Conference 7.286::dcu

Right now, I have a share 1 for lunch money, a share 10 for forced, direct
deposited savings, and a share draft for access to share 10 money.  I'm all set
up, and ready to go.  But my direct deposit still goes to a local savings bank.

What will bring me back?

    1.	Lower the minimum balance for getting interest on share draft 
	accounts.  Either that, or waive the minimum for direct deposit.
	But I like the first choice better, because it's simple to
	implement, easy to understand, and non-discriminatory.  At going
	rates (I get 1.5% at a savings bank), this isn't much money, but
	it helps to pay for checks.  DCU's rates are a bit better than
	other places for investments, but the other hidden charges eat
	away at the difference.

    2.	All branches accept coins, cheerfully, and openly.  Pocket change 
	is an important savings vehicle for me.

    3.	Get rid of grouchy tellers.
    
    4.  No annual fee on Visa card, period

Elaine

What will bring me back?

     1. Free lollipops on all DCU counters.


     Just kidding.  I'm already back.  It'll take a week for the direct
deposit stuff, though.

                                     Greg

    	After many years with DCU (since it's inception) they finally
    reached the point where I took most of my business else where.  The
    credit union I joined is treating me fine, so why should I take my
    business away from them?  I probably will never bring all my business
    back but I find myself doing more with DCU already ( a new vehicle loan 
    just beat the nearest competitor by 4%).

    Joe

    I never left, but just got a new car loan and the rate was terrific and
    the service excellent.  My last 3 car loans were outside of the DCU.
    
    Mark
    

    re .3:  This is why I found the recent actions of the DCU so
    depressing.  A customer who is driven away by a problem seldom
    comes back simply because that problem is fixed -- it takes more.
    Some will come back, but it's a slow process.  Recruiting new
    members who don't have the negative history may be easier!
    
    Digital is stuck in the same situation, IMO.  About 10 years ago,
    we maximized our short term profits by attacking our own third
    party market.  Then we let ourselves get behind on CPU price/
    performance, out of fears of damaging the sales of our then-high
    margin products.  The result was that lots of loyal Digital customers
    left and most aren't coming back until they have a problem with the
    vendors that they are now loyal to.  So, although we've fixed those
    problems -- in fact we're best in the industry in many important
    ways -- it's still a long tough road to recover what we once had,
    and involves re-selling Digital as completely new company.  But this
    is DCU, not DIGITAL, so consider the above an analogy.
    
    	Enjoy,
    	Larry

Let me say up front that DCU will never be my primary financial institution
simply because my nearest branch in 1,000+ miles away.  This means that when
I have a problem with my account, I can never have a face-to-face meeting with
a branch manager. There is no such thing as a DCU ATM.  I average 6 ATM
withdrawals a month, so why should I pay $72/year to use DCU?  Because I will
never be able to have a checking account with DCU, it makes no sense for me
to have much savings with them since I can't get at the money easily.

I will get my DCU Visa card back when they change their cut-off-my-nose-to-
spite-my-face annual fee policy and drop other piddly charges.

I will consider giving DCU a shot at my next car loan.  However, two of my
local credit unions have always beat DCU terms and I still have a bad taste
in my mouth from the last time I applied for a car loan at DCU.

And in general, make DCU easy to deal with.  No bazillion rules on fees, etc.
DCU suffers from one of the same problems as Digital - both are difficult for
customers to deal with.

Bob

     How about bringing back the multiple enforced (Xmas, UNameIt, etc)
    savings accounts, instead of the "Holiday Account" fits all.   I know
    of several people who used the multiple termination periods (Summer
    Vacation , Christmas)  that are not available with only one account
    as easily.

    

I would make the DCU my primary institution if it:

1.  offers home equity credit line at Prime = 0%. US Trust in
    in Boston has this rate.

2.  offers a 2% rebate on VISA charges.  The GE reward card sends
    a check at the end of the year for 2% of the total charges.

