Over five years ago, I opened an account with the Freedom First Credit Union at their Downtown…read moreRoanoke branch located on the corner of Campbell Ave and First Street. Today, since I was in the area of Crossroads shopping at BJ's, I decided to visit the Freedom First Credit Union branch there. The branch is located in a modern small strip mall together with Tropical Cafe and with the Roanoke Financial Empowerment Center. Not only does this branch contain a drive-through, but it also has a modern ATM machine outside the building and a depository box as well. As I entered the door, the place was clean, modern, and decorated with extra large poster size photographs of family and people starting a small business. It also had some large size slide images display cases with Spanish writing saying: "A More Brilliant Financial Future Begins Here," and "Follow Your Financial Dreams with More Confidence." There were also individual offices with glass walls where soon to be customers or current customers could go to discuss with a Freedom First Credit Union representative their current needs and the financial services that could meet those needs. The place also had modern, comfortable seats spread around so people could sit and wait. In the end, there was the teller counter currently with two tellers. One of the tellers was assisting a customer, and the other teller greeted me with a smile and a warm welcome. I handed her my Freedom First Credit Union Card and requested four rolls of quarters from my checking account. After looking at my account in her computer and seeing that it was in good standing, she efficiently processed to obtain the four rolls of quarters for me, had me sign the digital display, and provided me with a receipt of the transaction. Besides the fact that you can open an account at Freedom First Credit Union with very little money and their staff are very friendly and professional, I also enjoy the convenience of their user-friendly app. You can see all your transactions in the palm of your hands, transfer your money from one account to another, take a picture of a check you received and make a deposit via your app, and have useful information about financial planning and the other services they provide. One of these services is the Roanoke Financial Empowerment Center, where you can meet with a financial counselor and receive financial education and advice. Another service is meeting with a credit union representative to review your current services and see if you would benefit from adding additional ones or modifying your current ones. Another is meeting with a financial planner to talk about investments. Even though I still have an account with a large bank as well, Bank of America, which I've had since I started attending the university, that at that time was known as Bank of Boston; I have great pride of being a banking customer of Freedom First Credit Union and would highly recommend it to all those considering opening a new account for the first time or those who are considering switching financial institutions because they are not happy with the service or personal attention they are receiving elsewhere. This is one of the advantages of dealing with a credit union over a large bank. I highly recommend the Freedom First Credit Union to all of you who would like to have a relationship banking experience and be treated like a member of the family.

This is not a bank or credit union. if you want your funds cross mingled , lost , or outright…read morestolen this is the place for you . customer service is a joke at best . Management knows catchy lines like "we care about our community been working it for decades " but can't spell it correctly, Management also enjoys blaming you the customer for their errors . you would be better putting your funds elsewhere.

I was a little upset with Virginia Credit Union at first, but I do want to give them credit because…read moreI genuinely feel like they are trying to do the right thing. As a longtime Member One member, I chose to stay after the merger because I felt like VACU would take care of the members they inherited, and after the way they handled my previous issue, I do have more confidence in them. I'm updating my review because I have a couple of remaining concerns that I'm hoping someone from VACU can reach out to me about. First, I especially want to reiterate how appreciative I am of the assistance I received with my previous account issue. I experienced a hardship that unfortunately resulted in my account being charged off and closed. I take full responsibility for that happening. However, after hearing me out and reviewing the situation, VACU agreed to reopen my original account as a one-time courtesy, especially since I had previously been told by multiple people that it could be reopened. That meant a great deal to me, and I am extremely grateful to the very helpful lady who reached out to me and helped get everything resolved. There is one related issue that I unfortunately forgot to mention when she called me. The same people who originally told me that my account would be reopened also told me that the charge-off would not be reported to ChexSystems. However, it ultimately was reported. I want to make it clear that I'm not angry or upset with VACU simply for reporting it, and I fully accept responsibility for the circumstances that originally caused the account to be charged off. My concern is that I was specifically told that it would not be reported. Because of that, I would really appreciate it if someone could review the situation and see whether VACU would be willing to have the ChexSystems record removed as a courtesy, especially considering the circumstances and what I was originally told. I completely forgot to bring this up when the very helpful lady called me about my previous issue, or I would have discussed it with her then. I also have a separate concern regarding the online lending system. I recently requested a personal line of credit, and I was disappointed that the online system did not approve my request. I would really appreciate the opportunity to speak with a lending manager or someone who has the authority to manually review my situation and see if there is anything VACU might be able to work out with me. I completely understand that VACU has lending requirements and that I may not qualify for the amount I originally requested. I'm not asking anyone to disregard those requirements or guarantee me an approval. I would simply appreciate someone taking an individual look at my situation rather than relying solely on the automated decision. If the original amount isn't possible, I would be more than willing to consider a smaller personal line of credit, different terms, or another option that VACU feels would be reasonable. I'm willing to work with them to find something that works for both sides. The ChexSystems issue is also important to me because having that report has made it difficult for me to establish a relationship with another financial institution when I need additional lending options. However, I would honestly prefer to continue building my relationship with Virginia Credit Union anyway. That's one of the reasons I'm reaching out to VACU first and hoping someone will be willing to work with me. Overall, I do appreciate what Virginia Credit Union has already done for me. They listened to me when I had my previous issue, took my circumstances into consideration, and ultimately found a solution when they didn't necessarily have to. That went a long way with me and is one of the reasons I decided to stay. I'm hoping someone from VACU can reach out to me again to discuss the ChexSystems issue, and I would also really appreciate the opportunity to speak with a manager or someone in lending about whether my personal line of credit request could be manually reviewed. Even if the answer isn't exactly what I originally requested, I'm very willing to have a conversation and see if there is something we can work out. Thank you again to the people at Virginia Credit Union who have taken the time to listen and help me. I really do appreciate it.

