Attention

The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not represent our advertisers

Sunday, August 16, 2015

A Letter To The Editor: SECU

Hi Joe,

You may already be aware of this, but have you seen the new "tellers" at SECU? I was amazed when I went in there this morning and had to do my transaction with a teller by video in a machine on the wall. I was assisted with this new technology by a very pleasant employee, but is this the new method of banking. Being older, but still tech savvy, I didn't like it but do understand why. I was told it was for increased security and bank robbery prevention. Well, you sure can't rob a machine on the wall....but what happened to the tellers...did they all lose their jobs. By the way, my automated teller was located in Linthicum. Before I went inside, I tried the drive-thru and people were lined up trying to figure out what to do with this new machine. I gave up (as did others) and went inside. I guess this is the future and we must get used to it, but it is going to more difficult for many customers. I'm sure other banks will follow.


Publishers Notes: I have quite a few banking friends and unfortunately this is the future, or so I've been told. While I very rarely ever visit any of the banks I have accounts with, I did stop in the Bank of America recently and was amazed to learn they are now down to only two tellers. 

They are a very friendly bank but I have to admit, gone are the days when I'd walk in and just about every single person working there would say, hello Mr. Albero. It made all that hard work over the years building savings somewhat rewarding. Now, well, it's just different and nowhere near as pleasant. Finally, I guess we're ALL getting older and feeling the rash of change.

27 comments:

Anonymous said...

Bank of Delmarva is old skool

Anonymous said...

Yes I've been in there and stood in line to use them. All well and good but when you have someone ahead of you that can't operate a flip phone what hope is there of them navigating a video teller? Stood in line for 20 minutes without the line moving and finally had to leave.

Anonymous said...

DO't be so OBTUSE, this is for security and this is for when they decide to not give us our money like in Greece... Why do you think it is happening in places like that first, it is a test bed so the american govt can know what to do to prepare...

I mean wtf are you going to do when the day comes, the banks won't give you your own damn money???? what are you going to do if you can;t buy food or anything bc they won't let you take out but 100 bucks a month or wtf ever they did to Greece...

You people need to understand, once can be considered a coincidence, but more than one is NOT A COINCIDENCE!!!! So if more than one bank is doing this, then there is a reason other than being robbed...

Anonymous said...

The system is awful! So disappointed in SECU.

Anonymous said...

Seems so cold and impersonal.

Anonymous said...

It's a "Big Bank" issue right now. Because of the discomfort caused by these changes, many are closing their accounts and putting their money into local banks who still have the personal touch. There are many who still like to go in and talk to someone who can help them find a mistake they've made, etc. People are resistant to change but change is the only constant in life. Change is more easily accepted over generations rather than year to year. Tellers will still be necessary at small town banks until the generation that aren't tech savvy die off. Just the fact.

Anonymous said...

Hertz rental car in Charlotte is supplementing their live counter people with similar video terminals during peak rental periods.

Anonymous said...

9:27 and some day you will be old and not so tech savy, as according to you change is inevitable and then someday we will wait for you to die off so that we can continue to evolve.

You win the crap comment of the day.

Anonymous said...

Bank of delmarva and First Shore federal both have people manning the drive through and still know you by name.

Anonymous said...

The "automated teller" sitting in a call center sweatshop in Linthicum, won't be there longer than it takes to outsource that to India or Bangladesh.

Anonymous said...

I concur with using the Bank of Delmarva...always pleasant tellers who know your name and the branch managers are always helpful.

Anonymous said...

No no no… Ma'am sir you completely misunderstood me. I am already old. And I am not text savvy. I would much rather talk to a human being that a computer screen. I was just stating the facts. Technology is making human beings insignificant. We are being replaced by machines. Those are facts. It's just the evolution of society. And we will die off. And as we do technology will be embraced by the next generation.

Anonymous said...

As I waited in line to be able to go to the next available video teller to only have to wait again, I asked the SECU person what happens when I want to cash in my coins now and was told to bring them to a business that would accept them.

They will probably increase the service fees to. Time to start looking for a bank with real people because as with anything else that has been automated the outsourcing to English as a second language countries will be around the corner.

Anonymous said...

First Shore Federal great friendly local bank. (Actually a Savings & Loan)

Anonymous said...

This will make it so much easier when banks shut down and you are only able to get out $40.00 per week. There will be no one to argue about your rights. Rights? Did I say rights? Oops...thats right...you barely have any now.

Anonymous said...

Just another wall between you and your "money" Easy to put in (direct deposit) and now even more difficult to get out. Want more than the ATM will disburse, and need a bank check (they won't give you money anymore)? After the face in the machine tells you that it can't give you your money, you are directed to go stand in another line, where there are only two clerks, and wait for one of them to process your request. Going to the credit union has just become one big hassle. I walked in with a large bank check to deposit last week, saw what was going on, and walked back out with my check. I can guarantee you that SECU did not conduct any member surveys, or consider any MEMBERS' opinion, when the bank directors made this decision. They have decided, unilaterally and arbitrarily, that SECU will provide as little member (ie customer) service as possible. Wave of the future, or not, its my money and I will make the decision whether I support this anti-member action by keeping my accounts there, or take my money somewhere that places at least a little value on customer service.