3.  return cancelled checks.

gim

RE: Note 901.0 by CADSYS::RITCHIE

>The numbers are not in, but based on my conversations with people, the
>flock back to DCU has not yet begun.  Now that there is a pro-credit union
>majority on the Board of Directors, this should be happening.

Rome was not built in a day.  Studies have shown that it takes YEARS for
consumers to come back to a company once they have left.  We have a long
road to recover from the past...

	- mark

For checking and savings:

    1.  Return cancelled checks.

    2.  The ability to link a money market account to the checking account for
        overdraft protection.

    3.  Either use an average daily balance or a much lower minimum balance
        requirement for earning interest on checking.

    4.  Better than competitive interest rates on checking and money market 
        accounts.


For loans and CDs:

    1.	The best short term ( <2 years ) rates!


For VISA:

    1.  No annual fee.

    2.  Cash rebate of at least 1.5%.

    3.  The interest rate is of absolutely no concern.

The bottom line is that I have no interest in coming back.  I have a local
bank that treats me better as a Digital employee than DCU ever did. I
have free checking w/interest plus I get my cancelled checks back.  I have
access to money market savings rates with no minimum balance.  I can use my
ATM card at any FastBank teller with no transaction charge.  This includes
practically every 7-11 in town, plus the two major malls, and Target stores,
not to mention half a dozen branch locations. (Colorado Springs).  There is
only one teller that I could use my DCU atm card at without a service charge:
the one at work.  My current ATM card is also a debit card, which I find
very convenient, even though the string in this notes file is not very 
postive about them.  I do have a small amount in savings at DCU, which I kept
so I could vote in the last election.  If I see that doing my regular banking
with DCU would be significantly better, I might consider coming back, but DCU
would have to really go a long way IMO for that to happen.

-Patrick

    It will take time.  and it's not time yet for me.
    DCU and its directors should listen to the members.
    
    I was dissappointed in the responce I got from directors regarding the 
    new ATM card.  It was the sort of in your face responce I would have
    got from the old directors.  open communications is a two way street.
    you talk to us, and you listen to us.
    Father DCU doesn't always know what is best for us.  You don't change
    us constantly.  If we're happy with a product, you don't force another
    variation down our throat.
    
    My DCU useage will be reducing.....
    
    ed
    

I agree it will take time.  But someone said our interest rates need to be
competitive, or better.  The savings rates are pretty good.  Some people have
found the car loan rates to be pretty good.  But there are a lot of people who
need more than car loans, but home equity loans.  And a regular fee free Visa
card may not be good enough anymore.

I think bonus dividends and interest rate rebates would open people's eyes.

But it sounds like trust is more important.  To that I'll add continuous,
constant consistent communication.

Let's keep it up!

Elaine

    Put the first line decision making on loans and problem resolution back
    at the local level. Any bank in my area can collect my paperwork and
    forward it to the home office, like the DCU does. Bring back 1-on-1
    personal relationship banking [no I'm not talking about the fees].
    
    Make state by state programs known to people in the adjacent state. I
    cross the line to Mass every day and go to RI often. I'd cross the line
    to look at the DCU/Credit Union/Car Buyers specials. Or acknowledge
    that some of the Mass/NH workers live in CT, RI, VT and Maine

    
    When the DCU becomes a REAL option for remote users!

    Paul

    
    Re .15:
    
    How? Free ATM transactions? What else?
    
    Now that we have a responsive board, why not confer with a few other
    remote members, put together a list of suggestions for better remote
    access, and lobby the board to make it happen.
    
    What we've won here is not so much a better DCU, but a board we can
    realistically expect to work *with us* to make a better DCU.
    

    
    BTW, my wife's checking account at Shawmut (nee People's) got slapped
    with $16+ in fees for the first time last month. Guess who's transferring
    her business to a free DCU checking account?
    

    Yeah, I have a people's acocunt that migrated to shawmut; this latest
    statement was a bit of a surprise..
    
    but the next statement will be the last from them.
    
    
    It takes a long time to get a customer, but very little time to lose
    one..
    
