This bank is around the corner from my house so I have a passbook savings account here. I like the fact that it's close because whenever I have some extra money and I walk past this bank, I stop in to make a deposit and I saved up a lot of money that way in addition to my regular savings account at a bigger bank. I used to like the idea of patronizing small businesses in Andersonville for all sorts of products and services. But I learned that you shouldn't be fooled into thinking that small businesses are always great and that they will always treat you great. And you are also not going to get all of the services you would get at a larger bank. But the service at Northside Federal Savings is not very good. There is one male teller that is exceptionally rude, doesn't even say a word, just motion to you and slides your receipt under the window. The bankers are ok but they don't tell you all of the information they should. For example, when I added a beneficiary to my account, Northside ran a Chex Systems report. Later that day when I went to another bank to open an account the banker there told me "I see you just opened an account at Northside Federal Savings" which I didn't. Also, Northside Federal charges you an ATM fee to use another bank's machine. Come one. You only have one location and you charge for out of network ATM usage? I'll continue to have this "extra money" savings account here because the location is very convenient. But I won't keep my main savings account here with most of my money nor will I do checking here. read more

And not taking coins from their customers now. I haven't worked for 3 months and ran out of money and need to cash in my change and the bank I do business with won't take my coins. Unbelievable. read more

Don't bank here. The head woman is very rude and should not be working in customer service. She is cold and treats questions about the bank with attitude. Worst banking experience of my entire life. You will truly regret becoming a member at this bank. Truly a regrettable financial decision. Don't bank here. read more

After years of dealing with the lunacy and impersonality of big banks, I opened an account here in the late 1990's and have never looked back. I know virtually all of the staff by name, and vice versa, and most of them have been there for many years. (Try that at a Chase branch!) The president who retired a few years ago used to sit out at the counter and greet the customers each morning. They don't charge for counting your coins, you can buy postage stamps, get a safety deposit box, etc. And the lobby is a way cool throwback to a different era. There are actually brass shotgun ports on the walls of the teller cage. (Very Dillinger-esque) It's pretty amazing, in this day and age, to be able to go into a bank without a check or ATM card and still be able to access your accounts because the staff knows you. They only have one bank-owned ATM and it's on the Clark St. sidewalk. But given the friendly service, it's actually nice to visit the bank and get competent, personal service from a teller. They added internet banking a few years ago, so now the convenience factor is even better, although I prefer walking down Clark street to the bank when I have the time. There is also now a parking lot behind the bank (on Foster) so they addressed one of their biggest challenges over the years - especially as the street parking has skyrocketed in cost. If you're looking for a great neighborhood bank check out North Side Federal. read more

This is one of the oldest banking establishments in the city that probably hasn't been remodeled; and I like that. Reminds me of the old bank (I can't remember) my dad used to take me to every two weeks when I was a youngin. The tellers are all stationed behind the old fashioned cage-like structure. One of the coolest things that made my partner want to bank here was the fact that they have a huge vault that you can see. You know, the kind that has a huge crank to open and holds all the world's diamonds, jewels, and gold? When you walk in it's almost like you're walking into a period movie set in the 20's. Don't let the old fashioned decor fool you though. Like mentioned before in previous reviews, they have online banking which is super efficient. They still have passbooks so if you go in to deposit or withdraw you can see it posted in your passbook. Everyone has been pretty nice whenever I go in and they don't care if I bring in a huge jar full of coins to be counted and deposited. They're pretty quick at it too! read more

One of the few places that doesn't make you wait an hour for dollar coins. You NEED them for the meters! Cool lobby! read more

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After years at LaSalle.....then Bank of America ....I had enough. I read an article about supporting neighborhood banks and I found this bank in Andersonville. It wasn't long before they knew me by name. They have always been helpful and friendly. I am so glad I found them! I have been there over ten years now and I will never leave. read more

I tried to come to this location to open up a business checking account. However, when I got there, they began to ask for more documentation that they didn't discuss over the phone. The burden of proof they requested for my business doesn't even exist. I drove 50 mins for no reason. I think they saw that I was a young "black" man and became disinterested in helping me. read more