Anonymous said...

When the bottom falls out with the banks, we will be just like Greece. SECU, and all the others, will lock their doors and we will all be restricted to a maximum daily ATM withdrawal ammount, regardless of whether you have $500 in the bank, or $500,000 in the bank. Try objecting, or making a fuss with an ATM. The bank directors will be sitting in their oak paneled, highly secured offices laughing their butts off.

Anonymous said...

We have accounts at SECU, only because that's where our direct deposit still goes. As time went on, the credit union became more like the big banks. They forgot who owns the credit union. Their customer service has been terrible for ages.
If we were still living on the shore, we'd pull every penny out of the credit union and take it to First Shore Federal. We've done business with them and they've ALWAYS been exceptionally friendly and helpful.

Anonymous said...

I had to go there today. I have been dreading the visit since they changed their process.

I go to drive thru, both lanes say open. the first lane system was down, back up and enter the 2nd lane, system down.

Admitting defeat I parked, walk to the front door and was greeted (if you want to call it that) by 3 employees. They said the system was down. I asked for an ETA, they had no idea. It was awful, they would not even allow me in the bank to speak with someone about something not transaction related. I was informed only one ATM was working. As I was walking away, they laughed at all the people who were frustrated.

I called SECU in Balt, the 487 number. They had no idea there was a problem. I was unable to get an ETA.

I am over this. No, they did not ask anyone I know about changing the system. Annapolis still has tellers, btw.

We have been banking with them for over 18 years. They treated me with such disrespect and ignorance.

We are now going to pull our money out and seek a local bank. I would love to hear reviews of local banks, if this forum allows.

Anonymous said...

I don't see any reason to stay with SECU.

I remember an insert in a statement mailed a while back 'disclosing' that they spend about $250,000/yr on compensating their directors for meal allowances, travel, "pay-differential", blah blah.. and there's only a handful of directors splitting all this money up.

Then there's the 'scholarships' they give out each year.

They have that kind of money to throw around because they pay such pitiful rates on accounts.

Just like a BIG BANK.

I'm pulling my money out of there and going somewhere else.



Unknown said...

The complainers here are all over themselves. The "video conferencing" teller machines are certainly not new. The NASA FCU in Annapolis has had them for at least 10 years. That said, it's been years since I had to visit any of their branches because NASAFCU offers a smart phone app to do banking and deposits from home. The ATM machines take cash and checks. I beg someone to just tell us WHY they need a (real) face to face human interaction to do their banking. It's actually cash that has become what's difficult to tender.

Quit blaming your stupidity on progress and innovation and LEARN how to use the new tools. You know who you are. You probably STILL have a "flip" phone.

Anonymous said...

And every time the internet craps out...no banking.

Anonymous said...

0804 you are obviously way a head of everyone on the shore. Good for you.

Anonymous said...

The problem isn't the machines, they are quite easy to use. The problem is that there are only two of them in the bank, making progress painstakingly slow. Also, the last time I was there I was told that there were only 10 trained video tellers in Linthicum handling seven SECU branches. The bank just wasn't properly prepared for the change.

Anonymous said...

We bank at bank of Delmarva and they are wonderful! Always ready to help. You are always treated courteously with a smile.

Anonymous said...

SECU's interest rates on deposits are 3-5 times (or more)than what a bank will give you, and the rate on loans is less than what your "teller" staffed banks have. If you object to the service, keep patronizing banks while they rip you off, while giving you nothing on your deposits. During high volume times at SECU (Fridays & Saturdays) there will be lines at the machines, but other days it is just as fast, or faster than it was with a teller counter. The need for a transaction slip has been eliminated with the new machines at SECU, making the process faster. And the tellers at the teller center are very courteous and helpful. Talk to then often, and they too, will remember your name and what you look like. They are real people. It is not just a machine. There are several helpful people on site to assist with explaining how to navigate the new process and how easy it is. They are still adding another "teller" so it will be even faster when it comes on line. No tellers lost their job as a result of this transition, so I was told. The chaos of implementation will settle down over time. All of the SECU branches are to undergo this upgrade. For a much better return on your deposits and a great rate on loans, get used to it and learn how well it works. Otherwise, just keep getting ripped off by your "friendly neighborhood banks."

Anonymous said...

Quit blaming your stupidity on progress and innovation and LEARN how to use the new tools. You know who you are. You probably STILL have a "flip" phone.

August 11, 2015 at 8:04 PM

what do you blame yours on? And I don't know about the other guy but I STILL have a flip phone. and I can use it with one hand