    ...tom

    
    
    
    >Put the first line decision making on loans and problem resolution back
    >at the local level. Any bank in my area can collect my paperwork and
    >forward it to the home office, like the DCU does. Bring back 1-on-1
    >personal relationship banking [no I'm not talking about the fees].
    
    	I recently closed on an Auto Loan at DCU. It was completely handled
    by the LKG branch. I turned in the paperwork arround 8:30 in the
    morning, and had a check arround 3:30 that afternoon. Excellent service
    by the local branch. 
    
    	I also recently had a problem with my automatic deposits (via
    payroll deductions) and the problem was quickly resolved by the LKG
    branch teller.
    
    	A Home Equity Jr. loan I got earlier this year was forwarded to the
    main office, but I think that's reasonable for a Real Estate loan...
    
    JimH
    
    

    My checking account allows me to use ANY ATM machine 6x a month
    with no fees.  That might be an option for DCU to think about.
    Of course my bank does not have their own ATM machine.  They
    used to but took it out.

    justme....jacqui

    
    ditto on the free ATM - 
    
    I have an account with IC credit union with free ATM (no limit on the
    number) for any machine that accepts TX, CIRRUS, or Yankee 24 . 
    
    That was one of the reasons I opened the account with IC. What's in it
    for the credit union? they have access to me, and therefore my
    business. They just offered me a Visa with lower interest rate then DCU
    
    But the point here is that by offering the ATM free of charge they
    made it desirable for someone to open a checking account (no fees
    account), and therefore creating new business possibilities.
    
    DCU might think about that..
    
    
    Nisreen

('Course, they really wouldn't be "free" - they'd be absorbed as a cost of doing
business.)

I'd like to see reasonable limit on Free ATM transactions (though
allow unlimited debit card xactions for free since checks are still
processed for free).  Maybe 60 per Quarter. (2 every 3 days).

>    ('Course, they really wouldn't be "free" - they'd be absorbed as a
>    cost of doing business.)

    For sure, but...

    What's the cost of buying, setting-up and maintaining an ATM
    machine. It's gotta be 10 of thousands of dollars per machine.

    Vs. Setting up an agreement with one of the major ATM networks.
    Say, "We'll direct our cutomers to your ATM's, what kind of
    reduced rate will you give us?" And then the DCU absorbs that cost
    as a cost of doing business.

    Play that cost against more/bigger/better offices, more staff,
    owning and operating OUR OWN ATM machines.

    My one major gripe with the DCU is the location and access of the
    ATM machines. Sure they have them at most major DEC facilities,
    but that doesn't help me when I'm out at night and weekends and
    want more ca$h.

    Charly

    Remember when ATMs first came out and banks were trying to
    convience customers of the benifits? One of them was, reduced cost
    to the bank, cheaper to run and maintain than adding tellers. Now,
    they're telling us that they're an expense that we have to pay
    for. 

Banks get charged between 25 and 75 cents for an ATM transaction on a network
they belong to.  Some banks don't charge customers for ATM transactions on
a local member network such as MAC.  One problem DCU has is that it operates
in so many states it would have to belong to many local networks.

However, I think it would be a significant advantage for DCU to allow a
limited number of non-DCU ATM transactions without charge.  Since DCU ATMs
are so inaccessible (most are inside Digital facilities), the inconvenience
alone drives people to outside banks which offer free or at least more
convenient bank-owned ATM access.

I closed my DCU checking account when the fees were first introduced, but
I had never used it significantly.  I have a NOW account at a local bank
which I find far more convenient and pleasurable to deal with than DCU.
The single biggest thing which keeps me away from DCU checking, though, is
check truncation.  I like getting my checks back.  DCU's checking account
gives me less service and higher costs (DCU's ATM fee is $1, my bank charges
.75 but I rarely pay it as their ATMs are easy to get at.  My wife's bank
charges nothing for MAC transactions.)

