Community Bank of The Bay

This is as good as it can get. Local, Professional and they are a REAL team! I call pretty frequently to check on my money and use all kinds of services but there is no better feeling than to know that someone is really looking out for you.
Just like my dentist, doctor, etc… I wouldn’t take my money any other place! They have elevated my business game where I get to Feelmore!

Amazing customer service! Helen and the ladies were super on point, fast and efficient! Love the non-​corporate vibe. A true Oakland bank!

Great Community Bank!
Love their Operations team as well as their Finance department!

I have been banking with CBB for about 6 or 7 months now. I should have done it a lot sooner. I was a Citi customer for years.
Banking, unless you make a lot of mistakes, is not a business where you will see a big difference in terms of your «experience» or the minute difference in savings rates you may earn. Most banks’ fees are about the same, give or take a few dollars. Most banks pay about the same interest rates for a common checking account or CD. Most banks try to be friendly to their customers. Of course, you want stability — that’s important. On all these accounts, CBB has performed for me. But so did Citi.
The only real big difference, then, is what is that money you leave in your account being used for when YOU’RE not using it? Is it staying local, supporting the local economy? Or is it making some guys in New York or San Francisco rich? Whether or not my idealistic vision is being carried out, at least CBB makes me feel like they care. And I don’t feel like I’m supporting some faceless institution in a far-​away place that only owes its continued existence to the generosity of the American Government and TARP.
Update: CBB removed their Oakland ATM in the beginning of 2011. While I was at first disappointed, as it was convenient for me, I quickly got used to it. If you don’t withdraw more than every week, as I do, then it doesn’t hurt you (they reimburse $ 10 in ATM fees every month.)
Also, they have called me on occasion when somebody tried to cash a check I gave them who, shall we say, «raised suspicion.» In both these cases, I knew exactly who the person was that I had written the check to. So it was ok. But I appreciate that CBB took the time to call me.

The mister banks here, and has had nothing but good things to say about them. When he opened his account, they actually sent him a hand-​written thank you card. Impressive.
However, they boast the «most-​likely-​to-​be-​rolled-​and-​robbed-​at» ATM in Oakland, I’m pretty sure.

Friendly but incompetent
I transferred an IRA to Community Bank of the Bay (CBB), and they’ve made several mistakes with it, including some that would have had possible negative tax implications if I hadn’t caught them. I would not recommend opening an account with them and am closing mine.