Been clobbered with excessive, rip-off $37 overdraft JUNK FEES - after Berkshire Bank told me multiple times that it would no longer allow transactions to post to my account (they would be rejected instead) if insufficient funds. They do this to get even more junk fees. I've been charged almost $300!!!! in junk fees in one month after being told I wouldn't be charged them any longer. When I went into the bank to complain, the impersonal bank manager slandered/defamed me in front of staff and then openly retaliated against me for complaining even though the other employee (M. Phan) disagreed with her. AND EVEN AFTER that BB continued to retaliate by continuing to allow transaction to post to my account with anegative balance. This is easily the most anti-customer friendly, thug-like and dispicable bank I've ever dealt with. They have multiple legal claims, including DOJ investigations for faciliating a Ponzi Scheme. TAKE YOUR MONEY OUT of this bank or you might lose it. They now have another CLASS ACTION lawsuit against them for junk fees and deceptive banking pracitces. I will be filing a case against them and complaints with Mass. AG and the DOJ. read more

Get rid of the nasty bank. It's of no use to ordinary customers. However the so called elite and businesses in question of being honest are all influencers of this nasty bank. We made a mistake when one of our friends mentioned this bank to put our trust into. THAT was a huge mistake. The nasty bank relishes giving poor service or help to anyone they personally have a dislike for. That dislike can be for any reason AND it's all on their part... we must say that they need to change their whole outlook on the customers and their banking policies which are mostly for their gain. Their main concern is to grow a bank that can stand along with the top banks in this country. Sooooo, if you are looking for a bank... take a walk through the doors, check your surroundings once in, take a deep breath... that alone should tell you there is something wrong here. Then turn around and thank yourself for having the smarts to walk back out the doors and walking away from this bank never to return. You'll thank yourself over and over especially when you keep hearing how untrustworthy this nasty bank is. read more

I applied for an unsecured loan with good credit... after almost 2 weeks of fulfilling requests for every document possible, they declined my loan request for too many credit inquiries. I explained that I was exploring my options of loans and rates at this time as I was facing home improvements.. they stood firm on their decision. I would not recommend them read more

Berkshire bank used to be a great bank, now they have become lazy. As of July 2025 they no longer will cash your savings bonds. You must go online to cash them in. So far its been 7 weeks and are still not cashed. I was told it can take up to 2 months ,when Berkshire bank could do it in 5 mins. This is so unexceptable. Every time I use their bank in a box, I look in to see one or sometimes no people inside. I guess they must hand out coin wrappers. read more

I was very disappointed with Berkshire Vank In Allendale Pittsfield, MA. Was trying to get my girls bonds cashed. They gave me no information about it and just told me that they had to wait until 18 with a photo ID to cash them. I reached out to my friend who works at another branch and she gave me the correct information. I felt brushed off with little information ​​ read more

Explained everything in detail. Very friendly. Lots of options on products available. So far so good, then the shocker. BUT... 2-3 weeks later, What happened? My first snail mail deposit was not credited to my account. Phone goes unanswered or hangs up. NOT a good start. Checks arrived ok; bank does NOT offer pre-stamped mailing envelopes. Having my doubts now if this was a good bank selection. read more

It's taken me 20 years to get past the damage that Peter Brooks and the loan department at Berkshire bank put me through. I bought a car from Mike Letini at condor Chevy in GB (thankfully they're out of business. Good riddance) in 2000. My wife and I were kids at that point. Got saddled with a predatory car loan on a lemon of a car that we had to move out west with. I had to get as far from Berkshire county as possible as I hated it there. We got a little behind and had an agreement with Peter Brooks and Berkshire bank to western union the money first thing one Monday morning. I left for work at 4am on my bike in the freezing cold rain and got word that Peter had called the dogs and had my car repossessed BEFORE WESTERN UNION OPENED ON THE WEST COAST. A sneaky move for a POS institution. We spent our 20's and most of our 30's building back from that repo and finally are able to just barely afford to live peacefully for now. Steer clear of these jerks. Seems like the place hasn't changed in 20 years. read more