Other things which annoy me are such senseless items as a hold on government
tax refund checks, inability to deal with bulk coins, restrictive rules on
two-payee checks and what I perceive as a non-helpful attitude of tellers.
Every time I have gotten a hassle attempting to make a transaction at DCU,
I've had no problem at all taking the same transaction to my local bank.
DCU should be EASIER to do business with, not more difficult!

Another big chunk of my business DCU lost was my mortgage refinancing, due
to their inflexibility regarding escrow accounts.  I found a local mortgage
company which not only waived escrow, but their rates were lower than DCU's
and they service the loan locally.  DCU just serves as a middleman for
Shawmut (I think) and doesn't provide ANY added value to its members.

					Steve

       I'm still at DCU but after this week I'm looking for a new
    institution. The DCU in SHR1 (QUANTUM) is just to much of a hassle to
    get access to.Yesterday was another 10 minute wait to get escorted to
    the CU. Of course when I mentioned this at the branch, I was basically
    told to "GET AN ATM CARD".Well, I DON'T want or need an ATM card (and
    after reading that it is now combined with a DEBIT card, I am even more
    against it). I thought this was the DIGITAL CREDIT UNION not the
    QUANTUM CREDIT UNION.
    
                                                   BYE
                                                   Rich
    
                                       

Yes, but it's a Quantum facility and Quantum's responsible for restricting
the access. There really isn't much that DCU can do about it. When you
consider things like an external accessway such as at MKO1, keep in mind that
Quantum would need to approve the construction. This is not meant to excuse
the perhaps less than diplomatic response you got from a DCU employee.

    re: .24
    
    >Remember when ATMs first came out and banks were trying to
    >convience customers of the benifits? One of them was, reduced cost
    >to the bank, cheaper to run and maintain than adding tellers. Now,
    >they're telling us that they're an expense that we have to pay
    >for. 

    Originally, they were cheaper. However, the usage model changed. In the
    BA (before ATM) era, people went to the bank once-a-week on average.
    With the widespread availability of ATM's, many people started
    withdrawing smaller amounts, and visiting ATM's 2-4 times a week.
    
    Increased usage changed the cost model. 

    

    If ATMs were cheaper than tellers at one transaction per week, they
    are probably still cheaper than tellers at 5 transactions per week,
    or whatever the average now is -- assuming that the user made those
    5 transactions at tellers instead of at ATMs.  
    
    This suggests to me that it is the right idea to offer 5 free ATM
    transactions per month, or something like that.  That would allow
    the once-per-week folks to use ATMs instead of tellers, which is both
    more convenient for them (else they'd use tellers) and cheaper for the
    credit union.  It would make active DCU membership more practical for
    people who don't live near a convenient branch or DCU ATM (including
    people whose branch now belongs to Quantum).  And it would place the 
    cost of lots of small ATM transactions on those who choose to bank
    that way.  More complicated schemes could be invented, but I think
    that whatever fee structure we have needs to be kept simple.
    
    	Enjoy,
    	Larry

    
    Here's an idea...

    Let's split the difference. Those who are too remote to use tellers 
    pay 50 cents per ATM transaction. Those who have access to tellers also
    pay 50 cents per transaction.

    :-)

    
    I sort'a like the "n free per month" idea -- easiest to manage.
    

>    I sort'a like the "n free per month" idea -- easiest to manage.
    
Me too.

Also, DCU should do a cost/benefit analysis of their teller machines.  In
some cases I think it would be cheaper to pull them out and let people use
the competitors' machines.

	Paul

Interesting question, what will bring me back.  Since the DCU 
drove me away, it's going to have to work to get me back.  That 
means the DCU has to provide something better than the credit 
union I moved my business to.  That includes:

	return cancelled checks

	lower minimum to pay interest on checking account 
	balances and a better rate 

	fee free credit card (and not just the first year).  I 
	don't care what the interest rate is.

	better interest rates on deposits.  I checked their list of 
	the competition's rates yesterday.  For my business,
	Citicorp, Shawmut, Bank of Boston, etc. are still not their
	competition.

	friendly, helpful people in the branches.

	more convenient hours of operation.  My other CU is open 
	late on Thursday and Friday nights and is open Saturday
	morning. 