I was a loyal Member One customer for years, but ever since the merger with Virginia Credit Union,…read moremy experience has been nothing short of a disaster. Their customer service has been incredibly disappointing. They returned my SSDI direct deposit over what appeared to be unnecessary account issues, putting my livelihood at risk and causing needless stress. As if that weren't enough, they also held $200 from a deposit I made because of a hold they placed on a completely separate check. The entire transition has been frustrating and poorly managed. Instead of making banking easier, it's created one problem after another. I no longer feel like they value or care about their members.

I've been a Beacon credit member since that took over the Lynchburg Foundry credit union which…read moretotals over 52 years. I have had the most wonderful service and helpful advice with some fantastic people. I would recommend this institution to anyone looking for a professional, efficient and friendly place for all their financial needs. Those folks are the best!!!

They made me feel like I was the criminal when I was recently scammed out of some money…read more Practically yelled at me over the phone making me feel worse than I already did. They refused to reimburse our money so I had to file a complaint in order to get the money back. I am an honest person and unfortunately assume others are. So when I received a phone call that showed Beacon Credit Union and their phone number on my caller ID, of course I thought I was speaking with someone from Beacon. The world we live in sure has changed, and not for the better.

The system is always down, I can only Do 3 transfers per day…read morethat includes paying bills, cash app or member to member transfers and they never answer the phone. This bank is not worth all the hassle.

Great credit Union to work with. We've used them for many years. People are great! Easy access to…read moreour other stores.

He mencionado que si tengo que pagar por la tarjeta porque me dio como un colapso cuando dijo el…read moretaxista no acepto cheques ni tarjeta y ahí perdí mi tarjeta quizás quedó en el taxi llamé el 18 de noviembre para que se me diera otra tarjeta y si yo tengo que pagar les mencioné que yo pagaré pero dijeron que sí que me lo iban a enviar y no ha llegado y llamé hace un momento y me dijeron que no está registrado nada y luego llamé al banco y me dijeron que el encargado de dónde se reportan tarjetas perdidas que él no acepta ni que yo pague por otra tarjeta ni me la envía de gratis y yo necesito la tarjeta ahora porque dijo de 7 a 10 días te llega que él tiene registrado ahí que es cero cobro o sea que me mintió otra vez​

I attempted to apply for a loan with Valleystar at the beginning of February 2022. For three days…read morethe very incompetent staff continued to approve loan amounts then while in the process of writing up the loan the loan services would suddenly receive a phone call from underwriter saying that no way could they continue the loan process because of new and never discussed reasons. This happened four times in 24 hours. They said that my elderly father must come in to sign his name off my collateral and when I brought him the next day to remove his name from such collegial - the unfamiliar person had absolutely no idea what I was even talking about. I was embarrassed and humiliated in front of my father because he - a member since the credit union began - did not understand what was even happening. There seemed to be no coherent communication between any two employees trying to help me. No one knew what the other was doing and it seemed that the lending rules changed by the minute. After each of 4 different approvals I made plans to disperse loan funds only to find they had changed their mind and decided not to honor their approval or pledge to me. How do lenders get by with this type of service to its members? How can members trust their money to an institution that has no idea how to implement a loan whether with a signature or collateral. The amount of incompetence is mind boggling and certainly not trustworthy. I find myself questioning their ability to actually lend money with integrity and follow-through. I had an emotional experience that affected my health and my trust in the credit union. I am disappointed and appalled that the service to me - a longtime member - was tremendously disappointing and most unempathetic I was embarrassed in front of my elderly father and I was actually embarrassed for the staff that was trying to help me because no one I mean NO ONE was in charge or knew what to do to remedy the situation. I honestly can not remember a situation this humiliating in my whole life. I am 63 years old. My advice is to go to another financial institution as soon as you can. GO. DO NOT TRUST THESE PEOPLE WITH YOUR MONEY OR YOUR BUSINESS. THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO DO NOR HOW TO HANDLE A SITUATION WHERE YOUR FINANCES ARE INVOLVED. I felt as though no one actually wanted to deal with my loan nor did they want to explain their decisions to me face to face. They called from upstairs and changed the rules of lending every 15 minutes. I would be ashamed to treat people the way I was treated. Business cannot survive this way. It is not a game to approve a loan and then jerk it away as it I were a game. I am left with no answer and unbelievable confusion that a financial institution can behave this way.

