KEMBA Financial Credit Union

I have 2 car loans a personal loan and credit card with Kemba Financial Credit Union. I move away from Ohio in 2009 and reside in AZ and still stayed with Kemba because they offered shared banking and mobile banking. Because a check was lost in the mail they have completely blocked me out of their deposit on demand and mobile bank deposits. They took the money out of my account for the missing check and still decided I am not worthy enough to make deposits… The only way I can make a deposit to PAY my loans with them is I have to take time off of work to travel to the closest shared branch and any checks I deposit are subject to a hold… I recently went to deposit a cashier’s check from a local bank and they put a hold on it. I have tried to clear this matter up and cannot get a returned phone call from a Manager. The average customer care Rep cannot help me.

I recently moved from CA and needed to open up a local bank account. Kemba is closest so they won out of convenience but they continue to win out of great services and even better customer service. This location is finishing a remodel and the location feels open and bright. I have never had to wait behind more than two people in line at any given time. On the off chance you don’t want to walk in, you do have a drive up ATM around the building as well as drive up teller service. For the record, I have never experienced this before… I guess this type of service is considered outdated in CA but it has its appeal. I don’t have to leave the warmth of my car and I still get to interact with a human even if just for a moment. The customer service here is so good and I love the free notary service. Highly recommended!

Friendly customer service. Plenty of partner credit unions so even though there are few Kembas in Columbus it’s not usually a problem to get most banking tasks accomplished conveniently.
The only thing that REALLY annoys me – you can’t make deposits at the ATM!!! So, as I write this review I’m the 4^th car in one of the three drive-​thru tellers (all of which are 3 or 4 cars deep). It’s been a wait, people! For fear of grossly exaggerating, I won’t try to estimate how long it’s been, but it ain’t been fast.
Free wi-​fi in the drive through, though!

I am a member of a credit union that is out of town, so I need to use a credit union in the «shared branching» network. I have used this CU/​location several times because it is close to home, but I will not be back (I also discovered Telhio Downtown, a wonderful customer service experience). The head teller has questioned checks I receive from a part-​time job every time I try to deposit them. There has never been a problem once they are deposited (i.e., they are valid checks). The last time I did this she gave me so much attitude, telling me she would process it, but if it came back, I would be responsible for the fees. Not a nice lady.

First time at this place a few weeks ago. I was transferring over a credit card balance from a previous credit union to this one simply because of the low interest rate on the card. I applied online and then was asked to go over to this location to sign the paperwork. When I walked in, the place was pretty much a ghost town. I went up to the counter to be waited on, only for someone to peek around the corner to help me. I was taken over to the associate who when he spoke, he spoke very softly. I hated doing it, but I had asked him to repeat himself several times. He may have been new given that the branch manager had to come over and help him with completing the transaction. I was there for 30 mintues at the most when the main reason I went in there was to take care of the credit card. I understand they want more of my business (mortgage, checking, etc.), but after their shpeel (sp?) I told them that we can possibly explore those options later.
I walked out of there happy that I was able to get the card, but I still have questions for them. I dont expect red carpet service, but its been 15 days since I stopped in there and no one has called to followup on my visit. Interesting.

Ahh KEMBA. First off, it’s a credit union, which makes it better than most banks. Next, it’s right next to Rome Hilliard Road, near the central hub of shopping, so it’s convenient. Over the years, I’ve had checking and savings accounts, car loans and credit cards, and the overall experience has been good — but not perfect.
I’ll start with a few positive items:
1) It’s not a bank. I really dislike banks, because they tend to be profit-​focused versus customer-​service centric. Credit unions are awesome, as they allow people to pool their money to improve the credit union itself, and help the members directly through loans, lower fees, and higher interest rates of return.
2) As mentioned, it’s really close to the Hilliard area, right across the street from houses, apartments and all forms of shopping. It’s also right next to the I-​70 ramp to Rome Hilliard Road.
3) The staff is really friendly, the hours are relatively convenient, and there is both a drive through and an ATM outside.
4) This location works great as a Credit Union Service Center, and I’m glad that there isn’t currently a fee to use this service. If you have an account at any other CU Service Center branch nationwide, you can walk in, or use the drive through, as if you were at your home branch. That’s ANY credit union that’s a member of the CU Service Center network — which is pretty awesome. You pull up a map wherever you are, and you’ll most likely find a credit union convenient to you. 4,953 locations currently on the map. Not bad.
5) The building and grounds are attractive, and parking is plentiful.
Having said all that, KEMBA itself doesn’t feel like the best «deal» in credit unions in Columbus. I’ve shopped around over the years, and I just can’t work with a credit union that has what are, to me, unreasonable and somewhat random fees. I know from personal experience that letting your account sit inactive for a certain period of time triggers a fee. Do that too many times and you, of course, get an NSF fee (insufficient funds). Then, of course, your account goes to collection, and they add fees on top of that. So your account starts out in the black, and ends up in the red for no apparent reason whatsoever, you get a very bad mark on your credit score, and collectors calling you — all over automatic fees. A very scary and true story.
I do remember using KEMBA as my primary credit union for awhile with direct deposit, and wondered why there were fees for various services. I’m now using a different local credit union that has almost no fees for its checking and savings, and have been using them for a very long time now. I do wonder if KEMBA has considered revamping their fee schedule to make it free to use their service, and only charge fees for certain premium services? A credit union takes in money and gives a low percentage rate of interest out, they then loan that same money out at a much higher interest rate — the difference between these two interest rates is profit. Why not get rid of the fees and just change the interest rates? Not many people balk at an interest point here, or an interest point there, but if you charge them a $ 2.50 fee for inactivity, or $ 3.00 for using the ATM, watch out!
Having said that, I do have both a credit card and an auto loan with KEMBA, which — aside from the monthly interest — are relatively fee-​free. Their on-​line banking is decent, with a similar on-​line bill pay to that offered by other credit unions in the area.
If you live in the area, make sure you shop around the other credit unions to see what the best options are. Many have truly free checking and savings if you use direct deposit, and the free on-​line bill-​pay and on-​line banking are essential services. I just wish certain credit unions — KEMBA included — would take into account your years of membership into account when providing loans and services. It’s not hard to change from one credit union to another, and I think loyalty should be rewarded to reduce customer turn-​over.
I summary, I do think that KEMBA is a good credit union, just not the best option in the area. I’d like to see them simplify their fee structure (i.e. reduce them to only obviously needed fees like NSF and for cutting bank checks) and make that money up by tweaking interest rates. I also have to give them at least one star just for being a member of the CU Service Center network, which makes them a convenient place to seamlessly perform transactions for other credit unions. It’s just a shame they don’t seem 100% competitive in other areas, yet. Always hope for the future!