The latest loan rate comparison looks good for DCU.  However, I 
moved my car loan to the new credit union when I pulled 
everything but my voting deposit.  The rates do not support a
move back to DCU and unless the new CU drives me away for some 
reason, I'm not moving the loan again.  For future loans, I'll
check them out. 

My brother, also a member, just bought a car.  DCU's loan rate 
was competitive, however the perception that they are difficult 
for non-Digital employees to deal with from a logistics viewpoint 
worked against them. 

Maryellen

    
    	Well, I'm still a DCU member, a remote one too! Why? Lethargy
        and inertia mostly! However I'd like to see the following 
    	improvements:
    
    	1) Return cancelled checks. Really, with all the yrs of rent-free
    	   operations in Digital locations, surely the DCU can afford to
    	   return our checks. What would make it more expensive for DCU 
    	   to do so than the others (banks, S&L, other CU's etc)?!
    
    
    	2) Stop charging $1/PAGE (!!!!!) for requested statements.
    	   It doesn't happen often, but sometimes I misplaced them.
    
    	3) Decrease holding period on out-of-state or checks with 
    	   amounts exceeding whatever the DCU 'safe' threshhold is.
    
    	4) My new Green ATM/Debit is missing the Debit function!
           Well, I am in CA, so maybe the interconnectivity and
    	   interoperability issues still need fine-tuning. Hey, does
    	   the DCU operate completely on our current, hot systems??
    
    	5) Let me have a number of free ATM transactions/month! Give me
    	   a break, I cannot very well walk to a local DCU ATM now, can I??
    	   I am charged $1/transaction which is defined to be anytime
    	   I say YES to the ATM prompt "Do you want another transaction?",
    	   much to my surprise and disgust. So if you withdraw $$$, and
           deposit (same time) that is 2 transactions costing you $2!
    
    	6) I want the ability to have over the phone human interface on 
    	   Saturday!! Really, the DCU behaves as though it is a small town 
           operation. While Maynard is indeed still small, members services 
    	   requirements and scope certainly aren't!
    
    
    	7) PLEASE reduce the paperwork and cost for international EFT!!!
    	   Right now, the DCU demands a signature for every EFT transfer,
    	   even though it is a regular and repeatable event! Why not store
    	   all the information ONCE in an EFT folder (how about a database 
           online??). So I have to fax the bank routing details and my
    	   signature EVERY TIME, and the DCU charges me $30 each time too!
    	   The final insult is the DCU will not notify me that it is done,
    	   I have to call back to confirm. Is this incredible or what??
    
    	8) Enhance the phone service to allow transfers across joint
    	   accounts (different account/badge numbers). Can't do it without
    	   human interception today.
    
    	9) Remove the VISA annual fee, and re-imburse a la Discover card.
    	   Now I rationalize keeping my more expensive VISA because I
    	   collect air miles for every $ spent.
    
    	You know, now that I've WRITTEN these down, maybe I should
    	reconsider!!!
        
    	
    	   The reason why I am forced to use this option is because the
    	   DCU does not issue US$ money orders that are accepted inter-
    	   nationally. These are only domestic money orders!  
    	   
    	   handy here!)
    
    
      
    	 

    Returning cancelled checks seems to be a popular request.  However,
    they technically are not checks (only banks "do" checks, and only
    commercial ones at that -- participants here with savings bank accounts
    will recall the "NOW" accounts).
    
    I realize that in some respects, the credit union share drafts are
    the functional equivalent of checks, but I had the (mistaken?)
    impression that one of the differences was that the legal definition of
    this financial instrument interefered in some way with returning the
    checks to the user.
    
    Dick

    Re: .37
    
    Returning "drafts" from a NOW account is done in other banks.  I also
    bank with NFS Savings (not commercial, therefore no "Checking" accts)
    Bank and they return my "checks".
    
