January 2022 by T L.
I'm 100% sure Ardent will not care about this post but someone will, which is why I am writing. I happily, closed my account with Ardent (formerly known as, SB1) after 34 years! I joined when I was 17 and I worked at SmithKline via a high school business program. I can say that for many years, I have had a wonderful relationship with SB1 and I owe SB1 and the former VP of Lending a lot. However, Ardent (formerly known as, SB1) IS NOT SB1. SB1 was a member focused and friendly credit union who cared about members and members had decent working relationships with staff. Ardent might as be like any other bank but without the power and size of a bank. Yes, I know much has changed in the financial industry, with many new rules and regulatory nuances, BUT Ardent is just plain cold, aloof, and not member friendly. In my 34 years, I have never had a loan with anyone that was paid off and on time. I closed my account in Jan 2022 because back in Sept of 2021 I was in the process of doing a re-fi w/ Rocket Mortgage. I was about close when I learned I couldn't because Ardent reported me for a late payment in November of 2020 for my HELCO. I had no idea. I had a HELOC and a Signature loan due a few days apart (22nd & 31st). I decided to take cash payments to Ardent on the same day. Granted, the HELOC was few days late after the due date of the 22nd but technically there were no missed payments In the 34 years I banked w/ them, I have never missed payment on any loan I have had. I was really done really Sept of 2021, when Ardent refused to write a letter to Rocket Mortgage to say there technically no missed payments so I could close. Rocket Mortgage didn't need the credit report corrected. They only needed a letter with an explanation. I even went in person asking them to write the letter and they still refused. Rocket Mortgage was surprised as well but said all was not lost and to just wait until December to re-start my app when the Ardent reporting would naturally fall off and they'd see a clean 12 month of payment. SIDEBAR: Paranoid, I called to confirm w/ my primary mortgage lender, Midwest, if I any problem with them, they said, "No. During the pandemic, we didn't report anyone. That said a lot about how they operate. PAY ATTENTION: Ardent clearly had no problem. Long story short, I completed the refi w/ Rocket Mortgage by late December. The process was smooth and people were awesome and amazing. They literally changed my financial life and I cannot be more thankful. All consumer debt paid off and 2.7% interest rate. By the way, if I could have refinanced w/ Ardent I would have but they are so small, scared, strict and inflexible. I really no longer see that the point is in doing business with them. MORAL: Do yourself a favor, don't bother with Ardent. They will never have the personal touch SB1 had and there are numerous others to bank with. If you are an existing member, and they are giving you hard time, know that WHAT THEY WON'T DO, SOMEONE ELSE WILL HAPPILY DO. Closing my account was business but it was also personal. I will continue to bank w/ American Heritage (personal) and Chase (business). I mean ALL OF this.
