Bank of the Sierra

Essie - #1, Tuesday, January 5, 2010 - 3:02 PM CT

I have a rewards checking acccount with them and i tried to open a savings account and they rejected me saying that they could not verify my identity.  I called them and said that I already have an exsisting account and why could i not open a new one, they said that I had to call the credit agency.  I called them and they verified me just fine.  This bank is rediculous!  DO NOT USE THEM!

Anonymous - #2, Saturday, January 30, 2010 - 5:09 PM CT

I have a rewards checking account, and the account is fantastic. Whenever I've had a questions, they provided prompt and terrific service. I do not agree with Essie. The bank provides 4.09% return on the checking account, which far exceeds my savings at Wells Fargo (0.5 %).  This bank is NOT Rediculous, it is terrific. I highly recommend using them..  Sean from San Francisco

Calling People on their BS - #3, Thursday, February 4, 2010 - 9:33 AM CT

Lol, sounds like "Sean from San Francisco" might be an employee at this company or have a family member that works at it.  I see this kind of stuff on Yelp and other websites all the time so it is easy to spot.  Notice how he didn't address Essie's specific problem and just made a generalization about how great the company is?  (While making a sales pitch I should add about the interest rate and how is better than your typical savings account).  “Sean” says:  “I do not agree with Essie.  The bank provides 4.09% return on the checking account, which far exceeds my savings at Wells Fargo (0.5 %).”  Essie said nothing contesting this.  This is a classic sign:  don’t address specifics of a person’s complaint, make generalizations about how great the company is, and pitch the products.

The reason Essie received the B.S. denial is because they make no money off savings accounts--at least not as many fees as they collect from debit and credit transactions from checking accounts.  (Though I would recommend she verify her information with all three credit agencies and not just one).  This is why they make stipulations about using your debit card so many times in a month to qualify for the 4.09%--something they can take away at anytime and likely will within a few months--so that it is worth it to the bank to give you that interest rate.  But hey, if you can get a return from having one of these accounts, meaning the interest you receive out weighs the transaction fees you accrue from using your debit card (usually around $1.00 - $2.00 per transaction) then why not? 

I, however, will not be doing business with a company that feels the need to have one of its goons pretend to be an actual consumer.  I'd advise everyone to stay away from such shady practices.

Shell - #4, Wednesday, February 17, 2010 - 5:32 AM CT

Do not use this Bank for Rewards checking! They have too many requirements and unusual cycles that it's not easy to get your monthly dividends! I was also misled by as simple as not clicking on "Activate e-statement" (after signing up meticulously first) thus didn't get paid for my monthly interest. I've had 3 Rewards Checking prior to Bank of the Sierra and by far they are the most complicated. We relied on the monthly interest as my spouse lost his job but they are not symphatetic. MUST AVOID!!!

Anonymous - #5, Wednesday, February 17, 2010 - 3:31 PM CT

I have account with BS for nearly 2 months. It was a painful process to open a account.  I had issues with check identification due to that I was unable to open account.  Once I get past and my account is established I begin to like it.  Worth the pain for 4.09%.

Anonymous - #6, Friday, February 26, 2010 - 11:35 AM CT

I opened several accounts about 6 months ago and have no issues.  Great interest rate.  I would recommend to otheres.

Michael P. - #7, Thursday, March 4, 2010 - 10:17 PM CT

Bank of the Sierra lies about their free rewards checking account.  They require their customers to jump through hoops to earn the high yeild interest and do not offer telephone support to online banking customers.  Their website is difficult to navigate and they will not work with online banking customers when support is needed.  If there is a financial problem with your account, do not expect help from anyone at this bank!  Bank of the Sierra has provided me with the worst online banking experience of my life!

Anonymous - #8, Tuesday, March 9, 2010 - 11:16 AM CT

They set me up with an account, I went through all the hoops arranging direct deposit, got the debit cards in the mail, then I get a letter saying that my funding account was "non-transactional". They cancelled the account. There was plenty of money to cover the funding deposit so I called to see if I had made a mistake with the routing or account number. The person on the phone said she could not help me and the only way would be to start from scratch. She said I could communicate via e-mail to the on-line department. I sent an e-mail. No reply. When I called again, another person called transferred me to the on-line department, where I waited on hold a while and then decided to take my business elsewhere. These people are obviously in over their heads.

NR - #9, Tuesday, March 9, 2010 - 3:03 PM CT

I opened my account online last year (2009) and was able to verify my documents by faxing them.

My account has been earning the interest (strated with 4.59% APY) for the last few months.

I also use my card at other ATM machines and get it refunded when the requirements are met.

 

Awe some bank..i just wish the max deposit is higher than $25k ( $50K like view point bank)

 

NR

Anonymous - #10, Tuesday, March 9, 2010 - 7:25 PM CT

I did not experience any of the negative comments stated above. I can only say to those people getting me through the process was done with all the knowledge professionalism and attitude I expected from the people I worked with.

Thank you BOTS

Happy to not be BoS customer - #11, Wednesday, March 10, 2010 - 9:14 PM CT

What an awful bank.  I have had the same issues others here are complaining of- they claim that they cannot verify my identity and have ME call all of the credit reporting agencies.  So I actually did, and they verified that everything was correct.  I contact BoS again, and they are unable to assist in any way.  They are completely unwilling to let me verify my identity in any other way, or even to let me try to apply again in case I mistyped something (which seems unlikely given the other reviews of this bank I have seen on this and other sites).  

Also, the other reviewers are spot on about all of the customer service departments being completely unhelpful and re-routing you to people who will just continue to provide absolutely no help. 

I have never been treated so poorly by a company, and would not trust them with a dime of my money.  Their positive reviews must be a joke, they are probably just what customer service does with its extra time, since they are certainly not spending any time helping customers out.