This is quite possibly the worst bank I have ever dealt with. The Newport tellers have "attitudes" that make me not want to come back. There seems to be only one teller on the drive thru since I've literally been sitting here for twelve minutes thus far. A good course in customer service is necessary. Oh, and let's not forget that the lobby is closed but no sign on the door. I feel bad for the elderly that get out of their cars only to find out they have to go thru the drive thru. Paste a sign for goodness sake. read more

I wouldn't recommend Berkshire Bank to anyone! Ever! I've had my accounts there for over 18 years. I have a HELOC that had a payment of $102 in December 2020 and jumped to $194.15 in January 2021. Why you ask? I don't know because no one ever calls me back. I got a letter in the mail in December and called and the girl that answered asked me if I was calling about a home equity line of credit. When I told her I was her immediate response was " I'm not allowed to talk about that". She gave me a Rhode Island number to call. That's useless. You call and get a machine right away that says you'll be called back within 24- 72 hours. They haven't called me back in 4 months. Stay away from this bank!!! read more

Berkshire Bank used to be very personal and helpful banks. Local service remains very good but has become very time consuming. The mobile app, website and accessing help are extremely time-consuming and often impossible. Basically, the new software and algorithms are worthless. I could go on and on but I'm not wasting more of my time with them, read more

If i could give ZERO stars, I would. Have i mentioned i HATE Berkshire bank???? My bank changed to Berkshire. 1st they pissed me off bc they send new check books. Each book had ONE deposit slip in it? Seriously? Then they tell you to activate your new ATM cards. So I did mine & my daughters who is away at school. I checked balance & changed codes to activate. Then i Mailed her hers. But hers doesn't work. Why? "Oh, to activate, you have to make a transaction". really? How about SAYING THAT? Like you have to take out money to activate it. So now Ave cant use her card at school, OR fix it bc we dont have the original code anymore. Now, to set up the mobile banking app? Ive been on phone w/ 3 techs for 90 min. We have reset my password, through them, then again thru me, 3X. We downloaded FOUR diff browsers to my phone to try to get thru the fing 11 step process to verify. Then they are supposed to send a link to my text as one of the steps, to click it. The link never comes. Its a million letters long & I have to keep retyping it in diff browsers. Well ... the consensus with the guy on the phone is "Im not sure what to tell you. Im tech support & I walked you through every conceivable option, and asked supervisors, and now the link you need doesn't seem to be valid". Im closing ALL 3 of my accounts 1st thing in the morning. This is CRAZY. read more

May I leave 0 stars ?? Seriously, Berkshire Bank,if you'd prefer that your customers not use a bank teller, just say so. Hiring people who are rude, unhelpful, slow, and/or dimwitted to make a deposit or withdrawal as painful as possible isn't necessary. I thought the last teller was going to sprain her face with all the contortions she was making; apparently depositing two checks into a joint account with both account holders present was distasteful or unpleasant to her? Why must I show ID to deposit into my account with no cash back, particularly a check from the US Treasury or NYS ?? Why do your card reader machines at the teller window never function? I mean never. Why were they even installed?? OTOH, your internet banking is similarly irritating. Why shut down features like Bill Pay if they aren't used for a certain,but unknown and undisclosed, amount of time? Same for shutting down an ATM/debit card for lack of use. What bank does that? None of the others we use. Your mobile app? About half of the checks we attempt to deposit electronically do not work. Then,of course, it's a hassle to deposit them at a branch because "for mobile deposit" is written on them. Why do we remain customers? That's a question well worth considering. Probably because you have branches/ATMs everywhere which we think we need, though we truly don't. Mostly, we use you as a clearing house and transfer the bulk of our account funds to other, more modern, financial institutions. read more

The worst banking experience I have had in my adult life with their new online system absolutely horrible receiving late payments for many of my creditors due to their mismanagement call customer service and they just say oh yeah we have problems we'll get it figured out but don't offer to make your late payment adjustments due to their mistakes time for a new bank read more

