Apple Federal Credit Union

Nice People And Great Rates
- techmaniac - Wednesday, January 11, 2012 - 8:12 AM

I like the young lady that greets me each time I enter my branch, and the nice young man who handles my money.  They are professional and always ask about my children like a good neighbor. 

Beyond the personal service, I find that they have great rates on car loans (have 2 with them) and mortgages.  It does cost me $5 a month to have money transferred to my daughter, but other than that the checking account is FREE!  I'm not sure what the other reviewer is doing that gets so many fees.  The ATMS are FREE to use, they give cashiers checks for FREE and I can always talk to a counseler about how to manage my money.

 

My Primary Banking Institution For 6+ Years
- spottedtiger - Tuesday, January 8, 2013 - 8:09 AM

I have banked with Apple FCU for over 6 years now, and I have all of my loans, credit cards, and even do my taxes through their Apple Services office at the main headquarters. Everyone I have dealt with has been extremely kind, friendly, and helpful at their main branch. I am not sure why everyone else has been posting about the number of fees Apple has. I banked with BB&T for over 8 years, and let me tell you about fees. Every time I have gotten an overdraft fee at Apple, I call into their Call Center and they ALWAYS refund the fee for me as a courtesy, which is awesome! BB&T never refunded one of my fees! I use Apple's Advantage Checking and since I have my direct deposit go into my account, it does not cost me anything. No maintenance fees or anything. Also, they gave me two free boxes of custom checks when I opened my account, which pretty much will last me forever. Not to mention I never get charged for ATM fees, no matter what type of ATM I use! ATM fees are covered entirely for my checking account, I love it! I doubt there are any other banks or credit unions that offer all of these benefits to their account holders. At the end of the day, I bank with Apple because they make me feel like I am taken care of anytime I need their help. Their rates are up and down, sometimes they are great and other times they are not so good. But I have had accounts with other banks and I can guarantee that you will never get the kind of service and attention that you will get from banking with Apple. I am looking forward to getting a mortgage and my first home soon, and when the time comes there is no question where I will be getting my loan from!

I Have Been A Member For Over 6 Years And Have All My Loans And Deposits With Apple!
- Infrared68 - Friday, January 18, 2013 - 9:50 AM

I became a member of Apple 6 years ago when I switched from the credit union I had in college because they were too far away and too small.  I got my first car loan with a credit union after a really bad experience with the dealership and locals banks, so I wanted to do business with another credit union when I switched.  I was so happy to find Apple!

I have had my direct deposit into a special FREE checking account there for years, and I get free bill pay and checks.  I also get a modest interest rate back for my balance, which I think is 0.4% right now, but better than I can get anywhere else that I've found.  I read the reviews about the check holds, and I have had that experience in the past, but when I talked to a manager, she released the hold because of my history with Apple.  I think the holds are standard for all banks and credit unions, but if you talk to the right person you can usually get it waived.

I recently refinanced my car for 72 months for 2.74%!  This ended up saving me almost $50 a month, and they let me go 3 months until my first payment, which was right at Christmas. 

I also have a mortgage with Apple.  The only thing I don't have is their credit card.  They have asked me to get their card a few times (when I refinanced my car and when I got a line of credit for my account), but I'm happy with my Bank of America rewards.  They told me they would have the same rewards soon, so I might check it out.

Overall, I've been very happy and would recommend.  I already recommended to my dad, my sister, and my uncle, who all have accounts now.

 

 

Poor Service And FEES GLORE
- hardingpa - Tuesday, January 10, 2012 - 4:16 PM

Wish there was a rating selction for "0" stars.

Be ready for crazy fees on everything.  4-6 day holds on all deposits over $500 even if you have thousands above your deposit in your account.  If you have one deposit of 2 checks with a total over $500, you'll have a 4-6 day hold.   I’ve deposited these checks for over 5 years when this was a local FCU without a hold.  Now Apple puts a hold on the check because you walked into the branch.

Want to transfer funds to another bank?  Well there is a huge fee for that.  Receive electronic transfers from other banks; there is a hold on that.

Have more than one account (i.e., personal, business, joint, etc), you can only have one bill payee account per SSN#.  This makes it really difficult to address your business tax needs. 

