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Conference 7.286::dcu

Title:DCU
Notice:1996 BoD Election results in 1004
Moderator:CPEEDY::BRADLEY
Created:Sat Feb 07 1987
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1041
Total number of notes:18759

112.0. "Why I'm Leaving DCU" by SOFBAS::CAISSIE () Tue Jul 12 1988 15:23

    The main reason being that it's bloody inconvenient.  I work in
    VRO, and the nearest DCUs are in Maynard or Bedford.  Yea, I could
    use an ATM, and that brings me to the other reason I'm leaving DCU;
    it's expensive.  If I use an ATM once a week, that winds up costing
    me $52/yr.  I did some shopping around yesterday and found a bank
    (WCIS) that will give me a better deal than DCU.
    
    	Free checking that earns interest AND no minimum balance.
    	This is because of direct deposit.
    
    	Unlimited usage of an ATM card at the bank's machines,
    	Cirrus, Yankee, and another one I can't remember for only
    	$12/yr., which they automatically withdraw from my checking
    	account every year.  Because the year's already half over,
    	I was charged just $6.
    
    	Competitive interest rates (i.e., no worse than DCU's) on
    	savings, checking, etc. accounts.
    
    	Better CD interest rates.  
    
    Beginning this week, I'll be halting my DCU payroll deductions and
    starting to close down my accounts and transfer the funds to WCIS.
    The removal of my money certainly isn't going to cause DCU to come
    tumbling down, but I can't help feeling that DCU is long overdue
    for a hard look at it's services, the way it responds to it's members,
    the way it manages the members money, and it's offerings.
     
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
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112.1No per-transaction charge?IAMOK::DEVIVOPaul DeVivo @VRO, DTN 273-5166Wed Jul 13 1988 16:454
    Are you *sure* you can have unlimited use of ATMs other than those
    which belong to WCIS for the $12/yr., or is there a per transaction fee
    for those others?  That sounds too good to be true.  I thought it cost
    the bank between $.50 and $1.00 to use the ATM network! 
112.2IBM Does ItNPOGRP::BRAKEHome at LastWed Jul 13 1988 16:4833
    I think many people like to use DCU because of the convenience of
    having a bank, so to speak, at work. However, in more and more cases
    there are just not enough DCU branches around to satisfy the needs
    of members, the cost of using ATM cards is getting out of hand and
    the "Inconvenience" of the system is finally starting to rear it's
    ugly head.
    
    If you live in Marlboro or Maynard, fine....you can have access
    whenever you wish. But what of spouses? Some plants like Salem and
    Burlington, VT have DCUs situated right by an entrance and spouses
    who are non-employees have no trouble. What about the Mill and the
    Marlboro complex?
    
    A solution? Well, the IBM Emplyees Credit Union up in Essex Jct,
    VT has branches througout their factory complex but, in addition,
    has a branch office in a mall located adjacent to an A&P store.
    This allows non-employee account holders to have access during regular
    business hours plus on Saturday. In addition, they can use their
    ATM cards here on Sundays, holidays, after hours, etc for no charge.
    
    My suggestion is to consider geographical centers where members'
    families are located (Worcester, Framingham, Boston, etc) and build
    or lease space for branch offices that conduct business as regular
    banks. I don't think this is wasteful. On the contrary, DEC is one
    of the largest employers in the state and I believe this would
    encourage more people to either sign up or continue their membership.
    
    I agree with the sentiments stated in .0 concerning the inconvenience.
    Perhaps it's time for DCU to considere that it needs to appeal not
    only to employees but to the employees' families as well.
    
    Rich
    
112.3Nope, no per transaction chargeSOFBAS::CAISSIEWed Jul 13 1988 21:004
    I specifically asked if there was a per transaction fee for using
    non-WCIS ATMs, and I was told that my $12/yr. covered all my ATM
    usage - including the non-WCIS machines.  One of my brothers' has
    a WCIS ATM card, and he confirms what I was told by the bank.
112.4Fees are arbitraryBAGELS::LEVYLiving life at the marginWed Jul 13 1988 22:0113
re:    < Note 112.1 by IAMOK::DEVIVO "Paul DeVivo @VRO, DTN 273-5166" >
   >                     -< No per-transaction charge? >-
   >
   > Are you *sure* you can have unlimited use of ATMs other than those
   > which belong to WCIS for the $12/yr., or is there a per transaction fee
   > for those others?  That sounds too good to be true.  I thought it cost
   > the bank between $.50 and $1.00 to use the ATM network! 
    
    It also costs the bank to build and staff branches. How a bank
    distributes its' costs over its' customer base is a purely arbitrary
    decision. I belong to a credit union which has _no_ fees associated
    with CIRRUS ATM withdrawals.

112.5DCU is a hassle...2HOT::CARIGNANMarc Carignan, DTN 381-0146Fri Jul 15 1988 16:2126
    I belonged to a bank (Bank of New Hampshire) that had the same deal:
    no fees for ATM cards at all!...no even a yearly fee!!!
    
    According to Consumer Reports, 10 cents goes to CIRRUS and 50 cents
    goes to the bank; well, I'm sure it doesn't *cost* the bank 50 cents,
    so the 50 cents they get from *other* users probably can help pay
    for their own members' usage...?!
    
    I think I'm going back...or at least shopping around again...
    
    The ZKO ATM is down *AGAIN*!  All morning so far... (and its Friday...
    I need $; the line had >15 people!  At the DCU 2-teller speed, that
    would probably be 20-25 minutes...can't do it...I have real *work*
    to do here!
    
    And this morning, I saw a sign on the ATM, a standard white sheet
    of paper with 'NO CASH' written on it in red marker, probably put
    there yesterday!
    
