Astoria Federal Savings

Everyone is always smiling and nice and they get you in and out fast. Except lately they have been really pushy on trying to get you to sit down with one of the desk people. It’s very uncomfortable after I say no and they keep asking. It makes me only want to use the ATM.

Several days into the Hurricane Sandy crisis, there is a shortage of gas, amongst other problems as we are all aware. Being one of the many affected by this, I had no other choice but to walk from my home to get to wherever I needed to go. In this case, I needed to go to an ATM to take out exact money for my rent. I went into the closest bank to me, which is (unfortunately) Astoria Federal Savings on Francis Lewis and withdrew money from the atm, paying the $ 3 and something fee that they charge at their atms. I then went into the bank to ask the teller for change of a $ 20. She began making change of the $ 20 and then said, «you are a member here right?» I suppose I could have lied and said yes. But I didn’t and it was at that point that she took the change away and refused to help me. I explained my situation but immediately she got the manager. The manager then said the same thing, «you are not a customer, and we can’t give you change.» NOT A CUSTOMER! I just took $ 340 out of your ATM and paid your ATM fee! How am I not a customer? They were rude, unhelpful, and showed nothing but a lack of compassion during this time of crisis. I am disgusted by how this bank conducts itself and will NEVER go back there to their atm or for ANY other banking purposes. In fact, in retrospect what I should have done was demanded a refund for my atm use due to the unhelpful nature of these people. I bank with Chase and Capital One (two respectable banks) and if either of these banks were walking distance to me, I wouldn’t have had this type of customer service. That I know for sure! Member or not, change of a $ 20 is the LEAST you can do Astoria Federal Savings during a national crisis.