So you want to talk to someone because something isn't right with your account?  Good Luck with that!  Call that local number, enter your account number, enter your pass code, listen to this huge menu selection, finally press "0" for operator, get music, then a ring, cool, your call has been transferred.  Then you discover it’s a recording asking for the very same info again, enter your account number again, enter your pass code again... it’s a joke, you’re in a loop never to reach a sole… until you call the 800#.  Now that you have that real "person" they are not authorized to help you because you are to stupid to have a checking account, "please bring your copy to our branch office" to discuss this".

This place is a mess

Terrible Customer Service - Don't Expect Any Competence
- idajade1124 - Sunday, January 22, 2012 - 2:48 PM

If I could give them a 0, I would.

Upon purchasing a used vehicle in Sept. 2010, we were instructed to use AFCU for our loan. We were approved without issue and offered a decent interest rate. The staff in office was super friendly and courteous.

It's been downhill from there.

We purchased a home awhile ago now and as a normal moving procedure went to transfer our cars registration. My car went extremely smooth with a bank we used to have in PA, my husbands car; however, has been a nightmare.

WV DMV asks you to fill out a paper with the lien holder's information and fax number for them to request title. I called AFCU and they instructed me to deposit $20.00 into our account we had opened to take out a loan. Easy enough. I set up the transfer with our local bank, which took a few days, but no biggie.

I waited a few weeks and decided to call my DMV since I had yet to hear they received the title. They had not. So I called AFCU and they proceeded to tell me it is held by a 3rd party and it would take 30 days. So I waited some more.

I let the 30 days pass and forgot to call until about a week after that. DMV still had received nothing. I called AFCU again and proceeded to get the first of many "runaround" calls.

I got a different answer every time I called, but according to the majority it should only be a few more weeks, the 3rd party company "must be" backed up. Okay, fine.

Can you see where this is going? Still no title received by the DMV. I call AFCU AGAIN and finally was able to get to someone who knew what they were talking about. They instructed me that the reason I had yet to receive it was because I had not deposited enough into the bank account..it needed to be $25.00 not $20.00 because there needs to be $5.00 in the account at all times to be in "good-standing". Well that's nice to know NOW!

So by this time we had switched to another bank, so I had to set up THAT account to transfer the $5.00. Which I did. They instructed me that it would STILL take 30 days. Fine.

Guess what? It's been almost 60 days if not more and I am STILL without title.

If any AFCU customer service sees this, please expect a ton of phone calls for the next week+ until the DMV has my title. I am tired of not driving my car because of your incompetence!! Get your **** together!!    

Great Personal Service And Friendly People
- sc - Monday, April 29, 2013 - 10:43 AM

I have moved to California, but still have never found such a great banking institution as Apple Federal Credit Union. It seems like with all the big banks, banking has lost its touch with the tellers and branch managers knowing you personally. I have to say even though I'm in California and banking in Virginia can be tricky, I would trade this bank for anything in the world. The branch manager Manjit, I opened my account with years ago in Centreville, still remembered me and my children. When I was in a pinch and needed assistance she came through with flying colors and is such an amazing person.  5 stars from me!

Poor Customer Service, Poorly Designed Online Account System
- Ohio_CD_Saver - Monday, June 25, 2012 - 2:52 PM

Had (note the past tense) over $40k in IRA CD's there and also had the regular share accounts.

I moved it all out.  Their "bonus rates" seemed above average, but don't be fooled.  The renewal rates are low, and they know it, so they place obstacles in your way to keep you from withdrawing funds after the initial bonus rate expires.  Their paperwork nightmare and customer service hassles were simply horrible. 

Can't ever get anyone who knows anything on the phone.  Punch in all the account numbers and verifications you want, some call center employee eventually picks up, asks you the same info you just punched into your keypad, verifieds a whole bunch more info, and then asks "how can I help you."  The asnwer will be that they cannot help you and they transfer you to somebody's voicemail. Never a person who's actually available. 

When you set up online banking, you cannot select your own password.  They will assign you one and mail it to you.  (yeah, snail mail.)  You cannot even change it after you get the mailed one, they have to assign you a 10-character password that's a jumble so you cannot ever remember it.  And they snail mail you that, too.  (Kinda defeats the purpose of online banking if you have to mail everything... what's the point of a secret password if I have to write it down in clear text on a post-it ...)

They require you to fill out forms for everything... accounts or funds transfers, etc.  But there are no blank forms available on their website.  You must go thru a poorly programmed "forms wizard."  You cannot access the forms wizard when logged into online banking, you must log OUT and go to the main webpage, and launch a wizard.  Because of that, you must always start the wizard from scratch and manually type in your name and address and other info (gee, I already have forty thousand dollars there, don't you people have this info???)