They say it's not what you do when everything is going well that counts--but what you do when…read morethings don't go as planned. This is still an ongoing situation, but I'm hopeful that, in time, relationships can be repaired and we can move forward. To start with the positive: Sam, the service manager, went out of his way to get me in for a state inspection. It wasn't urgent for them, but it was for me--especially after being reminded by Floyd County PD that driving with an expired inspection (mine had lapsed since August) wasn't acceptable. I called Priority because they've always taken great care of our Odyssey. They got me in quickly and handled the inspection, oil change, front brakes, and tire rotation--excellent work as always. During that visit, they also identified two oil leaks and a couple of non-urgent issues we planned to address later. Two weeks ago, however, the driver-side caliper seized, so we decided to fix everything at once. The repairs were completed, but on the drive home, I noticed oil leaking and smoke from it burning underneath the vehicle. By the time I got home, the leak was worse than before, and I had to add oil just to stabilize it. I brought it back in the following week. They found that the oil pan had cracked around the bolts, with a piece broken off. Their initial solution was for us to pay for a full replacement. That led to a disagreement--emotions got high, tempers flared. I'll be the first to admit it wasn't my best moment, nor my wife's. Eventually, we reached a resolution: they would replace the oil pan and complete the repair at no charge. However, we were also told not to bring our vehicles back. That part didn't sit right with me. I don't like burning bridges. As a former leader, I understand that management has to protect their team and stand by their technicians. From that standpoint, I respect the overall manager--they're doing exactly what a good manager should do. When I picked up the truck, I spoke with Van and Sam. I apologized for my part in how things escalated. I also made it clear that we never questioned Logan's ability. Out of multiple repairs, one didn't go as planned--that happens. Even the best technicians miss sometimes. I've turned wrenches myself; I know no one is perfect. My frustration came from expectations. Priority Honda has always operated at a high standard, and that's why I bring my vehicles there. When something didn't align with that standard, it stood out. At the same time, I understand they're running a business. Costs are up everywhere, and margins are tight. No shop has unlimited flexibility to absorb unexpected issues. What matters to me is this: Logan, Sam, and Van are solid professionals. They communicate well, they stand behind their work, and when something went wrong, they ultimately made it right. Every other repair they performed was done well--I'd trust my vehicle to make a cross-country trip based on their work. What I struggle with is being told not to return. I hope the conversation I had with Van and Sam opens the door to reconsider that. Because if we can't return for service, it naturally affects future business decisions--including purchasing our next vehicle, which we had planned to do through Priority. I choose businesses based on relationships. When people are honest, stand by their word, and treat customers fairly, they earn my loyalty. Sam, Van, and Logan have earned that trust. If they recommend a repair, I believe them. But relationships go both ways--and right now, that's uncertain. My wife and I are combat veterans, and I served 22 years in the Navy. When we drive from Bent Mountain to Peter's Creek Road, that's not convenience--that's trust. Over 11 years, we've had consistently positive experiences. That matters. Yes, there was a 10-minute stretch where emotions got the better of everyone. We own our part in that. But it doesn't erase over a decade of good interactions. I apologized sincerely. I acknowledged their professionalism. I even asked that my confidence in Logan be passed along to him. What I hope for now is simple: that this can be seen as a bad moment--not the end of a long-standing relationship. From what I was told, there may still be an opportunity for us to return for standard service, just not major repairs given the age of my truck. That seems like a reasonable middle ground. So now, the ball is in their court. In the meantime, I may have to look elsewhere--but I'd much rather not. I don't want to drive to Christiansburg for service when I've had a trusted shop closer to home. Surely this isn't the end. To be continued...

1/5 Stars - Predatory, Incompetent, and Harassing…read more I made a formal test drive appointment for a specific car and drove over 30 miles to get there. My partner had called earlier to check on it and was promised a callback -that never came. We called a second time while en route--again, promised a call back, again ignored. (Nick and Ryan, do better.) It wasn't until we were two miles away and called a third time that they casually admitted, "Oh yeah, we sold that... but we can show you others." They knowingly scheduled an appointment for a vehicle they didn't have and let us drive 60 miles round-trip just to pull a classic bait-and-switch. To make matters worse, the vehicle is still listed as available on their website, and they won't stop spamming my phone with texts, emails, and calls. STOP. I am terminally ill and dying. My time and energy are finite, and this dealership wasted both without a second thought just to lure me onto their lot. Their level of disrespect, fake inventory tactics, and total lack of basic human decency is appalling. Do not waste your life dealing with a dealership this dishonest and does not value your time.