Absolute worst bank to deal with. You would think this company would want consumer to pay their loans on time but they make it hard to do just about anything. Charging 15 dollars to make an over the phone payment. The website and application are so slow and barely functions. I just want to pay my car loan payment. I spent 45 min on the phone just to get disconnected. Will be paying this loan off immediately so I don't have to deal with this awful company any longer. 0/5 stars, do better for the people that are paying interest!! read more

Supposed to have fraud protection which meant they would verify purchases I made out of the state or country. They were transitioning to a new system, and my account got flagged for fraud. I couldn't contact them due to the incredibly long hold times, and I couldn't access my account online. I had no access to my money for 4 days which was beyond stressful. This has inspired me to join a credit union. read more

We had a mortgage through Berkshire bank for approximately 5 years. We went with an 80/10/10. Not long after closing we learned that Wells Fargo was purchasing the 80 portion of the mortgage and that the 10 side of the mortgage would stay with Berkshire. Something along the way in that transaction left me on the phone with Berkshire several times trying to iron out details. I got in to several phone calls w.r.t. incompetence on their end (address and auto payments). The young woman I was speaking with on the phone actually hung up on me once at which point as I asked for the manager on the next call. She was also not very customer service focused. We worked through the ordeal and luckily did not have to speak with them again for 5 years. Only made payments. Fast forward 5 years and a refinance with service credit union. The last shoe that needed to drop was the note from Berkshire with the final payoff of the 10 portion of my loan. Service CU tried to get the information for two weeks straight. Finally the loan officer (or someone higher) from service CU called me asking to reach out to Berkshire asking for dollar amount for payoff. They said Berkshire would not return their calls and when they did speak with someone, the agent told service agent that they could not provide them that information and ended the call. Apparently Berkshire is run by high school kids that like to hang up when they do not want to deal with something. I would never recommend this company to anyone I know. I am very thankful to be done with them. Hope this helps. read more

This is the absolute worst bank I have ever dealt with in my life. If you have a choice, definitely, find another bank. They will make it a nightmare for you every time!! If I could give 0 stars I most certainly would!!! read more

they do keep you excited by cancelling your debit card if not used for 6 months. And they don't even let you know about it. Makes you wonder about their sanity. read more

This bank is so bad it makes me fascinated they have a single customer. The staff in the branches they acquired are good people but the operations - espcecially if you have to call - are abominable. read more

I was hesitant to do business with this bank because I have only heard negative things, but I contacted them for help with the PPP (Paycheck Protection Program) since my bank doesn't offer it. I spent a lot of time getting in all the information to them within a couple of days, and then heard nothing. For two weeks had no response, then another two weeks of no response to emails. The voice mail for the rep I was dealing with, Steve Taylor, was full. Finally, I get a response from him that they were "only taking applications for existing customers" and even though funding was still available, they'd get back to me if there is anything they could do. I was shocked. All this time I waited for nothing. That could have been stipulated in the first place. I've lost weeks of time, and perhaps all hope of funding for my request. AVOID this bank at all costs. Because it will cost you. read more

If you want a bank that's stuck in the last century, go here! For your "safety" they make it impossible to reset your own password, and then the customer line is only available during banking hours! If you like access to your own money, DON'T USE THIS BANK! read more

