Provident Credit Union (Walnut Creek Community Branch) - Walnut Creek, California

Mary Buttler

I have decided to remove my accounts from Provident today based on my “last straw” experience. I came to make my RMD contribution. The teller asked me how much I wanted to withdraw. I told him the required amount and he said I had to tell him an amount. Never before have I had an experience like this. I also had the same experience with the tax amount. After getting angry with the questing game approach to my RMD, he finally gave me the amount. Comparing my experience to my Schwab account, I am so angry I had to play games for 15 minutes. At Schwab you are given the RMD amount and you get to decide if you want to change the amount. Then you are given the tax amount and you can choose to pay it or not. Less than a minute with no games. Add this experience to 2 times in the past 6 months where my checking account was compromised with items that most agencies realize were fraud is enough! Provident doesn’t have the customer in mind with its business practices.

Zenaida de guzman

I registered an online banking at Walnut Creek branch and Misha at the Customer service window was very helpful and knowledgeable to assist me. Employee like him should be promoted and given a merit points. I would recommend to my friends to open an account in this bank.

Pamela’s Experience

Theron Butler -Walnut Creek branch

I just want to congratulate you on excellent customer service. You’re easy to talk to very knowledgeable of your work. Thank you for your services. Thank you for asking how my day is going.
I’ve been to establishments lately where people won’t even say hello or acknowledge your presence.
Provident credit union you have a outstanding Employee in this young man!

David Valadez

Amy at the Walnut Creek demonstrated excellent Customer Service skills. Very knowledgeable.

Bruno Versaci

I'm a new client and was about to give provident 5 stars until they fell a little short of my expectations. Not a big deal, but not exactly ethical either. I was never told (so beware), that when you buy electronically with your debit card, there is a 5% "foreign transaction fee." I called them up and said what the hell is a "foreign transaction fee" since I never heard an institution charge that type of fee before.

The representative explained that when you buy something online usually, and the product or service is coming from another country, they will charge that 5% fee. So it just so happens I have a monthly subscription for a product out of Hong Kong and therefore, I will now have a monthly fee. 16 cents more a month, no big deal. However, if it's $100, that's 5 bucks. So multiply this by their thousands of customers... it adds up.

What's basically going on is they are paying a fee and therefore rather than eat the cost as their business expense, they're just passing it on to us - the customer. ARCO gas stations and many small mom and pop stores are notorious for this. Regardless if you used the credit or debit side of your card, they'll tack on an extra 50 cents having us pay for their card machine fees. It's not illegal, but it is a bit unethical.

That's all I need is another institution nickel and diming me to death. Very disappointing.

Craig Kauffman

I think Provident Credit Union is the best. Absolutely no complaints. I was on the Board of Directors of Golden Gate Federal CU, which merged with Provident many years ago.

Credit unions have advantages over banks --- no checking fees, for one. I believe Bank of America charges about $120/year for checking -- over 5 years that works out to $600! Sure there are fewer teller machines, but you can usually use any credit union teller machine without a fee. Wells Fargo once had the audacity to charge me $1 for getting my checking balance on an ATM instead of online!

I like the flexibility of Provident's line of credit. There is a small annual charge ($25?), but I can take money out of my line of credit anytime, for as short or as long as I need. If I need and extra $75 one week before a paycheck, it's available, and the interest meter (7%) stops immediately when I pay back the loan. In other words, I don't get charged interest for an entire month or billing cycle, just the time I actually have the loan.

I was at both Bank of America and Provident Credit Union today (Friday afternoon, a busy bank time). The Bank of America branch had only two tellers working, and the line was at least 20 people long. The Provident Credit Union branch line (Walnut Creek) at almost the same time was 3 or 4 persons long, with three tellers working, and a manager who would come out as needed.

If you haven't used a credit union before, try it as a secondary account and see if it works for you. You might find that you don't need a big name bank anymore, and get better fees and rates with the credit union!

Tungstun Doughnut

ATM Machine ate $100 of mine I bank at a different credit union co-op. I went inside and after the machine ate my money and the people didn't care after I told them I wasn't a provident member. Wouldn't check there machine and only told me my only source of recourse is wait a week and file a dispute with my credit union . I need my $100 now not a week ! They simply didn't care and we're very unprofessional! I've made dozens of deposits in co-op ATMs never an issue never will I use provident for anything ever !

Linda Fraguela

I have been a member, receiving great service from all staff for over 20 years back to the Golden Gate Credit Union site in the SF Federal Bldg. I had my daughter and grandchildren join as members of the PC family to begin their financial knowledge of MONEY and how it works. PC services have always been fantastic. Thank you for being there when I needed you.