First Tech Federal Credit Union

I come in here quite often and they always remember me and greet me with a smile. Excellent customer service and knowledge. If someone can’t help me right away they find someone who can. Love this bank!

Firsttech Fed’s Chief IT guy is not trained as a programmer, and has no concept of what he is doing. This is reflected in the innumerable problems that come up with the credit union’s website. I launched an online visa dispute, received a confirmation by email with a request for information, responded to it, and now online support says they can’t find it. Additionally the request for information didn’t have the name of anyone, so the whole thing was bogus. Firsttech Fed definitely won’t protect you when it comes to visa disputes, or contracts.
Additionally Tom Gifford, head to the supervisory committee, doesn’t take calls from the membership. I attempted to contact him about problems with staff and the company’s lawyer, who failed to add someone to an account, and issue separate usernames and passwords.
There is nothing about this credit union to suggest it is member owned, and observations suggest it like many other credit unions have been taken over by commercial banking interest. They don’t pay their depositors, and use the money to enrich themselves and their staff.

After a few issues, I decided it was time to close my account and asked them to wire the money to another account I had. I was informed they had only one option — to send a cashiers check to my home. Not exactly convenient.
It took over 3 weeks for the check to arrive at which point I was on vacation so it was stacked with all the other mail. When I found it, a couple months had passed. Unfortunately, the check has «VOID AFTER 90 DAYS» stamped on it and it was past that date. So, I called to find out what my options where.
I was told I needed to complete a form, get it notarized and send it along with the now-​void check back to them. Does this seem reasonable? Finding a notary isn’t that easy. It costs $. Never-​mind the hour or so it’ll take me to run around and get it notarized.
We deal with a fair number of checks and whenever we run into a situation where a check is lost or stolen, we simply void it and issue a new one.
Remember, this is my money. And rather than simply re-​issuing the check, as any other normal business would, FIRST-​TECH is wasting my time, making me to jump through a bunch of hoops and costing me money. While hiding behind their «processes».
Well, their processes are terrible…

I’ve been a customer since this credit union was known as Addison Avenue since 1996. Back then service was good and people were friendly on the phone. Not any more. I have encountered extremely rude service people on the phone and I had a paypal issue where paypal presented the same transaction tree times even though there was unsufficient fees the first time around. First Tech refused to reverse any of the fees charged to me and told me to simply talk to PayPal. I’m extremely disappointed with this credit union.

I have been a member for 28 years. The people in the local San Diego branch have always been very helpful and personal. I would give that branch 5 stars.
However, the main Palo Alto branch is failing me. I have called twice to get my simple business checking account converted into a business dividend checking account. Both times, the person said that department was busy, but they would call me back. I have not heard from them. I have over $ 200K in my business checking, so every day wasted is another day of no interest. Very disappointed.

I hate having to be critical of a credit union, but have finally had it with first technology.
I have been a member since 2004 when I was living up in Portland and first tech was the credit union recommended by my employer. I kept my first tech account over the years to avoid the big bank shenanigans and support credit unions.
However after dealing with their incompetent wire service for the second time in 2 months I give up. Wires never get sent out on a timely fashion and customer service is no help. They just keep repeating, that wire will go out as the backlog is cleared. I called to make a request to expedite my wire request and hit a brick wall. I had First Tech give me a 1 business day for wire transfer (7 hours!!!) while a similar wire request at a different financial institution was completed in 2 hours. This was a domestic wire transfer, similar to past transfers.
If you wire finds on a regular basis like I do, I would avoid this credit union.
I am closing my account as soon as I can port over all my payments to a different account.

Their banking computer systems, constantly go down. I went there the morning of 10÷7÷13 at 10AM, and was told that they could not access my account or give me any access to my funds. I left my phone number with one of the tellers, as he promised to call me when the systems came back up. Its 2PM, and I haven’t hear from them. This is constant problem. Their online banking system is out-​dated problematic. Just wish I could actually get my money out of this place… but their systems are down… arg!

What Happened??? This used to be a great credit union.
I’ve been with the First Tech for 20 years. Now thanks to changes that make them more like BofA, I’m moving everything over to my other credit union.
They used to offer excellent Visa rates. Not anymore.
They used to give you access to a check deposit immediately. Not anymore. I’m going on 11 days and counting since a check deposit, the reason given by First Tech for the lock — I deposited more than $ 5000. (to pay-​off the overpriced Visa balance). Guess it’s expensive to be based out of Palo Alto. I’m sure someone thought that a move/​merger was a good idea.
Time to move on…
Also, I agree their letters to members about Visa increases (and also holds on deposits) leave a lot to be desired.

I’ve banked here for 15+ years, first at First Tech in Washington State and then in Palo Alto for the last 2 years. I have never had a problem. The tellers are always very nice and very helpful. There has never been a problem with things not posting immediately to my account. Really never a problem at all.
I have not used many services beyond general banking since moving here, but I had a fabulous experience refinancing in Washington with a responsive and on-​the-​ball representative and great rates.

Where do I begin… I’ve been a member since 1998 when it was Addison Avenue, and I worked for Hewlett Packard. In the beginning the service was commendable, now that it is First Tech I have definitely noticed a dramatic change in service.
When I’ve called customer service to discuss my online banking accounts I’m greeted with the most horrible attitude. I’ve deposited a $ 20,000 check which they mistakenly didn’t clear for 2 months; the whole time I thought it was deposited into my savings account but it was left sitting in a status of «hold» for 2 MONTHS! My credit card available balance takes weeks to get updated after they’ve received my timely payment, then they have erroneously charged me late fees. In addition, I applied and was approved to upgrade my Classic Visa card to a Rewards Platinum Visa they accidentally opened 2 cards in my name.
This institution has definitely gone down hill since changing to First Tech. As a long time customer since 1998, I’m truly disappointed to cut ties.

I have never had anything to say good about a bank until now. Excellent, personal service and close to HP. They actually recognize their customers. They also have better rates compared to large institutions & local branch can act as your advocate with respect to getting the best loan or making exceptions to the rubber-​stamped criteria.

I opened an account here when it was still Addison Avenue CU. After they merged with First Tech the fees and interest structure did change and it’s not quite as good as it once was but still it’s better than using a bank. What I like the most is their online banking. Besides having a very good billpay system they have online international and domestic wiring, online interbank transfers both in and out, and remote check deposits using your scanner. I’ve only been to an actual branch once in all the years I’ve had an account there because their online banking is so good. The last thing I want to mention is their high interest checking. It pays more interest than banks pay for CD’s.

I always liked customer service at FirstTech. They treat you good without attitude and lot of courtesy.
The manager of this branch himself ran around to make me a debit card. This is something I wont see in other banks.

I didn’t really want to copy and paste my review from their Portland branch, but it’s really the exact same experience. First Tech really does care about their customers. They treat every single person who walks through their doors like a real person, and this philosophy is spread throughout every location I’ve ever visited.
I’ve visited the Palo Alto First Tech twice; once at the old location at the HP campus and once at their new El Camino location. My second visit was during a pretty busy time, so people in the back offices were more than glad to assist me since no cash involved. That doesn’t happen at the big banks.
They are getting used to a new system right now so things might be a little slower than normal. It’ll give you a chance to get to know your banker a little bit better!