I love this bank. It's my neighborhood bank, and I was ecstatic to switch over from bank of america. I even got my mortgage here, and they made the process as painless as possible. They only advertise by word of mouth so you know referrals are sincere and empirically based. I trust this bank wholeheartedly. read more

I just opened a new checking account with them today and I cannot express enough how amazing the service was. They were incredibly nice, informative and also showed me around. I'm extremely excited to be a part of this credit union. read more

Ok, so this is what I posted as my Facebook status yesterday and my friends thought I should post it on Yelp, so here it is: I went to my bank, the evil Chase, to see about opening up a savings account - the minimum is high and there are some fees and penalties if you go under a certain amount - he told me I wouldn't find anything different anywhere else. I told him I was gonna do some research and get back to him. As I walked down Clark St. I passed the North Side Federal Savings and Loan which I've walked past for over 15 years -Are they for real?? I felt like I walked into the Bailey Savings and Loan from "It's A Wonderful Life". Everyone was SO NICE! I opened my savings account with them!! They gave me a little ledger book like they did when I was a kid! I just happened to have some paperwork in my bag re a mutual fund I'd been trying to roll over with Chase and they would tell me I needed to call this person, get this info then call back and blah blah so I haven't done it. They said "no problem" took my paper work and took care of it just like that! I just rolled over some of my retirement account to them! I met the president of the bank and his wife, met the vice president and another fabulous woman, I can't remember her name now, we spoke about our dogs and how most of them grew up in this neighborhood and other stories of their lives - OMG - I'm gonna open a checking account with them next. I just had the most amazing experience at a bank EVER!! They all loved Benji too! Benji is my fabulous Dog. The energy and the kindness of the people there and their FAIR practices is worth any inconvenience that a larger corporate bank can offer!! I felt SO good after leaving there that I treated myself to a spontaneous pedicure! I'm SO serious too! Now I have a great new bank and cute toes! read more

Neighborhood bank with all the services of the large corporate ones. After ten years away from this bank I have gone back because they now have complete online service. This is a bank where you can be on a first name basis with the staff, and they will be very helpful. This is not an anonymous bureaucracy by any means. They have free checking etc. The services are the same as the large banks, but you can support the idea of non-uniformity in this area of your life. read more

Great Institution!!! North Side Federal is very much like Bailey Building and Loan Association, the S&L in "It's a Wonderful Life", except North Side is REAL. I just returned from refinancing our mortgage. Even tho they are a small, neighborhood institution their rates were very competitive. We received a rate quote last week and when we came in today ... the rate was lower! Service is quick, professional and VERY pleasantly personal. Everyone there knows us by name. The best news was that they will not re-sell our mortgage ... they keep and service the loans they make. I HIGHLY recommend this institution!!! read more

Lovely bank, great location. Low-key and personable tellers. So nice to bank locally, in a building with character, and not an impersonal, cold bank box. Have banked with them for years, no issues, always helpful. read more

Excellent savings and loan. Cool marble, brass and wood interior with a big old vault. Staff are very friendly and helpful. You can even get a real pass book for your savings account. What can I say, I'm old fashion when it comes to saving money. read more