Unbelievably bad. Avoid them like the plague. Would give zero stars if I could. I had a car loan for six years with them that was paid off via automatic bank account withdrawal every month. The last payment was the middle of November of last year. They took the last payment out of my account, so I assumed that my title would be on the way within a relatively reasonable amount of time. One day, approximately four weeks later, I checked my mailbox, and instead of the title, there was a letter from the Berkshire bank credit department saying that my loan payment was overdue as I had missed the last payment (??). They told me that they were going to charge me an overdue fine every day it went unpaid and that it would potentially affect my credit. Again, my loan payments had been via auto withdrawal from my checking account, and the last payment, like every single one before it - with no months missed (my credit score is over 800), was taken out of my account as usual. My loan had been paid off. When I called the credit department regarding the letter I had received, I spoke with a rude woman who told me just to disregard that overdue notice, as their department had been busy and the notice I received had automatically been sent out. They assured me that my loan had been paid off and that the title would soon be in my mailbox. Still, two weeks passed and it had not arrived, so I called someone else at the bank and they assured me it would be on the way. However, it never came. Finally, since I was in the process of buying a new car, I called a woman at the bank's loan department who never returned my call (?). Nonetheless, after calling her again, she told me that it was my responsibility to let them know that the loan had been paid off and that I wanted the title sent to me (wtf???). (Plus she was as rude as the person at their credit department or maybe more so.) Despite my reminding her that the bank was, in fact, the loan holder and that they should clearly know when a loan is paid off, she persisted in arguing that it was my responsibility to let them know that the loan had been paid off and that I wanted the title sent to me. She told me that she had, rather than just sending me the title, sent it to DMV, and any other questions I had regarding it should be directed to them. Needless to say I'm not happy. It has been two months since I paid off my loan and I still don't have the title. The new car I purchased is still sitting on the dealer's lot while I wait for my old title so that I can trade my used car in. I contacted the department of motor vehicles and they had never heard of a bank doing this. Plus they weren't sure when my title would arrive... Rather than their slogan being "America's most exciting bank", which is, in my opinion, a ridiculous slogan for a bank anyway (Who wants a bank to be exciting?? Don't you want them to be professional and courteous? - neither of which this bank is), perhaps, and deservedly so, they should be calling themselves "America's most unprofessional bank". Unbelievable. Do yourself a favor and do not get a loan from them or do any business with them. This is not the first unbelievably unprofessional experience I've had with them. In fact, I was a long-time customer, but switched banks because of their remarkable unprofessionalism. Try greylock instead. I've been very happy with them. read more

I would have left zero stars . this is not the only time this bank has physically and mentally screwed me over. Can't type out how much frustration this bank has left me horrible service there phone number on the website and card are the exac same and the phone service says it's differen. this bank clearly dose not have a clue in there phone services . do not recommend to someone new read more

When they took over savings institute, they ruined it... They sold my mortgage and made it nearly impossible to make payments unless they're automatic and they push that like nothing else.... have to hunt for the site because the link on their site doesnt work... they suck... read more

Absolutely ridiculous, I spent over 20 minutes on hold, twice! I couldn't get my answers online, the customer service sucks ever since they bought out the Savings Institute! I could always get a real person in a reasonable time, while it was the Savings Institute! I strongly recommend finding a good bank, don't settle for this corporate bull! read more

I am so disgusted with the app that this bank has. I am constantly having to Uninstaller and reinstall and then go through the setup process all over again. Every time they do an update it is an issue....I have reached out to tech support and all I get told is to Uninstaller and reinstall. Unacceptable in a world where we are technology driven and do most of our banking online. Why have an app if you are ot going to address the issues.......I am not the only one who has these constant issues. There are many complaints with no resolution. This has been an issue for years. This is ridiculous. read more

Inherited a $650 car loan (we co-signed for my mother in law, who passed). A huge payment for us to have. The best part if you are late or miss a payment, the late charge is $98.00. 5 year loan and you cannot make a mistake. My mortgage company only charges $12.19. So now I know where the perfect people are. Does anyone have the address for the "Pearly Gates", so I can send a payment directly to these perfect people (sitting in the right hand of ...). Brutal. read more

I banked with Savings Institute for many years and really lovedthat bank. Since it has changed to Berkshire Bank I really hate it! If I Rate this bank with negative stars I would. I was having trouble with my new password and tried to talk to someone over the phone, but after 20 minutes on hold we were disconnected. Tried to email them as it mentions on the website, no response. Tried to text message them as mentioned on the website, no response. I finally figured out my problem on my own no thanks to Berkshire Bank. I will be changing banks in the very near future. read more

Ended up closing my SAVINGS accounts because they kept going dormant even though I make direct deposits to the accounts. After closing the accounts they are charging me an overdraft few for 1 cent, that they must have given me extra. Just a terrible bank with a bad business model. read more

June 22, 2019, 2:45pm, The Berkshire Bank facility renting space inside of the Wal-Mart located at North Windham, CT refused to exchange five (5) twenty dollar bills that I drew as cash back at the Walmart register for a $100 bill (it was to be a gift for a family member) because I was not a Berkshire Bank member. I was embarrassed a bit, but more frosted I suppose. To be treated as if my money is no good is rude. The last time that I checked, US Currency (bills) are federal documents, good for all debts public and private. Shame on Berkshire Banking policies. You will never see me as a customer if you are going to treat people this way. read more