    When I first joined DCU (Years ago) and asked why no checks were
    returned, the reason given was the expense of doing so.  (This was the
    early Mangone era.  Perhaps this was the money he wanted for Barnstable
    CU }8-)} )
    
    

    RE. No returns on hardcopy drafts.
    
    Many, many years ago, I believe that all processing was done by a Bank
    that saw all DCU as one account and the 'dcu' kept track of all 'our'
    monies internally. I may have some old drafts at home that have a Bank
    name on the bottom but claim to be DCU.
    
    Seems the trend just continued on.

    Hey, if it's no longer true (or never was), then why not ask for it?
    It would indeed be useful to the members.
    
    Dick

>              -< One popular request might hit a legal roadblock >-
>
>    Returning cancelled checks seems to be a popular request.
>

Before the DCU goes to considerable expense (processing, sorting, stuffing
envelopes, mail costs, etc.), I'd prefer that they get a better idea of
just how "popular" the request is.

Much of my banking is now done through electronic transfers. This will only
increase as time goes on.

In 13+ years of banking with the DCU, and many years with other banks before
that, I can recall only 1 time when I needed a cancelled check.  The mailing,
processing, storage (for me) charges don't seem to be worth the benefit to
me.  Can those of you making this request give some examples of why you
would need this?

						Mark

I agree with .40.  I personally do not want my checks returned to me.
Although I was very annoyed years ago when my bank at the time stopped
returning checks, I have never needed one of them since.  On the other
hand, my bank statements take much less filing space without the checks.

-Hal

    Yes, let the DEFCU keep the checks! Just send me a statement each
    month.
    
    -glenn-

I've had my checking with DCU for over twelve years now and have
never needed a cancelled check.

	I'd rather see us get electronic statements that I can suck into
	Quicken before getting cancelled checks. (Dave Garrod has told me
	that DCU will be looking into this)

							mike

    I needed a cancelled check once from DCU and after a phone call I was
    able to receive it in the mail quickly.  I trust that's still the case.
    As I recall, there was a small charge, but it was (IMO) reasonable.
    
    Jim
    

    In the dozen or so years I've been using a DCU checking account, I've
    only needed a check once. I'm happy with DCU keeping them.
    
    On the other hand, I'm seriously considering opening an account with a
    local bank that does free ATM transactions everywhere. As my life
    becomes less and less attached to the Greater Maynard Area, my ATM fees
    are getting pretty annoying..
    
    ...tom

>	I'd rather see us get electronic statements that I can suck into
>	Quicken before getting cancelled checks. (Dave Garrod has told me
>	that DCU will be looking into this)
    
    I'd rather have a CA Simply Money file.
    
    -glenn-
    

	I believe CA Simply Money will import a QIF file. (Quicken File)
	QIF seems to be the "standard".

							mike

    I second the motion...I don't need my checks back...I have my carbons,
    and when I do need a check -- once in the last 10 years, it cost me $1
    to get a copy in two or three days.
    
    ****andrea****
    

    When I was asked for a copy of my cancelled check and told them that I
    had duplicate checks, I was told to make a copy of the carbon and the
    statement that showed it cleared.  It wasn't a problem.
    
    I have enough filing that I neglect - they can keep the checks.
    
    
    Susan

This is a somewhat biased group. Those who want
cancelled checks have already de-selected the DCU.

Those who don't care about cancelled checks will
continue to use the DCU.

Those who do care about cancelled checks won't
use the DCU.

Gim

    I don't think that it is wrong that people express their desire to have
    returned checks.  There are other ways to accomplish this such as
    scanned images that are organized many to a page as discussed
    elsewhere.
    
    One only has to be 'taken' by the system once to have a heathly
    distrust for it, such as DCU cashing a $200 CHECK FOR $2000.   IT
    HURTS and does more damage than a simple sorry that is never given.
    
    
    	
    Not returning checks is a safety measure for those who the checks were
    address too.  Most banks require a account number, ss#, driver's
    license number, or other id to be put on the back.  Think about it, do
    you really want this information returned to the issuer?  I don't.
    So I don't know which side of the fence I stand on.
    
