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October 2023 by Eric I.
Really really disappointed. My business switched to First Bank after our other local bank was swallowed up by Wells Fargo. They recently switched to a new location and it has been a horrible customer experience.1. There is no access to an ATM for after-hours (they close at 5) cash or deposit. 2. No Saturday hours. 3. You cannot talk to a teller at the bank. You have to make a deposit at the branch by talking to a screen inside the branch. This actually makes a deposit slower than the ATM. 4. Not sure why they needed this fancy branch is such a prime location. They could just have a kiosk anywhere and hide their virtual tellers away anywhere. Looks like a lot of wasted space. Even the "lobby" is just a big room with a virtual teller and a table. Not sure why it is there. Very bummed and will be looking to move my bank ASAP. I have another account at City National where you can go and talk to real people anytime you want.
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July 2022 by Bill T.
Amazing customer service and client oriented. They even remember your name. The rate on their Heloc was the best we found. They worked around our schedules when we had to come in to sign papers. They also were able to get it approved and funded quickly with no fees.
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March 2018 by Robert Kirk Stewart
Just to let you know about my experience with FIRST BANK in ALHAMBRA CALIFORNIA OHIO BANK BRANCH Joanna poon is very nice to deal with and is extremely important knowledgeable about all of my banking needs so far she looks like she will go far in this INDUSTRY YOURS TRULY. ROBERT K STEWART of EL MONTE CALIFORNIA BEST WISHES TO YOU GOOD LUCK TO YðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜
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March 2018 by Mag K.
The manager Diana is very nice. The rest is downhill from there. Especially if you're a new/small business, stay far away. The website is unbearable, constant fees that they'll wave if you catch it, call and complain. Even the staff can't navigate their own online business banking. They seem to only want to handle mortgages. I was trying to avoid bigger banks and wanted just a little care and attention and it's been nothing but a headache. My business was just funded and I took my business else where, not that they care.
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November 2017 by James M.
I recently finished a line of credit on my home with First Bank. Judy and Diana took care of the process for me, they were fast and thorough. They picked up mistakes I had made in the application immediately and took action to fix it. This has the feeling of a small bank, the relationships feel personal. If you are looking for a new bank, ask for one of them and open up an account, these are good people. Thanks First Bank
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September 2017 by Jenn E.
I have been a customer of First Bank San Mateo for a decade. One of my accounts at the bank is fairly complex (in need of court accounting) and every time I need a printed or emailed statement that I have misplaced, they go out of their way (hassle and fee free) to get the documents to me. They have won over my trust so much that I have them working on a dynamic financial consolidation project for my mother at the moment. The manager Diana is amazing! You can go to her with any problem and she will find the solution. No matter how small the task she will never make me feel like I am a burden or troubling to her. Singh and Judy are awesome too! I hardly carry around cash and when I need it I stop into the San Mateo, San Francisco (two locations) or South bay location or I withdraw money at a store using my ATM. They do direct deposit and offer online banking for convenience (I purposely do not do online banking because I like to visit with them). If you miss the days of your parents when banking was more family oriented, where they greet you with a smile, where they take their time to help you, where you do not interact with a computer when making a deposit, where you can actually reach someone live when you need help, where there aren't long lines for you to transact YOUR money, where if you forget to fill out your deposit or withdrawal slip they will do it for you at the counter and not sigh or roll their eyes, where you will never have to wait long to get all of your answers or concerns answered... then bank at First Bank. You will never go back to a big commercial bank again.You will not remember one bank teller from another when you need to make a withdrawal or a deposit but you will remember the bank when you need records, statements, to make a deposit for a loved one, to get a loan for something important, to find out what went wrong when money went missing, to find out why they are holding a check that should be deposited, or if you need documents for income tax related issue. You want intelligent, compassionate, efficient, hassle fee and fee free. When you are in an emergency or in an urgent time sensitive state check out how well your bank is serving you. It is your hard earned money earning pennies at these banks and we should demand excellent customer service and NOT bank with banks that do not help us in our greatest time of need. THANK YOU to First Bank SAN MATEO for being the poster child of what banking customer service is and should be like!
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September 2017 by David Ford
I looked at and visited all the banks in San Mateo, I was looking for a small business account. First Bank on East 4th Ave in San Mateo was and is the most welcoming of any Bank I have ever dealt with. I opened an account with the VP D Kayiatos, easy painless and went on my way. I recently opened another account with my Father, just S made that transaction easy and painless. I have had several questions, issues (not with the Bank) and Judy has taken care of every single one efficiently and effectively with exceptional grace and customer service. Mr Singh the senior teller (I think) is also always courteous and helpful. I can not say enough good things about this Banks staff, especially Judy. Kudos to First Bank