From: Apollinarii Stetsun, Kiev RE: Important Project To: Board of Directors of Nothside Federal Savings USA Dear Sirs and Ladies, The subject of this letter is connected with perspective proposal concerning of capital investment. My name is Apollinarii Stetsun. I am senior scientific researcher of the Institute for Problems of Material Science, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. I propose you to buy the patent of Ukraine. The patent is connected with new method of registered medium formation for optical information recording. The scientific aspects of the patent you could estimate based on my publications in the Semiconductors and Physics of the Solid State journals: 1. A.I. Stetsun, Photodeposition of silver at the interface of a heterojunction based on a solid electrolyte: the case of CdSe-As2S3Agx (x=0.9-2.4) heterojunctions// Semiconductors. - 2003.-v.37-p. 1169-1176. 2. A.I. Stetsun, Photoinduced ion transfer in heterojunctions based on a solid electrolyte with a mixed ionic-electronic (hole) conductivity//Physics of the Solid State.-2004.-v.46.-p.1125-1130. The interesting story is connected with publications in this scientific direction. The sense of this story consists in the follows. When the author of this letter has copied on home computer of my first scientific paper published in this scientific direction from the Internet site of Semiconductor journal and has returned disc to administrator of computer class of Institute of Semiconductor Physics I observed very beatiful rainbow. Such event has taken place in Kiev city during the road from the Institute of Semiconductor Physics where I was in computer class to my home at September 4, 2003. At the August 2003 I attended the computer class of Institute of Semiconductor Physics. In this Institute I studied at the doctoral course (the course for second scientific degree) in 1997-2000. With the object to copy from Internet the scientific paper [1] I have asked of administrator of the computer class to lend me a free disc. Since He had not a free disc He has borrowed the disc in their colleague and asked me to return the disc. At September 4, 2003 I was in the Institute of Semiconductor Physics. The disc was returned to administrator of computer class. After the author of this letter went from the Institute of Semiconductor Physics to home using bicycle. I observed very beautiful rainbow at the Borschagovka region of Kiev city on Circle Road. The rainbow was visible in direction on the Institute of Semiconductors Physics. It is interesting that the observation of the rainbow took place when the job under my scientific paper was just finished, the paper was presented in the Internet by Editorial Office of the journal Semiconductors and promise to return disc was performed. The observation of rainbow has symbolic sense for me. Although the relation of people to rainbow is different, the sense of rainbow observation in definite situation is described in the Bible (Old Testament, Chapter 1) and in the literature devoted to international symbolic and emblematic. If my proposal is interesting for you, please, contact to me. It is very interesting too, that I observed also rainbow at July 6, 2003, when I worked at the document devoting to defence of Christian religion from a speculations and the defence of the human rights. In this day the great arch of the rainbow was visible from window above the house where I live. Yours sincerely, Apollinarii Stetsun E-mail: stetsun777@yahoo.com stetsun387@gmail.com str. Ternopolskaya 17 ap. 61 Kiev 03115, Ukraine tel. 095-358-90-73 read more

i have been banking with Northside Federal for the last 28 years. Everyone there know has always been so courteous. I have used other banking establishments, however I have always maintained an account with North-side, and don't plan on change that anytime soon. Great neighborhood bank, I would recommend them over any other banking establishment. read more

Used to be friendly and helpful to neighbors. Like they would give you change, a roll of quarters. Not anymore.

I banked with the big banks forever, playing all their games with their crazy fee schedules, jumping through hoops to maintain a checking account. This is a small bank at the corner of my block. I have never been so happy with a bank in my life! Its a little old school, but they offer on-line bill pay and the other internet services that the Big Three offer. My checking account is free... I don't need to do anything for it to be free. No minimum balances, no required electronic deposits, no requirements to use my debit card so many times a month... I just deposit my money, write my checks and get on with my life. I walk into the bank on Saturday mornings, all the tellers know my name, if there are any problems with my account I get a phone call from a real live human being! (only had a problem once). But it was nice working though it with a human being and not some machine. read more

My husband and I were having a frustrating time getting a mortgage through one of the national banks since we are both self employed, even though this bank pre-approved us for well over the price of the home we wanted to buy. Getting anyone on the phone was like pulling teeth. Then we spoke with Sharon, the VP, who stepped in and saved the day by telling us she could get us approved for a loan in a week. I was very impressed with how much she cared about our situation and I will definately be using North Side Federal Savings for all of my future banking needs. I cannot speak highly enough about this bank. read more

this bank been here all my life and thats a long time . i think i will give them a try again i had a account but had to move away from there so i closed the account . but now thinking how dumb i was after hearing how good they are doing and i know the people there are very kind and friendly and never had a problem with this bank . they have one of the best saving accounts that i have ever had. and might open one again some day if i get the money to do so . but like i said am going to reopen my checking with them as soon as my two month with us bank ends . someone told me they have a total free checking . read more

Sadly this neighborhood institution has deteriorated to the point where I am closing my accounts and moving them. The staff has become nervous and rude. I don't know if they are in financial trouble or not, but I'd rather be safe than sorry. read more