[Hidden-tech] Easthampton Savings Bank debacles; Other Bank Recommendations

[Rob Laporte]

Thanks so much for the helpful suggestions on a good local bank. While other banks got honorable mention, Greenfield Savings Bank got by far the most high regards. So my mapping the move there is my next step.

One of the several great values of this list is such recommendations.

I should add that only with clear and overwhelming evidence of failings would I disparage a business on this list, as I did Easthampton Savings Bank. The short list of problems I recounted were salient but not close to all instances. As I explained to ESB's VP on the phone, my feedback to them first and my request for a mere gesture of redress were in part aimed to give them feedback by which to improve to where they were for many good years prior. Their responses showed a lack of acknowledgement that usually means problems will continue. And tech problems in one's bank can be expensive, hence my warning to all here.


Best Regards,


Rob Laporte | SEO Specialist, CEO

DISC, Inc. - Making Websites Make Money

413-584-6500

rob at 2disc.com<mailto:rob at 2disc.com>

www.2disc.com<https://www.2disc.com/>

NOTE: Emails can be blocked by spam filters throughout the web. If you don’t get a reply within an expected span of time, please call.



________________________________
From: Rob Laporte <rob at 2disc.com>
Sent: Friday, July 26, 2019 9:35 AM
To: hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net <hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net>
Cc: Andrew Grimes <andrew at 2disc.com>
Subject: Easthampton Savings Bank debacles; Other Bank Recommendations

Hi HTers,

10 to 15 years ago I chose Easthampton Savings Bank (ESB) for business and personal because I prefer going local, but during the last two years poor tech and lack of redress, which has cost my firm ~$1800 of lost billable, has me seeking another bank with a branch in Greenfield.

I wonder if others have had problems with ESB, and I’d be grateful for bank recommendations.

Some of the ESB failings are:


  *   When ESB migrated their online banking, they forced us to re-enter all payees, and for a while the old system kept paying in double the new systems, yet we could not login to the old.
  *   Both online and called notice of travel failed to enable cards to work out of state, and that very requirement puts cost of security on the customer more so than other cards and banks we've use.
  *   Town tax changes caused increase of mortgage/tax payments by $6.95/mo, and with no prior notice about this change, this prompted mailed threats of collections for $6.85 (of ~$1800) being late less than a month.

ESB’s SVP, Commercial Services Manager, Maura Kelly, denied my request for compensation in the form of some months of free use of our $20/mo business check scanner. Her evasions and excuses suggest lack of ownership of the problems, which spirit suggests future problems are likely.

Again, I’d be grateful for Greenfield-local recommendations for a new bank, preferably local, but I realize that economies of scale in bank tech may make a national bank with a local branch the better choice.


Best Regards,


Rob Laporte | SEO Specialist, CEO

DISC, Inc. - Making Websites Make Money

413-584-6500

rob at 2disc.com<mailto:rob at 2disc.com>

www.2disc.com<https://www.2disc.com/>

NOTE: Emails can be blocked by spam filters throughout the web. If you don’t get a reply within an expected span of time, please call.

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