First Citizen’s Bank

Exceptional Professional Services and Business Bank. Consumers would likely be better served by the larger retail banks. Local underwriting and responsive relationship management are beyond expectation.

First Citizens is the worst bank I have ever had an account with. I had to deal with the Escondido branch (Nancy) and they are the worst. I opened up a new account at a credit union and it is night and day compared to what I experienced at First Citizens. I will be surprised if they are still in business in the next year or so.

Almost hate to review this bank. They are the most cordial and accommodating bank in San Diego. My kids still have accounts there even though they have left the area a long time ago.

Where is your branch office in El Cajon?

I love this bank. I’ve been with them since they were Iron Stone. Every employee in there knows me by my first and last name even though I’m in there only once a month. My old bank would charge me $ 5 to come in and make a deposit, would sometimes hold my check for as much as two weeks and basically treated me like I was a big inconvenience even though i had banked with them for years. First Citizens is the complete opposite. They are friendly and nice and I’ve never had to wait for service. I have convinced several friends to give up their banks for First Citizens and they are all happy that they made the switch.

I have had a really poor experience with this bank. I opened my First Citizens account while living on the east coast and when I got to San Diego, I was not using the account. I had a residual amount of around $ 1 or $ 2, and went physically into the branch location at Pearl St. to close the account. I walked out of the branch with my money and the assumption that my account was closed. Fast forward almost a year later and I’m getting charge-​off letters in the mail due to overdraft on the account from an automatic PayPal payment. So this is partially my fault, because I did not keep a record of the visit or the account closure. However, the incompetence of whomever I dealt with at the bank is also partially to blame.
The real issue I had was then working with the branch regarding this issue. Of course, they have no record of me coming in and closing the account. Working with one of the tellers named Yaritza was fine, she was very pleasant. However, by the time I was put into contact with the branch manager, Karen Fischer, I was dealing with a dismissive person who clearly felt she was above the issue that I was dealing with. Her favorite response to me was «Uh huh.» Thank you for working on this for me. «Uh huh.» Thanks again, have a nice day. «Uh huh.» Pretty rude in my opinion and not at all professional.
Ultimately I have been passed back off to my «home branch» in North Carolina where I opened the account. I think it’s safe to say that I basically have a charge off on my credit report, money to be paid, and it’s all been packaged and delivered to me by a discourteous person who clearly doesn’t like their job. Honestly Karen, I wish you the best, but you didn’t help a customer who really needed it.

It’s always a pleasure to do business with First Citizen. Paula Travato in the El Cajon branch is a superstar.

First Citizen’s Bank changed their name a year or so ago & used to be called Iron Stone Bank (same location. same bank).
I have been an account holder for nearly a year and the overall experience is disappointing. Upon opening my business account it was explained to me that while no interest was being paid on my account balance that this smaller bank has a reputation for «high touch» personal service which is above and beyond most banks. This branch is conveniently located a block from the house so I decided to give them a chance. Now that I’ve been there a while I now see how much patience is required to work with them. For example, the technology is dated (from their old-​style ATMs with limited capabilities to their clumsy website).
The service at this bank is also below what I was led to expect. Just one service example, unlike my other banks First Citizen’s places unreasonably long deposit-​holds of more than a week on the my clients’ checks I deposit (even checks drawn on local banks). That’s life… except branch employees complain when occasionally (about once a month) I provide them with a bank officer to call at my client’s bank in order to release my deposited funds earlier. Apparently making an occasional phone call to accommodate an account-​holder is above and beyond the «high touch» service they had in mind.
My experience with First Citizen’s bank has made me realize how important having current technology plays into the service experience at a bank these days. This bank’s dated technology and policies (like the long check-​holds on deposits) requires patience not required at my other banks. Also, the fact that First Citizen’s has shorter branch hours and is inexplicably closed on weekends makes the banking experience far too inconvenient.
Most other banks I utilize offer a better banking experience than I’ve had at First Citizen’s Bank.