    But a business should decide what a customer wants, and not tell the
    customer what [s]he wants.  Thats a way to get business and keep it.
    
    ed
    

Well, I still use DCU, but not the checking, which is just plain
uncompetitive.

				Steve

Really? Where else do you get a better deal than free checking plus interest?

-glenn-

Free checking plus interest plus a lower minimum balance to get that interest
plus returned checks plus free ATM access off of Digital property plus
less hassle from tellers.  Actually, my wife's bank is even a better deal in
that she gets free ATM transactions anywhere in the state (and all of the
above.)

				Steve

Colorado Bational Banks	- no minimum deposit, first set of checks free
Norwest (no interest)	- no minimum deposit, first set of checks free
Quick&Reilly (stock broker) - no minimum deposit, Money-market account&rates
Security Service FCU	- $100 total cumulative family minimum balance

>================================================================================
>Note 901.55                 What will bring you back?                   55 of 55
>CVMS::DOTEN                                           3 lines   6-JAN-1995 14:18
>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Really? Where else do you get a better deal than free checking plus interest?
>
>-glenn-

    RE: .57
    
    I don't see that any of those banks (or CUs?) offer free checking plus
    interest!
    
    -glenn-

Perhaps I wasn't clear...all offer free checking and (with the exception of
Norwest), they all are interest-bearing checking accounts.  Nor do the three
that have interest-bearing checking have as onerous a minimum balance to get
interest as DCU does.

BobW

>================================================================================
>Note 901.58                 What will bring you back?                   58 of 58
>CVMS::DOTEN                                           6 lines   8-JAN-1995 19:20
>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>    RE: .57
>    
>    I don't see that any of those banks (or CUs?) offer free checking plus
>    interest!
>    
>    -glenn-
> 

    RE: .59
    
    Ah, OK. My point was that the DEFCU checking is a pretty good deal
    (free checking + interest). But yes, the minimum balance is hefty.
    
    -glenn-

Re: .60 -- the point of the note is "What will bring you back?"

At the time of the first insurection, DCU gave me the incentive to look at the
competition.  I found better deals.  I went elsewhere.  DCU has become a little
more competitive (such as dropping the Checking Account Fee), but they still
are not equal to the competition.

From loyalty and some element of convenience (free ATM in the lobby), I've used
DCU a little more.  It is, though, a far cry from having me "back".

What would bring me back?
	- extended hours in the afternoon and on Saturdays (even mornings)
	- unequivocally free universal ATM access
	- no tythe for using the debit card as a debit card
	- bonus dividends in successful years
	- roll-back of *all* the bagage that came with ``Relationship
		"Banking"''

BobW

Actually, the DCU "checking" account can be beaten by just about any
commercial bank if you maintain a modest minimum balance (less than DCU
wants in order to pay you any interest.)   Considering that there are some
services DCU doesn't offer (coin counting, for example), it makes sense to
do business with a local bank, especially where DCU doesn't have any
advantages.

				Steve

    	The question that is more appropriate for me is:
    
    		What will drive me away?
    
    	I'm now an Oracle employee.  As a DECcie I was able to not only
    	have direct deposit to my checking account, but also have small
    	amounts directly withdrawn from my paycheck and dispersed among
    	any number of family accounts.  So each week I had $2 put into
    	each of my 4 kids' savings accounts, and $57 into my own savings
    	account, and $125 into my wife's checking account, and $50 into
    	her savings account, etc.
    
    	Now I only get one direct deposit move (actually I believe Oracle
    	lets me split my direct deposits into 2 accounts) and DCU will
    	not accommodate me for doing regular periodic transfers.  If I
    	want something done once per month (and I would settle for that)
    	I will still have to call 1-800-whatever and have them do it for
    	me.
    
    	Once Oracle moves us out of the current DEC building, I will
    	switch to another institution that will accommodate me.  For 
    	now the onsite DCU/ATM access is worth the bother of having
    	to remember to manage these affairs, but once that's gone for
    	me, I'll move to greener banking pastures.

