Golden 1 Credit Union

So ify about my experience, nice people but credit1 needs better policies for its customers. I dont want to come in next time waiting 30 min. 4 stars for great workers.

We’ve been with the Golden 1 Credit Union for over 20 years and have always had good experiences with them. We started using the one located on Manzanita in Carmichael about 2 years ago because it is very close to work and the tellers in this location are always very friendly and helpful. Recently we had some issues with an account we’ve had for a long time, but never used. We started using the account and ran into some problems. We had to go into the bank several times to fix the problem, but every time we went the tellers were really helpful. They were patient and answered all of our questions and together we figured everything out. We’ve used other banks in the past, but after being with the Golden 1 we’d definitely never go back. 5 stars for sure to the crew at this location!

I only have Golden 1 because they will front our salary when a budget is not passed and I have kids. As soon as I retire I’m done. For 20 years, Golden 1 has never ceased to have the worst customer service of all the banks (and I have had B of A, Chase, Wells Fargo, etc. as secondary accounts); their staff are lazy, rude, ignorant, and my password is I HATE GOLDEN 1 if that gives you a clue. I speak re all the Sacramento area Golden 1s, especially in downtown Sacramento and Citrus Heights’ locations. NEVER one good experience EVER. Wells Fargo on the other hand is outstanding.

This branch makes the Golden 1 look like a bunch of morons. Horrible customer service, unintelligent tellers, 3^rd rate management. Wondering how these people manage to keep the doors open. The people working here need to reevaluate their operational procedures and hiring practices. I have had wonderful experiences with Golden 1, until going here. Maybe it’s time to bring in new management & staff? A fresh start.

My wife and I went to this Golden1 branch to get a preapproved auto loan. We were assisted by Amy C who was extremely helpful, efficient and explained in detail everything we needed to know and do. She processed our preapproved auto loan and also offered additional service which we accepted. At this time I would have given Amy 5 stars. We purchased a car and there was an issue with the dealership on the loan which was given to the auto maker instead of Golden1. We returned to Golden1 and explained the situation to Amy. With her assistance, we were able to have the auto loan financed through Golden1 at terms better than originally approved. Thank you, Amy for going above and beyond helping us to resolve our issue. I’ve been a member of Golden1 for over 20 years and have been very happy with the services and enhancements like online bill paying. Being a credit union, I can deposit at any other credit union on the same network as Golden1 and withdraw cash at any other credit union without fees.

I was really considering opening an account here; But after reading the reviews I think I might go else where.
Thanks fellow Unilocalers…

Horrible customer service. Poor management. Intended to start using this account as my primary checking account but if I can’t even cash a simple check without a lengthy hold this is definitely not the bank for me

I really wish I had paid closer attention to these reviews before I opened and acct. at G1 but I didn’t and now have my own horror story to add to the others. Not only do deposits take too long to clear and they are vicious with the fees, their customer service is atrocious! I have a nickname/​Alias similar to Richard/​Rick, William/​Bill, Catherine/​Kate. My full name is on the acct., my shortened name is on all my deposits from work. I’ve been with G1 for two years, they’ve happily accepted my deposits with the shortened name this whole time, until the last time I went in– suddenly they wouldn’t accept a deposit with the same name they’ve accepted since I opened the acct.!? I showed them other I.D. with that name, no good, reminded them my deposits have always been under this name, no good. So, I said, if they could no longer accept my deposits, I’d have to close my acct. They said OK, but the guy left $ 1 in the acct., NOT closing it, just incurring service fees, which they now won’t waive. When I refused to pay service fees on what was supposed to be a closed acct., I was told this would go to collections and on my credit report!
I STRONGLY DISCOURAGE ANYONE FROM DOING BUSINESS HERE!

I opened my account at the Meadowview branch near Fanklin in 2006. I have visited branches in Rancho, Downtown, on Broadway and even a small office in L.A. And I agree that the staff are always friendly and superb at what they do. But no, they have no control over the things that really matter for your personal banking. Still I do prefer and appreciate them, even if they are unable to open more facilities in Mendocino Country area, where I hope to relocate someday.

