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Wednesday, April 28, 2010 - 12:21 PM
(4 stars)
I Opened A CD
Clear Sky Accounts (4 stars)I opened a CD, Savings account, and Checking account with Clear Sky Accounts in early 2009, although sadly too late to take advantage of the special high interest rates they offered as a limited-time promotion. Nevertheless, the rates available when I opened my accounts were very good, and I have had no problems with this bank in the roughly 14 months that I have been banking with them. No problems, and only three very minor criticisms, which I will describe next.
First, I was unhappy that they repeatedly lowered their rates over the past year -- but that same complaint also applies to just about every other bank.
Second, the process for opening accounts as a new customer was awkward and convoluted: I had to create a login and a password at the Clear Sky Accounts website in order to provide all the information needed to open my accounts, but then create a different login and password at the separate ChesBank.com website for all subsequent tasks.
My final criticism is about the on-line interface: The Clear Sky Accounts website is not quite as "elegant" or well-designed as those of Ally Bank or ING Direct, although I must emphasize that I have had no problems in accessing account information or performing transactions.
On the plus side, the ACH system for making bank-to-bank transfers seems to work very well, and there seems to be less of a delay than I've experienced with other banks when pulling money from linked external accounts. For example, when I make a deposit into either of my Clear Sky accounts by transferring funds from my linked account at Wells Fargo Bank, the deposits seem to be credited to my Clear Sky account later that same day or on the next business day, depending on how late in the day I initiate the transfer. By contrast, Wells Fargo routinely takes two or three days to post the debit.
One last thing: When I have contacted Clear Sky/Chesapeake Bank by telephone, I have always found their Customer Service representatives to be friendly, helpful, knowledgeable, and easy to understand. I would recommend banking with Clear Sky Accounts.
First, I was unhappy that they repeatedly lowered their rates over the past year -- but that same complaint also applies to just about every other bank.
Second, the process for opening accounts as a new customer was awkward and convoluted: I had to create a login and a password at the Clear Sky Accounts website in order to provide all the information needed to open my accounts, but then create a different login and password at the separate ChesBank.com website for all subsequent tasks.
My final criticism is about the on-line interface: The Clear Sky Accounts website is not quite as "elegant" or well-designed as those of Ally Bank or ING Direct, although I must emphasize that I have had no problems in accessing account information or performing transactions.
On the plus side, the ACH system for making bank-to-bank transfers seems to work very well, and there seems to be less of a delay than I've experienced with other banks when pulling money from linked external accounts. For example, when I make a deposit into either of my Clear Sky accounts by transferring funds from my linked account at Wells Fargo Bank, the deposits seem to be credited to my Clear Sky account later that same day or on the next business day, depending on how late in the day I initiate the transfer. By contrast, Wells Fargo routinely takes two or three days to post the debit.
One last thing: When I have contacted Clear Sky/Chesapeake Bank by telephone, I have always found their Customer Service representatives to be friendly, helpful, knowledgeable, and easy to understand. I would recommend banking with Clear Sky Accounts.
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