    
    This has geographic shortcomings for .63, but...
    
    Last week I was in Worker's Credit Union, closing out some accounts I
    had opened last spring in anticipation of quitting DCU. I noticed
    they were advertising their direct deposit capability. Seems they can
    take a direct deposit from anywhere and split it into four or five
    separate accounts. If Worker's can do it, so can DCU.
    
    On another note, my wife started using her DCU checking account when
    Shawmut recently instituted per-transaction fees. She would have
    looked for an account elsewhere with easier access (eg, free ATM
    access), but I offered to do any legwork for her. 
    
    If DCU wants to hold onto the members who are leaving DEC, it must offer:
    
      o  absolutely free access to any ATM anywhere (or at very least
         n free transactions/month for those who don't have incredibly
         easy access to a DCU ATM)
    
      o  direct deposit to multiple accounts from anywhere, not just from
         DEC payroll
    
    These are the basic services available to a majority of DEC employees
    that they lose when they become ex-DEC employees. IF DCU doesn't do
    something to address these basic services, it will lose most if not all
    of these members, never mind attracting new members.
    

    One option DCU must consider is the one that Hudson Savings Bank
    gives its checking account customers, six (6) FREE ATM transactions
    per month.  Since they don't have their own ATM machine, this works
    for them.  Since DCU is losing ATMs monthly with Digital down-sizing
    buildings, this might tend to be an option to consider; any amount
    of DCU ATM transactions per month PLUS a set number of outside ATM
    transactions.  If one is in an area of no DCU ATMs, then that number
    could be increased.  

    Think about it!

    justme....jacqui

    Re: .62 and coin counting
    
    That is one thing that annoys me in the local (in Hollis) bank I deal
    with.   I tend to like to "roll" my own and therefore have the deposit
    slip filled out before I get there.  I keep pocket change, and
    accumulate it (it has taken us out to some VERY nice evenings).  I go
    on a fit of rolling the coin and stashing it away until I want to
    deposit/use it.   I get glared at and all of the rolls "have to be
    broken" (by the teller) so that they can count it with a machine.  The
    have caught me ONCE (in the three times I used this "service").  In
    that case they said I has 6 sents more then I had counted.
    
    PLEASE do not go to in station counting if the depositer counts and
    rolls their own.   I'd rather "know" what I deposit, and perhaps have
    my account number written on the roll in case I blow it.
    
    Reason:  I have in the past year received rolls of pennies (tucked in
    rollers, by machine) with 47-51 cents in a roll.  MOST are correct,
    but...
         
    

    I too would like extended hours.  Aren't most banking institutions open
    one or more evenings till 7pm and or till noon on Saturday?  Now that
    the MLO DCU was forced to vacate the building it is not convient at all
    to get to the local branch.  Having the PKO office open after 4:30 on
    either Thursday or Friday would help.

Well, I can sympathize with the banks using the machines.  If they don't
break your rolls, how do they know you don't have slugs in there?  On
the other hand, the machines sometimes disagree with my counts but there's
no way to go back and recheck it.

				Steve

Some things that I think would make DCU more of a credit union and
better than a bank:

 1) Dividends every month, rather than quarterly.
 2) Lower minimum amounts for accounts to earn interest (from $1,000 to $300)
 3) Remove penalties that have been introduced with relationship banking.

	- mark

It would be nice if the machines were kept working .  This past Saturday I 
attempted to make a deposit at the ATM at the HQ building.  It accepted the 
CARD and asked for my pin number and then went through the whole drill of 
acking what kind of transaction I wanted etc and then told me that It was not 
doing deposits at this time and come back later.  
This is not the first time that the unit has done this and gone through the 
whole drill before telling me that it would not deal with the transaction.

If they are unable or unwilling to keep the unit in their building functional 
then they should be willing to accept the charges for the use of other ATMs.

There were about 10 cars in the Parking lot and they were not open for 
business.