Ohio Catholic Federal Credit Union

Great bank until you actually need help or have a dispute

I have been with the bank since I opened my first savings account as a child. I attended the Catholic grade school associated with the institution and my parents were members since enrolling my in kindergarten. My banking experience with Ohio Catholic was always enjoyable, as I grew up and opening a checking account with them as well for automatic deposits as I began working in high school. It was nice having a small bank where people recognized you and knew you by name. A lot of parents whose children I attended school with also worked there and were always excited to see me. It was a personal experience, which I enjoyed. The real issue began when I moved away for college. It wasn't easy to access my money since they are a same bank and had limited free ATMs in the Columbus area. Then, one day my landlord cashed my rental check extremely late without my knowledge. The same day, a Saturday, I went shopping at the mall and made six different purchases using my debit card with Ohio Catholic. While I had nearly $10,000+ in my savings (for school), my checking was drained by the rental check and all six purchases at the mall caused Ohio Catholic to charge me SIX overdraft fees. SIX! Totaling $180 in fees. For under $100 in purchases. I was furious, especially since I thought I had my debit card set to get declined when I was out of money. And, all they had to do was transfer money from my savings to checking. It wasn't like I didn't have the money. If anything, it should have been a one-time fee for $30, not six separate charges. The worst part is- NO ONE at this "small, family, religious-oriented" bank bothered to call me on Monday to let me know I over withdrew my account... Luckily I check my banking online regularly and saw it myself. In fact, no one contacted me all week. So, I would've kept racking up overdraft charges. When I went home to Cleveland and sat down to talk with a banking representative high up in the company, a parent I knew since I was five years old, I was told there was nothing they could do to reverse the fees. I had been with them for 15+ years, had loans for school through them, my parents have been with them for 25+ years and financed school tuition, a mortgage, three cars, a camper, and a boat through them. And there was nothing they could do- not even refund me for a couple of the six charges at $30 a piece. I was furious! Here is a bank I stick with thinking it is all about caring for their clients and a loyal one, a college student, can't even get their help. On top of that, apparently I had to "sign off" on canceling their "overdraft protection" in order to get my card declined instead... a notice I never received. The overdraft protect, i.e. money maker for them, is automatically applied to your account. While I still have accounts open with them for the convenience now that I am back in Cleveland, I certainly will never take out any loans or credit cards through them and look forward to opening new accounts with a new bank soon.