I finally finished my last relationship with Citibank. I closed the safety deposit box. I have been very dissatisfied with Citibank ever since they acquired Cal Fed, which had acquired Tech Fed, where I opened my accounts and safety deposit box. In general, if there is no major issue, I stay with a vendor because I am lazy and do not want to go through the trouble of starting a new relationship.
Ever since Citi acquired Cal Fed, it has been one disappointment after another. I closed most of my accounts with Citi after several disappointments with the services. I only got a joint account there because of my mom. We opened the account when the bank was owned by Cal Fed. I gave Citi another try after I closed all the accounts, but it did not last long. Generally, I feel Citi does not care about individual customers at all. The clerks' manner toward me was cold, really cold.
My last cold treatment happened today when I went to the branch office to close the safety deposit box. I told them I had lost one key and could only return one. They said there would be a $25 charge. I told them that when I opened the box with Tech Fed in 1998, I paid a $10 key deposit. I was told I would lose the deposit if I could not return the keys. It took some argument, because Citi, the new owner, claimed it had not received the deposit, but finally they honored the old contract I had with Tech Fed.
The clerk who helped me was rude. She asked me to sign a paper. After signing the paper, I did not know that was it, so I waited. She finally said I did not have to stand there. So, I left. She could have nicely told me that it had been taken care of and asked whether I needed anything else. No, she did not. Her attitude made me feel that I was so cheap and could not pay the $25 fee.
I had a very different experience with Chase some time ago. Chase had been sending me a $100 bonus card, so I went to the branch office to check it out. Immediately when I walked in, a person came to me and greeted me warmly. I asked her about the $100 deal, and she showed me the person who could help me. To make a long story short, at the end of the visit I opened many accounts with Chase, which I probably do not need. But I felt I was treated like a VIP even though I am not rich at all.
I know all services may eventually cost me, but I would prefer to pay for a service when I am treated well instead of badly.
In the future, I will not do business with Citi Bank and Bank of America. But I am happy with Wells Fargo and Chase so far.
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