Their forms wizard also requires you to provide info that is NOT required by the IRS to fill out the form (i.e. email and phone number is not required by the irs when transferring IRA funds, just the account holder and trustee name, address, and account number -- but that Apple Federal CU wizard requires you to enter the info before proceeding to generate your form. )       

I filled out the form to withdraw my money -- the system wouldn't generate the form for that and kept asking me what date the periodic annuitized payments would begin.  I finally played along and told it to make one periodic payment of 100% on the date of today. Still no good, the "wizard" says you *cannot* do that.   (oh, yes I can!  Watch me!)

I cannot believe I wasted my time on the wizard I should have just called somebody, yes?

I did.  The helpful CSR told me the form was online, and to just download it.

Second call: Rep realized you have to go thru the wizard, and told me they couldn't help me thru the wizard over the phone.

Third call: Rep told me I'd have to come into a branch to pick up a form.

Fourth call:  Finally got to a rep who noted he did not have access to blank withdrawal forms (really?) but would have the person in the IRA department email it to me.  Hours later it shows up, but it's the wrong form.  (and now it's after 5 pm so they're closed, I guess I get to start all over again tomorrow...)

Fifth call: I finally get the right form, and it requires that it be completed in the presence of a NOTARY. (also something I have never had to do with ANY other online bank or online transaction)

I'd tell you what happened on the sixth and subseqent calls, but the moderator probably wouldn't allow that type of language in a forum post.  Suffice to say it took days of hassle thru a bad website and inept CSR's to finally get my hands on my own money. 

I'm happy to say I'm done with Apple FCU.  Never again.

 

Avoid At ALL COSTS!
- JamesBassowd - Wednesday, July 25, 2012 - 1:13 PM

From absolutely horrible customer service, to carelessness, to a huge mess of organization. This place needs to be removed from the public ASAP. There are months where I don't receive a statement, and randomly get a call from collections department. I have filled out an auto debit form for them to auto debit my loan payments, and they completely ignore it and send me to collections. This actually happened on two seperate cases. Their staff barely speaks english and acts as if you are begging them from service. I dont know how this place is still in business but it should be avoided at all costs! They need to get their **** together!

Refinance For People Who Care About Their Credit Rating
- jwpx03 - Tuesday, April 24, 2012 - 6:32 PM

I've given Apple Federal a lot of business. One of them was the mortgage for my present home. It currently has a 6% interest rate and I am current with my payments. Now like many people because of my neighbors losing their job or what ever reason I have a few foreclosures in my neighborhood that has driven my property value down and I'm underwater but because I was responsible I put down a large down payment from the sale of my previous home and I'm only underwater by about 20k or so. I care about my credit score and I care about my neighbors bottom line and don't want to hurt them so like a good boy I am current on my payments. Now, I am quite willing to pay 100% of the principle. I love my split-level. However, when I repeatedly ask Apple Federal if they are willing to work with me I get whiplash from how quick they smile and say no. No rate adjustment, no VA program, no streamline re-fi..... Nothing. I realize its a bank who on their Facebook page claim to be a non-profit (Year, you can file that next to unicorns.) But if you think they will help you in your time of need I'm here to tell you that you will find yourself under the bus. I even asked them if I go buy a new SUV and finance through them would they re-calculate my loan and still they smile and tell me where to go. Do yourself a favor and find another place to bank.

Apple FCU Has To Be The Worst Credit Union Around
- carter38 - Saturday, October 6, 2012 - 1:01 PM

Last year when "big bank" bought my "little bank" and raised my safety deposit box fee from $35/yr to $85/yr along with some other unfavorable changes, I decided it was time to go the credit union route.  Good initial decision. 

I picked Apple because they had the closest local branch, and boy did that decision turn out to be a poor one on my part, should have done some research.  I have had so many issues with them (and I don't even have a loan with them - just check and savings accounts).  I could write for a couple of hours.  I highly reccomend that you research, review and talk to people about any Credit Union you may be considering.  I will be starting this research myself and as painful as switching financial institutions is considering all the direct deposits and direct debits I will have to change (again).  The 4 month of agoney associated with switching everything, is better than the eternal agony of staying with Apple.  On a positive note, their Saftey deposit box fees are reasonable for the NOVA area compared to banks anyway.