"No Exceptions and Absolute Compliance (UDAP): A -$750.00 LOSS on Money Market Plus Account Trust…read moreAccount for Long Term Care."
Five Stars* for the fantastic people at the Elk Grove Branch! Johanna Settles was very empathetic and advocated fiercely for my Disabled Mother's loss Bonus Interest (about $750.00) on her Trust Account, which is to pay for Long Term Care. In addition, the Branch Manager, Candice Borrero, advocated for my Mother to convince the Director of Patelco, Erin Mendez, to help my Mother as well.
The online Customer Service Representatives at Patelco's website were also fantastic, Marciela C, Senior Representative Member Contact Center, Francisco C, e-Services Specialist, and Hefzi M, Senior Representative, Member Contact Center. In total, we tried to work with 5 different staff members to get this matter resolved, unsuccessfully. All staff were responsive, empathetic and did what they could to help my Mother.
Unfortunately, Patelco no longer can make any exception due to UDAP (Unfair or Deceptive Acts Practices), even when the most random or unlikely errors happens beyond the member's control or when the member simply makes a one-time mistake; extremely costly too!
While I praise Patelco for their commitment to compliance and being fair to everyone, it is regrettable to realize the newly adopted policy of No Exceptions has removed the humanity that Patelco once showed in the past and grew upon. Perhaps there are too many Members who have abused Patelco's past generosity?
I believe my Mother's request for a one time exception was reasonable and Patelco's position to treat everyone with fairness and equality should be praised. Denying any exception, even when the "one time" mistake was unintentional or caused by a third party unilateral decision to stop Direct Deposits to the spouse of a Disabled Vietnam Veteran and disqualify the Spouse for the Bonus Interest, even when the Member made a "Conscious Effort" to have activity ($500.00 recurring deposit) on the account to still "try" to qualify for the Bonus Interest is a remarkable commitment by Patelco to follow UDAP compliance. Unfortunately, Patelco to Patelco account transfers do not qualify for Bonus Interest, even when the other account is funded by direct deposits and check deposits with a Trust Membership and Personal Membership. Apparently, it matters not to Patelco that both Memberships are basically the same entity/person.
When Patelco had a Data Breech, I stayed with them because I was thankful the bank did not pay the Ransom, which further cemented the relationship of my Trust and Loyalty to them. We even declined to take part in the class action lawsuit "Cordell, et al. v Patelco" against Patelco as we felt they acted professionally and why would we sue the entity that was looking out for not just it's members, but was making no exceptions for Ransomware Attack? You must give the Director, Erin Mendez, a medal for having the courage to not pay bank Cyber Crooks who took down an entire bank institution. It also does seem unimaginable that such a large Institution was taken down without any help from inside Patelco, as an external attack would be next to impossible, even if the Black and White Hat Hackers joined forces and worked together on the outside.
We are not chronic problematic members and are Committed Households with our Investments, RE Loan, and Credit Cards with Patelco. We will be leaving Patelco at the end of 2026 and while it is our choice to leave (hours of burden for us!), we feel compelled to do so knowing that Patelco no longer has your back, even when you make one honest mistake and Patelco will work tirelessly to deny you any remedy-especially over $750.00. It is almost as if Patelco is no longer a Non-Profit Organization committed to helping the Community?
More's the pity dear Reader.
PS: Patelco took away the Free Notary Service for Members for Non Patelco Documents. No more Free Notary Services for Trusts, Death Certificates and Legal Documents. Hopefully Patelco will make sure Veronica Dangerfield knows in her upcoming Patelco Video Podcasts, which have always been fantastic!
*Five Stars was also chosen as the main selection of this review as we are simply stating what has happened without bringing the overall rating down because up to this point, after being with them for so many years, we were incredibly happy with them, which makes this review all the more upsetting for us and we wish them the best!