daughter now has the same love of patelco and Its due to the service that Karen and her staff give. Always there to great us, take care of any problems or banking we need, and all with a smile. Again I wont bank anywhere else. Good job to all at Livermore branch

I absolutely love Patelco! I frequent the Livermore branch and have had the BEST customer service that you can get from an establishment. The branch manager is top notch… he will bend over backwards to make sure that you are completely satisfied with the service you receive from his staff/​branch.
I am happy that I made the choice to leave Citibank… joining Patelco Credit Union in my opinion was a very smart move.
I am looking to purchase another car this fall and look forward to seeing what Patelco can do for me.

While I have always had positive experiences in the bank when I go in, (thus the two stars for the staff) this bank, is GENERAL, is really antiquated. My main issue with this bank is that I feel not only my money is being held hostage, but I am too– from using the bank and getting to my funds. First, the ATM machine at this bank is never working. I don’t know how many times I have either needed to make a deposit or obtain cash, only to be presented with a screen that tells me the machine is not working. Weekday hours ridiculously start at 10 am. Really? Ten in the morning M-​TH and then a generous 9 am (finally) on Friday. Phone help is non-​existent. It is purely phone jail, getting no live help or providing an escape route to such in their menu selection. I must have keyed in my correct information a dozen times the other day, only to be told by the magic voice, that I the account did not exist, to try it again, and bang my head against a wall. To go online to get help only refers you to the same phone # that is of no service.
I am transitioning to a new bank, where I have unlimited access ²⁴⁄₇ from any type of communication device I choose. I highly recommend that Patelco join our brave new world, or face a mutiny and/​or extinction.

Everyone at the Livermore Branch is friendly and helpful. Karen Lewis especially was a BIG help in the purchase of our new car this year. She patiently answered all of our questions and went the extra mile to help us make an informed decision. Terrific personal service, which I really appreciate. Thank you Karen!

This my favorite bank I have been at this branch sense they opened and the staff changes periodically but they still work out great. Karen and Joey been there for a while and they are doing it great

I walk in very often and they have always been so kind and helpful. They know me and my son very well at this point and have a really good memory of things which I truly appreciate. When ever I need a smile on my face they are good at helping one get there.

Had never considered opening an account at a credit union, my husband and I recently purchased our first home and we needed to consolidate some minor debt. We got a super low interest rate on a secure loan and now have a free checking and savings account as well. Since BofA is beginning to charge for everything we are truly considering closing all of our accounts at BofA and only using our Patelco account.
Our service representative Dawn Cooper was super friendly and a pleasure to work with. She worked around our crazy schedule and assured we completed our process without any headaches.

I used to be a BIG fan of credit unions. Small banking institutions with good, caring customer service and products. I have been a Patelco member for almost 28 years and started when membership was limited to Pacific Telephone Company (aka Pac*Bell, SBC, and now AT&T) employee.
Something happened when credit unions won the right to accept any customers, they started thinking like big banks. Well, if I am going to be treated like a big bank customer I’d at least like some of the benefits of banking with a big bank: world-​wide locations, 24 hour service, highly polished web sites, lots of branches, etc.
This year Patelco did something that I find totally inexcusable. They changed their overseas credit card use policy to require that they be given prior notification that the card will be used outside the US. Otherwise, they will reject the attempt to use the card. That is not good, but what is worse is that this was done with NO notice to the members. Since I was ALREADY outside the US when the policy changed, I ended up being totally embarrassed when my card was refused. Their response, it was for my protection!
I still think a CU is probably better than a big bank, but I also think you can probably do better than with Patelco.

