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January 2024 by Jessica Behrman
Staff are helpful but all branches always seem understaffed. I rarely need to go into the bank, but whenever I do, even when there is only one other customer, why is there always such along wait?Maybe this is also true of other banks - I don’t know because I’ve been an MB customer for over 20 years. It’s definitely been a better experience than at Wells Fargo and Bank of America.
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December 2023 by Yvette A.
Zehra Vahidy was extremely helpful to me with a money wiring issue, as was a teller. I highly recommend this bank and branch.
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June 2023 by Lavoisier H.
.Went into Mechanics Bank today the Albany Branch was Helped by Sandi Maldonado had a very Pleasant and Professional experience. Thanks again Sandi
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May 2023 by Ben Mosher
My old branch when I used mechanics for business. The employees are helpful and friendly. Only 4 stars because other banks (pcu and paypal) said they wouldn't charge me at atm but it always did. Maybe they left the network later.
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February 2023 by Tastie Cereale
I like the convenience of proximity, availability of safe deposit boxes, and that the staff here are mostly nice, but that doesn't make up for the shortcomings that end up wasting a good deal of my time. My first encounter here was being blown off by a manager when I tried to open an account. She said there wasn't enough time and told me to come back the following week, and incorrectly stated I needed to provide an overabundance of documentation to open a business account. I called another branch and they expressed surprise and dismay at what I had been told. I ended up opening a personal account some months later when I learned that manager was no longer with the branch. I regret my choice. In addition to the terrible app and poor website, which are not the fault of this branch, I have also found the service at this branch lacking. 90% of the time I am in there, I see very few customers. Yet every time I've needed a service beyond a check deposit, they've stated it requires an appointment and/or asked me to try another branch due to their staffing shortage. Notary public services, savings bonds deposit, and setting up a business account were all beyond the scope of routine services for this branch. What prompted me to write this review, however, is after making an appointment to deposit some savings bonds, I was first called 10 minutes before the appointment and asked if I could come another day due to some issue they were having in the branch. I had a deadline to meet and could not wait, so they again asked me to try another branch. When I pointed out I'd already waited for the appointment and the bonds were in their possession, they managed to keep my appointment, albeit a bit later in the day. No problem, right? Wrong. After waiting in the lobby for 30+ mins while the deposit was made (I wanted a receipt, and am glad I got one), I went home and checked my account. The money showed as available, as it should when U.S. treasury bonds are deposited, as they are like cash. However, the next morning I checked my account and discovered there was NO record of the deposit at all. I called customer service, who could see the initial transaction and did not know where the deposit had gone. They contacted this branch, and discovered that the branch had made a mistake in the deposit. So the sizeable sum somehow was NOT deposited into my account. Nearly an hour on the phone with customer service, and calls with the branch, and the money reappeared. Having to spend an hour+ of my workday tracking down my money due to a bank mistake is unacceptable. I will be looking for another bank.
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September 2022 by Anton S.
Horrible company, they STOLE my Nissan Rogue Sport 2020 that bought with my cash money at WA State Public Auction. I paid $25,000 for the car, I have WA state title in hand with my legal owner name. I have the keys and the title but no car. Mechanics bank don't care, they don't pick up my calls, and they are hiding my car. They didn't report the car as repossessed as they should have done by the law. So when I filed the report of stolen vehicle, police could not find the car. When I told to the police that the bank stole it, the Mechanics bank lied to the police and send them old not valid title to take down the report of stolen vehicle. I went to the bank office to resolve and they just attacked me verbally and accused me of having fake WA title and stated that Washington state is doing criminal title washing stuff. Then they humiliated me and kicked me out of their property. As of now I lost $25,000 and they won't give my car back.
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May 2022 by MikeY G.
They are liars and they are racist ! There customer service is horrible the employees have a horrible attitude
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February 2022 by B H.
I have banked with Mechanics since moving to CA 11 years ago. Was happy to have found a good local bank. Opened several accounts there & put family business accounts there, plus got my grown children to bank there. Now I am suggesting that we all move our accounts... Why? 2 examples: Last week, Tuesday morning after a long weekend -- 2 tellers (one was the one who is slower than molasses, the one I try to avoid) and no managers at the desks. One customer with a problem, business people with big deposits in line (line consisting of 6-7 patrons whole time -- several people walked into bank, looked at line and lack of help, and turned around and walked out), so effectively one teller processing patrons with anything like efficiency (drive-up window shut). Took 45 minutes to deposit one already endorsed check with filled-out deposit slip -- a check that couldn't be deposited through the mobile app because it was too large. Yesterday is another example -- Monday morning. One teller on (the slowest one, of course) and no managers at the desks or anywhere in sight... I have other examples also but enough is enough. I think any reader can catch my drift... Nice location but very poor service -- you should probably go elsewhere.
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February 2022 by Bill D.
For years our Mechanics Bank in Albany-Berkeley-Richmond has been The Best! Today Zehra Vahidy (VP, MGR) guided us thru a mess i made with online banking. We can breathe again!!! THANKYOU. Nancy Bill.
