Not only am I a fan of credit unions, I am a fan of financial counseling and empowerment. The good…read morenews is that I'm a member of UMassFive, which has team members throughout their whole organization interested in exactly that. From Jeremy Raddar who helped quickly finalize my secured personal loan during the back offices' lunch, to Craig Boivin VP of Marketing who is familiar with major Credit Union advocacy and research groups like The Filene* Institute [no relation], and to Christine Apraham who helped me set up the loan, appointment, and subsequent paperwork I needed to reduce my debt and disclaim my secured loan's collateral. All in all, the response listed for 1 star reviewers is NOT my experience with UMassFive. Let me disclaim something as well: the world's cybersecurity systems are under attack and I have personal experience with my own internet security alarms. However, UMassFive has had no service disruptions on par with the NotPetya attack on Ukraine's banking systems by Russia. Instead, the staff has responded to me within 24 hours, like Christine when I asked her about my statements being inaccessible from my account. The staff is resourceful, too, like when Jeremy couldn't use his digital signature capture pad and instead had me use the digital signature web application from my phone. These people are tenacious, and will do the research to do the best job they can because they all are personally invested in the success of UMassFive as members and as employees. Every one of them is excellent and has provided me service beyond just a money printing machine, they are interested in my success as a credit union member, not in profiting off me like a bank. This branch in particular was very welcoming, from its gender neutral bathrooms, to its open space allowing me to wait at a chair or table for help, and to its offices where I could be personally helped. I don't know if there's any bus access, but there's plenty of parking right near the UMass University campus and down the street from Amherst town center. If you really want to stop the international money crisis, the monopolies of 'money trusts,' and help your local community, join UMassFive or one of the many other local credit unions. You'll be putting your money where it matters. Thank you, I'm excited to remain a member (and invite applicable family members :)

I've been banking with UM5CFCU since I was in high school, about 25 years ago. I went in today with…read moremy parents on unrelated business, but we also had some US Treasury bonds to cash. Alicia was helping us with the unrelated business, so she agreed to help us with the bonds, too. It turned out most of the bonds lacked an identifying number that facilitated their redemption, but she spent a lot of time independently researching how to cash them and was ultimately successful. She was not only really friendly and professional, but went far above and beyond to help us with this. I've always had good experiences at this branch, and appreciate them.

Was trying to use mobile banking, but some features weren't displaying on the screen as a choice…read more Called the Peoples Bank for assistance. I was on hold initially for 15 MINUTES (with one song on a loop--bedtime music). After speaking with one person who didn't listen to my question and told me unrelated answers, she transferred my call to an "extension." I waited another 14 MINUTES for my call to "be answered in the order in which it was received." (No, clearly my call went back to the beginning of the queue; the system doesn't seem to know if the call is transferred internally.) Another Customer Service Rep answered. He could not help me as he was not sure what the problem could be. He tried to get a hold of the Customer Solutions Department but couldn't. By this time, I had been on the phone with Peoples Bank for 43 MINUTES. He transferred me to "option 2, Mobile Banking." More waiting on hold. Someone new answered. After a number of checks with my account and the mobile app, he suggested I uninstall and reinstall the app, which I did and that worked. Wish I had done that myself an hour ago. By this point, I had been on the phone for 1 HOUR 2 SECONDS in the middle of a business day afternoon. While I now realize I could have solved the problem myself, this episode was another example of why I'll be moving my Business account to another bank: 1. Poor response time, i.e., my time is not valuable, 2. Employees' lack of knowledge and ability or permission to take productive initiative, plus 3. The Bill Pay's limited number of companies with which "Activate eBill" can be done successfully, 4. Limited list of "Payees" (companies) to which they can send payments electronically rather than mailing a check, which takes 6-13 days to arrive, and 5. The need to wait 4-7 days to receive money transferred between Peoples Bank and other banks, even across town. READER: Use another bank.

I love me some People's Bank…read more We have been at People's for 11 years, since moving to the Pioneer Valley. I mostly use the Hadley branch (the yellow building in front of Manny's) but I also use the downtown Amherst branch. They are open for longer hours in Hadley which often works a lot better for me and I don't have to fight downtown traffic; but sometimes when I'm downtown, I park in the lot, bank, hop across the street to return some books to the Jones, grab a GoBerry....you get the picture--very homey, very downtown, very city. The downtown branch gets way too hot in the summer months because of the expansive overhead windows. The light is nice, but I bet the guy who designed the bank probably never had to stand on his feet politely serving the public for 8 hours a day. I don't like the fake plants, just get rid of them, every business, all over the world. NOW. They did recently sell our mortgage to a larger institution and that is my only complaint. I love the women who work here and especially at the Hadley branch. LOVE LOVE LOVE. Thanks, People's Bank

My business and family has been banking with Florence for six years and they are everything I would…read morehope for in a local bank. Customer satisfaction really matters to them, the app is great, and there are never long lines or wait times.

I am in love with this bank! I would be in a commercial for free if they wanted! Ever since…read moreswitching from Bank of America in September, I have received $50 in FREE money thanks to their Cash Back Checking (2% back on all debit card purchases, up to $500) and being able to use any ATM for free (ATM fee refunds) makes my life easier. Cannot say enough good things about FSB on College Street in Amherst and their excellent staff!

Pleasant experience! I was in and out in a hot second. The machines were clean and it was well lit.read more

Witnessed a really awkward scene here today... a guy came in to make a deposit and asked very…read morepolitely why he was being charged a fee on his checking account... the teller asked the girl next to her and she loudly shouted to the man, "DO YOU HAVE A JOB? DO THEY PAY YOU?" in a pretty unpleasant tone. There was probably a better, less insulting way to explain the nuances of direct deposit qualified service-fee waivers. I already avoid this bank because they are always trying to sell you things... you literally can not get a roll of quarters without being offered a mortgage or a credit card.

Steer clear. 1) Debit Card going through routine replacement--said valid till end of March. I'm in…read morea supermarket at the beginning of March. The card is denied. I call Citizens -- 1 hour on hold on a Friday night. They say the card is denied because they've mailed me a new card. I didn't receive the new card --and the card I'm holding says it's valid to the end of the month. I ask them--what if I were on vacation and not even home to get the new card. Shit out of luck. 2) Hold times --aggregate for the year over 20 hours --yes 20 3) Account sometimes does security freezes and you're in the middle of trying to make a purchase or pay someone. 4) The new ATMS in stop and shops--have video tellers. The lines to get funds can take 20 to 30 minutes as people chat with the teller. No privacy at these video ATMS. 5) I go to a branch at a Supermarket to replace a card--the 1800 customer service told me so. The branch says their machine is broken and they tell me to drive 30 minutes to go to the next branch with a working machine. 6) I go to set up a college savings plan for kids. The bank sets up the wrong type of account. Time wasted and an additional head ache. This is not quality banking--it's really doing stupid--I'm taking the brunt of my funds out and moving it to a big national. The bank was good 10-12 years ago and has gone down hill like a lead balloon.

I had a great experience with getting what I needed at this Branch. I needed a document notorized…read morebut forgot to set an appointment. They still got me serviced asap even though I forgot to do this. They also gave me advice to what was in the area as I just moved out here. Five Stars all around to the manager and the team here!