I joined Patelco a few months ago because my bank began charging $ 10/​mo. I had heard credit unions were much more customer friendly. In all honesty, I have had nothing but problems with this credit union. Many of their rules are much more strict than a banks. For instance, they put all funds deposited on hold for — how long? Their response: «it depends». The very first check I deposited was from my employer. It stated I had direct deposit pending and the first check must be a «hard copy» check. They put these funds on hold without my knowledge (their response was «we circle at the bottom of the receipt if it says the funds will be on hold»). Well, certainly not everyone «circles the bottom of the receipt’. After I made my deposit, I paid 3 bills. One of which I didn’t think would go through because Patelco said if I paid using my 6 digit CU number, the payment wouldn’t go through. So I resubmited my transaction to AT&T. Well, both of the transactions worked. And since Patelco put my funds on hold without my knowledge, all 4 of the transactions I made bounced. I incurred 4 overdraft fees of $ 28 which I haven’t had for years. I immediately called Patelco (which you can never call your branch directly, you have to go through this 1 – 800 number) who then had to confirm with the Livermore branch what to do. They reversed 2 of the fees. Wow, thanks. I actually could have used that $ 56 — on lets say, gas? Not to a company that just likes to take money.
Next disaster: My lease was coming due on my car. I had a variety of options. I asked my new CU what kind of rates they had. They were normal. I asked if I could apply for a loan and have my dad co-​sign for me. No, apparently he can’t because he doesn’t have the same address as me. I don’t understand this at all. What company wouldn’t allow a co-​signer if they had a different address? The majority of the people I know have different addresses than their parents. What if my dad had to co-​sign for my apartment? Clearly, I would have a different address than him. But, that’s fine — I’d rather not give Patelco any more money in the form of interest. I then just decided to pay my car off. I sent in a personal check to my car company. I then went to my bank where I have a savings account. I withdrew funds in the form of a cashiers check — GUARANTEED FUNDS. Nope, not to Patelco they’re not. I was told that I could deposit the check, then request to release the hold through the main offices. So I did. They would not let me access my money for a week! This sparked all kinds of hell. I spoke with a dozen people at Patelco reiterating YOU TOLD ME TO DO THIS AND IT WAS OK! Nothing. I spoke with branch managers, offices, US Bank — I even started talking to a lawyer. After 5 days, Patelco finally realized they gave me bad information and said if you incur any negative fees associated with this transaction, we will waive them including all fees incurred through Honda. It’s about time they stepped up. OK, so my car is finally paid off. Now, I need to pay my dad back. Patelco doesn’t have a way to transfer from institution to institution. A Patelco employee says there is a way, but it’s a hassle and no one likes it. Ok, so I won’t do that. We did find a way to make an ACH payment every month — that is the kind that comes directly out of your account. OK, I’ll do that I say. I filled out the forms and turned them in. I asked if I needed to do anything else and they said no. About a week later, I get a call. Apparently, you have to be on the account that you are depositing to. Luckily, I am. But why on earth wouldn’t Patelco tell me that when I filled out the form and turned it in? How about when I asked if there was anything else to do? Maybe like make sure you’re on the account that you’re depositing to? And why would I have to be on the account? Just to make things more difficult it seems. It shouldn’t matter where I want to deposit my money. It’s MY MONEY. I should be able to deposit it where I want. When I was in line the other day, a woman in front of me wanted to withdraw $ 1000. They told her it’s policy that you can only withdraw $ 500 per day out of your account. What if you needed to give that money to your child for some reason? I can understand a withdrawl limit at ATM’s, but inside a bank when you have your ID? Again, that is MY money. I need to be able to access it at any time.
Overall, I wouldn’t suggest Patelco. Their rules are much more strict than a banks and it just causes frustrations and unneccessary tasks. I would suggest Uncle (my dad says they’re great, he’s been with them for years) or go back to a bank like Chase — where you don’t even have to pay for checks (Citibank at least gave me my first set of checks free. Patelco doesn’t.). I would switch if I wasn’t so scared that it would be another fiasco and they lose all my money.

I opened a Checking and a savings so I would be able to save money without always wanting to touch it, I have had no problems with them at this point, the only thing that really erks me is that when you want to talk to a live banker on the phone they are not always their, they only have live people the same hours the bank is open, I guess Im just used to my other banks always being their ²⁴⁄₇! They are okay friendly and I believe the manager here is not the best there is but is okay, he is not all about customer service, other than that its good for my needs at the time!