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December 2021 by Dana Meyer
Been a satisfied customer for 46 years.
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October 2021 by Allucaneat G.
I came here with high hopes from a colleague and neighbors. I really wanted to dump the evil Wells Fargo. Unfortunately, this bank, or at least this branch, failed to meet even the lowest expectations. I called ahead to inquire about business and personal accounts available. The fact that a real person answered the phone was promising. I was given some information on accounts, including an interest bearing checking account, which really surprised me. I was then asked to come in and meet with a banker in person. So the following week I walked in an hour before closing. The place had very few customers, but the two bankers were busy, so I waited. No big deal. Then I met with a woman whose name I wish I could remember, because I'd like to warn others. She not only showed zero interest in helping me, she did it with an obvious saccharin sweetness that was rude and obnoxious. I asked her about accounts and learned they have no interest bearing checking accounts, and the information I'd been provided on the phone was all incorrect. No apology for the wrong info. I tried to learn more about the various checking and savings accounts, but the woman was visibly annoyed and instead told me what account she would open for me - without providing the details of the account! I said I wanted more info on the different accounts available, but instead of telling me anything, she gave me a piece of paper that listed several kinds of personal accounts with no explanation. I asked what was needed to open a business account and was told I had to provide specific documents which I had not brought with me. When I asked about personal accounts, I was told I could open it with check or cash. I said I'd go home and be back in 5 mins with a check. This was 30 mins before closing. The woman says sorry, too late to open an account today. I then offered to open an account with cash. Nope. I'd have to come back the following week (it was Friday). I went home and called the branch on Solano, and they also answered. I explained what had just happened and they apologized and invited me to come to their branch. At this point I think I'll just find another bank. Wells Fargo is awful, but I don't need to be treated like crap by a bank that will be using my money. I'd rather use online banking than deal with that kind of attitude.
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August 2021 by William Thacher Dane (Bill)
¡ The Best Of Them All since day one ! **********THANK YOU WONDERFUL WORKING PEOPLEDane-Dulberg Family
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April 2021 by 'Bill Dane' WilliamThacherDane
¡ The Best Of Them All since day one ! **********THANK YOU WONDERFUL WORKING PEOPLEDane-Dulberg Family
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March 2021 by Josh B.
Mechanic's Bank bought our mortgage loan from the original lender. A few years later, we refinanced with another lender. Thus, we had to stop the automatic monthly payments from being taken from our checking account. It was a nightmare. A little background: First of all, the website has essentially ZERO functionality for mortgage loans. Everything has to be done by mail and/or the phone. For a large bank like Mechanic's, this is pathetic. It was difficult enough to establish the automatic payments to begin with. When it came time to cancel the automatic payments, we spent about 2 hours on the phone trying to find out how to do so (again, this should have been just few mouse clicks and keyboard strokes on the computer). Finally, we were told that there was a specific form that we needed to fill out, but they could not email it to us. Funny how I was able to find the form via a Google search. The form itself is very misleading. It is primarily designed to establish rather than to terminate automatic payments. I had to make another phone call to clarify how to fill out the form in order terminate the payments (essentially, you just ignore most of the fields on the form). We finally got in touch with someone from the Loan Services department who was willing to process the cancellation if we went to a branch and had it scanned and emailed to her. Ok, fine, so I go to the Albany branch to do so. The form clearly indicates how far in advance the form must be submitted before changes can take place. When I arrive at the branch and present the form, the teller had no idea what to do with it. She made a call, then told me that I have to write a letter, and even after doing so, the change might not take effect before another payment is made. I told her that this was inaccurate, and that I had spent most of morning researching this matter. She pushes back, and I push back harder, telling her to call the person that I had spoken to from Loan Services. After fighting with the teller for about 10 minutes, she finally makes the call to the appropriate person. They tell her exactly what I told her, and she proceeds to scan and email the form. By this time, I'm almost livid. I ask to speak with a manager, and she directed me to speak with a gentleman seated at a desk. I speak with him, and he was receptive to my concerns. He indicated that loan servicing is really not something that they are particularly well versed in, nor something that they deal with regularly. That is understandable, but I the response I go from the teller was unacceptable. Both the company that refinanced our loan and the company that they in turn sold the loan to had very good functionality on their websites, leaving Mechanic's bank in the dust. Mechanic's bank needs to streamline the servicing of mortgage loans, and put that functionality on their website. It's really a shame, because as far as I know, Mechanic's Bank is a pretty socially responsible company. Had it not been for this ridiculously long and exasperating series of events, I would have considered moving my checking and savings accounts to Mechanic's. Now, they don't have a prayer. I am rating this branch as two starts. If it were not for the manager who was willing to actually listen to me and apologize for the bad experience, it would have been one star.
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February 2021 by Rinky N.
What the hell is happening with this bank? They were bought by another company and it's been Hell. The people who work here are nice enough but..... I can't even log into my account online...they keep saying my password is wrong. The new debit card they issued is a joke. I've had nothing but trouble trying to use it. Rarely works. The only way to find out my current balance is to go into the bank and have a "banker" print out the current statement. I think 'I'm transferring back to WF.