    This is 4 times in less than 2 weeks (all at different times) that
    something ahs been wrong with the ATMs.  If the new software is
    so bad, GET RID OF IT!!!!!!!!!!!  (Back off to the previous versioN!!!)
    
    Looking for a better deal...
    
    Marc
112.6tell us more about BoNH!YODA::BARANSKIThe far end of the bell curveFri Jul 15 1988 17:530
112.7First NH BankTOKLAS::FELDMANPDS, our next successMon Jul 18 1988 13:0419
    I don't know about Bank of New Hampshire, but I keep an account
    at First NH Bank.  They don't charge for ATM use at all, regardless
    of whose machines you use.
    
    Their checking account requires a $500 minimum deposit.  
    
    They're relatively convenient to ZK.  There's one at the Pheasant
    Lane Mall, near Charley's.  Mostly I use the one on DW highway,
    at the Shaw's complex, but at street level, near the Computer Mart.

    My original motivation for using them was to get a safe deposit
    box.  I still don't use them for most of my money (DCU is still
    physically more convenient), but I try to keep a few hundred over
    the $500 minimum there, so that if I need cash when I'm away from
    a DCU machine, I can get it.
    
    They're on Cash Network, Cirrus, PocketBank, and I believe Tx.
    
       Gary
112.8banking in Somervlle 2EASY::PIKETWed Jul 20 1988 15:0023
    
    I have found the best banking deal in the Boston area (for those
    for whom that is convenient)
    Somerset Savings, which has branches in Burlington, Somerville,
    and Winterhill, has no minimum checking (with interest no matter
    what the minimum), and you don't have to keep a savings account
    to have this, although I do.
    
    Also, their card is on the CIRRUS network so you can use it at any
    CIRRUS (or yankee 24 for that matter) for no charge.
    
    I asked the woman who opened my account how come they had such a
    great deal and she simply said that they realize people don't normally
    keep large amounts of money in a checking account. 
    
    A disadvantage: You can't do transfers on the phone, or use your
    ATM card to access your savings account.
    
    I don't know anything about their loan rates, and since I just got
    out of school I haven't had enough money to worry yet about CD's,
    etc. But check it out!
    
    Roberta Piket
112.9Why I am Not Opening a DCU Checking AccountVORTEX::VALENTADAVID VALENTAMon Aug 01 1988 17:3314
    I had a checking account at Progressive Consumers Federal Credit  
    Union, rated as the cheapest checking account by Consumer Reports,
    when I joined DEC.  I have been looking for a good reason to change
    my account to the DCU but have not found one yet.
    
    No charge checking, no min. balance, as long as you direct deposit
    your paycheck, they pay for checks, no charge for ATM usage anywhere
    on the CIRRUS system ( I have used it in Florida, Michigan, Illinois,
    Califoria .....) and on it goes.
    
    Why change when it works. Only the government fixes things that
    are not broken (AT&T breakeup).
    
    David
112.10how do you join PCFU? :-)YODA::BARANSKISearching the Clouds for RainbowsTue Aug 02 1988 13:400
112.11To join, call them at (617) 231-3600.VORTEX::VALENTADAVID VALENTAMon Aug 08 1988 20:236
    re: .10
    
    I guess you can call them at (617) 231-3600 and ask.  I am a memeber
    because of my previous employer offerd them.
    
    David
112.12a fond farewellKOBAL::ZEHNGUTFri Dec 30 1988 17:0113
    To redirect this note to its base title, "Why I'm leaving DCU", I
    thought I'd pass along this information.  I left DCU a few weeks ago for
    lots of minor reasons, rather than any major ones.  I found that I
    don't really need their services.  So, when I closed my account I
    asked for my balance in the form of a check, which I was given.  The
    interesting thing was that $5.00 was withheld from the check (this is the
    original $5.00 that opened my savings account) and I have to wait to
    get the $5.00 "from Maynard" in the mail.  Just another feature of DCU
    that I'll miss so much...
    
    Marc
    
    By the way, I'm still waiting for MY $5.00.
112.13I'm outa here....BAGELS::LEVYSat Jul 15 1989 03:0015
    I closed my account last week. It's had no activity for almost 2
    quarters. I've taken my business elsewhere (where I have free
    CIRRUS/NYCE/YANKEE24 access, and no minimum balance/no monthly fees).
    
    I was planning on leaving my account open, to see if things improved
    in the future, but that note about changing the LTV for Home Equity
    loans without notice made me realize they can just as easily change
    the no activity grace period from 1 year to 1 quarter, and I'd be
    stuck arguing from my $2.50 back.
    
    I think it says something that I work in a town with two staffed
    branches and two DCU ATM's (well, one of them will actually be in
    Westford), yet the convenience factor isn't enough to keep my business.
    
    Well, good luck you guys.
112.14Where are you going?ISTG::ENGHOLMLarry EngholmMon Jul 17 1989 04:228
    Re. .-1
    
    > I've taken my business elsewhere (where I have free
    > CIRRUS/NYCE/YANKEE24 access, and no minimum balance/no monthly fees).
    
    Could you tell us where?  I'm looking for a reasonable bank with easy
    access to free ATMs.
    							Larry
112.15I deal with Lunenburg; they're very friendlyBAGELS::LEVYMon Jul 17 1989 17:138
re:    < Note 112.14 by ISTG::ENGHOLM "Larry Engholm" >
    
   > Could you tell us where?  I'm looking for a reasonable bank with easy
   > access to free ATMs.
    
    Peoples Savings Bank (took over First Service Bank for Savings),
    headquartered in Worcester, offices in Leominster, Lunenburg,
    Fitchburg, and Worcester and environs.