Had an issue with fees again — and this time, they were a lot less courteous in cutting me any slack. It may have been that we moved a large chunk of savings to a different bank, so perhaps they no longer saw me as a customer that was worthy of giving any sort of consideration? Point is, we had issues again with $ 26 fees for overdrafts because my wife accidentally used the incorrect card a few times. This time, the surly fellow who helped me informed me it was there policy to never reverse charges. He then went to speak to his manager — and several minutes later returned and said they’d reverse half of them. As he did so, he informed me they were making a note on the account to never reverse charges again. I felt the love. :/
I’m giving SAFE Credit Union a try now. Fingers crossed.

I have to say I do agree with some of what was said in the last review. After banking with major corporate banks… Wells Fargo, Bank of America, I chose Golden 1 Credit Union in the spirit of supporting local businesses.
As a consumer I do try to shop locally and support the local economy, I go to a midtown branch and the employees all know me by name. They are always friendly and approachable. It’s convienient because the ATM is in the neighborhood (although they can’t be found on every street corner — -at times a major inconvienience) and they close at 4p.m. which totally conflicts with my schedule. SO, if I have to go into the bank it requires me to plan around it.
My major frustration with Golden 1 is like the above review said. TRANSACTIONS TAKE UP TO A WEEK TO CLEAR! I recently had to pay $ 111.00 for in overdraft fees for being overdrawn $ 9.00 in my checking account. I was so frustrated because I had checked my atm available balance, checked my on-​line banking and even double checked my ATM available balance before using my checking card. (Something was telling me, it keeps showing up that I have more money than I should.)
The positive of Bank of America was that the one time I went into overdraft in the multiple years I banked with them was that they waived the fees because it was a first time occurence. It was carelessness on my part but I appreciated thier favor.
SO, bottom line when this happened I went into my usual branch and asked if there was anyway they would be willing to waive the fees which they would not and were pretty cut throat about it… not the usual friendly tellers that day. They said because it wasn’t a bank error I was out of luck and would have to pay. They handed me a checking book and said keep better track next time. So lesson learned, do not rely on thier statements!!! Keep your records. Now, I make it a habit to simply deal with cash and leave the debit card at home. Budget how mch money I will need for the week, withdraw it and not deal with the drama. Tends to work out for the best and helps me to save money. Call me old fashioned but seeing cash (or lack of) in hand really helps me to yeild from splurges or impulse buys. All in all, I am still a customer but would strongly advise you to keep accurate records of your account to cover your own behind!

I heard this credit union was good, like others I used in the past in other places I’ve lived, and I really really really wanted it to work out. The staff at this credit union are superb, friendly, and really great. Unfortunately, the staff at this credit union have no control over the things that really matter for your personal banking. Because they are small, they contract out all their fundamental services (ATM, credit and debit cards, etc.) to big monolithic horrible service providers. When the contracted service provider screws you around, the credit union employees are powerless to help you.
We just closed our account. The service provider for the credit/​debit cards was so paranoid they were constantly canceling our card because they «suspected» fraud was occurring. This continually put us in dangerous situations, when we believed we could pay with our card but it was declined. The employees at the credit union did everything they could to help us, but in the end they were thwarted by the card service providers, who refused to stop canceling the card.
If you open an account here, beware that the balance is never up-​to-​date. Sometimes it takes a whole week before their computers register the activity. If you rely on the banks electronic ledgers, like I do, to keep track of your balance, you will very likely have an overdraft. And then even if you catch it before the overdraft occurs they will refuse to recognize your deposit for days, even when it is proven that they had the funds in the account the entire time.
They broke my trust. I was about to set up direct deposit, but after they told me to read «page 27» of the fine print, I decided to instead cash my paycheck instead of trusting them with my money.
Stay away from Golden One Credit Union if you want decent reliable trustworthy service. This is a shoe string operation.
UPDATE: I opened an account at BayFed Credit Union in Santa Cruz after moving. Golden 1 had destroyed my trust in credit unions, but BayFed restored my trust once again. BayFed is an incredible credit union, my ledger is fast and up-​to-​date (even seconds after a transaction occurs!), the staff are friendly, and they offer all kinds of services. Even better, they never cancel my card when I’m traveling, so I no longer feel like I’m at risk of being arrested for defrauding an innkeeper or similar when carrying their plastic!
STAY AWAY FROM GOLDEN ONE! CREDIT UNIONS CAN REALLY BE MUCH MUCH BETTER!!!