Sefcu A Federal Credit Union

Awful. Another shining example of dim-​witted Albany fuckwits pretending to be able to keep up with the big kids and run things like businesses and credit unions and such.
We opened an account here a few years ago in order to have a local option, even though we kept 99.9% of our money (and my husband’s direct deposit) in our old Minnesota credit union.
Examples:
We had a card with them that had a 25K limit and suddenly they cancelled it despite our usage being under 5K with no explanation. WTF? How is trashing a member’s credit score by upping our utilization ratio serving the interests of its members? We were in the middle of a move and had charged more than we ordinarily do as a result, but our credit score and our utilization were still in the «exceedingly healthy» range.
When we went shopping for 2 different car loans several years apart, they offered us «significantly* worse terms than our other credit union, again with no explanation when we asked. This was despite our requested loan amount being *very* conservative given our income and credit score.
They were always tardy with documents and we had to REAPPLY for our credit card with them (and incur another credit check) because they forgot to send us the relevant paperwork. We waited several weeks for the card and finally called to find out what was going on and were told that it was their fault, but we still had to reapply. REALLY?
I am not a co-​owner of the account, but when we opened it, we asked that I have full permission to ask questions, make requests, etc. and were told that would be no problem. Well, it was a problem. Whenever I called to speak with them they told me they weren’t authorized to deal with me. Fine. I asked them to please update the phone number in the system several times so that they would reach my husband instead of myself when they called, since they wouldn’t deal with my anyway… and yet after SEVERAL requests, here we are, FIVE years later, and they are unable to make this very simple change.
Finally, they tacked on an insurance surcharge to our monthly credit card statement. We called SEVERAL times to have it removed, asking what needed to be done on our end to make this happen. During our last conversation in October, we were told that there was nothing for us to do, and the charge would be removed going forward. I checked last month (it’s on autopay) and see, alas, that this stupid charge is still there. We call AGAIN, and they assure my husband that this was their fault, that there is a record of our last conversation, and that we will be refunded all the way back to October. Great. THEN a couple of days later we are told via email that they will not be refunding the fees since we didn’t fill out a «form.» A form they never gave us and never mentioned. Unbelievable…
The amount is not even the point (I believe that it’s $ 10 a month) but the principle of the thing and the total lack of communication and professionalism. We will be contacting the NY Attorney General’s office.
The above examples are not an exhaustive list– there were many more over the years, but frankly I’ve worn myself out. Suffice it to say that there are MUCH better options for credit unions out there. You are under NO obligation to use them because they’re local. Do some online research and find one of the numerous better options out there.
What a bunch of mouth-​breathing jokers…

Melissa has horrible customer service skills! She is culturally insensitive and condescending. Go to any other branch.

I was in town for a funeral, and had to pay for some of the funeral services in cash, but could only get 20’s out of a random ATM. I went to two other banks in the area, trying to get my 20’s exchanged for hundred dollar bills, but they wouldn’t do it, because I wasn’t a customer at their bank. My bank is Wells Fargo, and apparently one no longer exists in this area, so when I walked into SEFCU here on State street and explained my situation, they were kind enough to help me out. They explained that they were only supposed to do these types of exchanges for members, but they were willing to help me out this one time. I cannot thank them enough for helping me out in such a difficult time in my life – I appreciate this credit union allowing their employees to «do the right thing» even if it’s not part of their standard policies. Thank you SEFCU!

[Update]
After emailing SEFCU’s president this review, there was quite a bit of a shakeup and all of my issues were promptly resolved. SEFCU’s staff articulated in detail how in the future it would avoid similar slip-​ups and went out of its way to address my concerns. Since then, I have had smooth sailing and no issues with the credit union whatsoever.
[Old Post]
Despite living in Syracuse, based upon the reviews on this page, I decided to switch to SEFCU which has a branch down the road from me. Boy, was that a huge mistake.
The day after I signed up online I received a call welcoming me to SEFCU. During that call, I was never told I needed to bring my ID in to finalize opening my account. So I called one day asking why I never received a welcome letter with my account number in the mail and they said, «Because you never came in to show us your ID.» After I explained that no one had mentioned it to me during the application process or during the welcome call, and that I work 9 – 5 and am unable to come into the branch on Saturdays because I keep the Sabbath, I was told by an agent that I could scan and send my ID by email.
After I did so, I received an email almost a week later telling me that they could not open email attachments (apparently SEFCU’s IT department never heard of a virus scanner) and that whoever told me over the phone I could email it was wrong. So I had to fax it instead. Because it’s 2013 and no one owns a fax machine anymore, I had to pay to send a fax online and expose my personal data to a third party and whomever handles the receipt of faxes at SEFCU. This, incidentally, is what SEFCU called measures meant to protect the privacy of my information.
It’s now three weeks since I signed up for my account and a week since I sent my ID, and I still have not received a welcome letter with my account number. I received my ATM card and using it was able to make deposits which, if you’re a new customer, apparently DO NOT POST FOR TWO WEEKS (which no one mentions when you sign up). However, because I have not received my account number and because my paychecks are now frozen in limbo somewhere for another five days, I cannot login to online banking to pay my now overdue bills.
I have now called about this issue three times and spoken to a support agent on Twitter, each and every one who assured me that they were sending the letter with my member number the day that we spoke, and yet still, weeks later, no such letter has arrived. (And yes, I verified my address with them every time I called, so I know they have the right address.)
Therefore, my first withdrawal from SEFCU will be my last. I am closing my account and taking my business to a credit union that actually has its sh*t together.

Clean and friendly location. Do not go on a state payroll day the line can be long. They are closed on the weekends. Head to bruggers onyou pearl if you need a sefcu atm on a weekend day.

An excellent branch of a fantastic credit union.
This branch is clean and the staff is friendly and easy to work with. Even when the line is particularly long, it moves well and I’ve never waited in line for more than 5 – 10 minutes. The few times I’ve needed non-​teller services, the wait has been exceptionally short and completed quickly.
I’ve been a member for close to 10 years now and the service only gets better. Now that there are branches all over the Capital District (and in every local Bruegger’s), I don’t have to worry about ATM fees unless I go (way) out of town.
I recommend SEFCU anytime my family or friends ask my opinion of financial institutions or when those who use actual banks complain about how poorly they are treated.

I can’t ever remember a time in my life when I liked a bank. Bank of Am, Chase, Citi, WaMu… god they all sucked, made my life miserable and wanted to make me puke and say F-YOU…Then I moved to the Capital District and met SEFCU… and I all I can say today is… I love you.