Check written Nov 4. Recipient deposited it in January. Her bank apparently credited the money to her account. Then in April, the funds were inexplicably withdrawn from her account, her bank explaining that it was not covered ! How could this happen? And now, my account is showing it being withdrawn again on May 2- putting my account into being overdrawn! In addition, to the same recipient, a 1500 check bounced- there was money in my account when the check was written, but it bounced. I have spoken with the manager at my branch in Arlington Vermont ( Milton?) several times through the course of this, and have never gotten a straight answer. My debit card also was frozen, causing me to have to delay my travel back to Vermont, right after I spoke to this bank branch manager, when I was visiting my hometown in NY- and the fraud department said they thought it was suspicious. Suspicious activity - restaurant charges in a town in New York? Depositing checks into the account takes many more days to clear and be credited to the account than any other bank I have ever used. They manipulate the timing of deposits to bounce checks that I have written ( I think Chase got into big trouble doing this several years ago.) I could go on and on.... read more

If you get a Mass-Save heat loan authorization form, DO NOT go to this bank, they waste your time on everything, even if you pay your accounts on time, i have no idea why they even sign up for this program if they gonna deny you, ive heard the same with other customers as well, Berkshire Bank shouldnt even be in this program in the first place....look elsewhere, hope this helps out whoever wants to try with this bank, DONT DO IT!!! read more

Stay far away from this bank! We closed out a mortgage when we sold our house in December and they deducted a mortgage payment on January 1st (for a mortgage that doesn't exist anymore!). You would think it would be a simple phone call to get the refund but here we are almost two months later and I still haven't gotten my money back. Countless phone calls, paperwork, and emails, and yet no one can help me. Unbelievable. read more

I will just add to the rest of these one star reviews.... AWFUL CUSTOMER SERVICE! No response. Do not let them handle your mortgage. Paying online always has an issue. It's 2020 and I snail mail the mortgage every month. STAY AWAY!! read more

If I could give zero stars I would. Terrible customer service. After 20 questions the very rude customer service rep, David, located in Springfield Ma, did not even reset my password. So many other banking options out there. One would have to be desperate to keep money in this bank. read more

We had a mortgage through them, but their online interface is very terrible. They make it hard to make extra payments online and the ability to do it over the phone is very limited. I would call to try to do it and get bounced from person to person to disconnected numbers. They need to get their act together! read more

Berkshire Bank took over Savings Institute and I couldn't be more disappointed. I will be looking into what bank to switch to. Horrible banking experience. read more

This bank is getting worst by the day. My mother visited the Holden location to get something notarized and was told she needed to come back because she didn't make an appointment meanwhile everybody else is walking in and getting transactions processed. The manager was sitting in her office on her cell phone while I was told she's busy. I wouldn't recommend having accounts here. read more

I have been trying to set up my online payment to pay an auto loan for a solid week. They did the 2 small deposits and my bank account info has been verified. Now I'm trying to go in to pay the auto loan and it shows my bank but no bill to pay. Ugh!!! I had to enter the loan number to set up the account and before I could get the user id and password. Why isn't showing the only loan I have linked to this account so I can pay it on line. Worst website ever!!!! read more

My bank just recently changed to Berkshire the whole situation was so inconvenient and they weren't even sending my information to the correct address so it was a disaster. I just went in to close out my account at the branch in Dayville, CT and the woman was RUDE. She didn't even bother asking why I'm changing or if there is anything I needed to make my experience better. After getting charged $70 in fees because Berkshire charges another $35 after 5 days of Overdraft- which my previous bank never did and I didn't even know about! I get paid bi- weekly.. I had to borrow money just so that I would stop getting charged. The woman wasn't apologetic at all or even understanding. I was waiting at the window for confirmation my account was closed and she says "are you still waiting for something" and didn't even offer me any confirmation that my account was closed. read more