After 21 years as a customer of this credit union, I've finally reached a point where I'm going to close my account.
Now, I got an account here in 1998 an undergrad at UK because it was conveniently on campus and they didn't require things like a certain regular deposit or minimum balance for a checking account, which were convenient for a "poor college student."
However, going out into the world after graduating, it's become more and more clear over the years that they are actually a pretty lousy place to bank with, and I'd been keeping my account active with them out of some echoing sense of loyalty to my first bank and my alma mater.
The interest rates on their credit cards are high, much higher than you'd find at competing banks and credit unions, and they have lower limits too. The interest rates on their certificates of deposit are lower than you'd find at competing banks and credit unions.
It's always hard to reach someone on the phone. Most of my attempts to call them on the phone have resulted in me hanging up and driving to a branch, that's how long it takes to reach someone.
Their system for detecting debit card fraud is painfully over-sensitive, to the point that leaving the state of Kentucky for any length of time may set it off. I've had my debit card with them suspended for "suspected fraud" for simple day-trips to adjoining states.
People say that credit unions are supposed to give better interest rates and customer service than commercial banks, that isn't true with this one. I've had accounts at a number of banks and credit unions over my life, and this consistently has had the worst service and has the worst interest rates and fees.
My friends from my college years that I keep in touch with have all closed their accounts here, each one has told me a tale of some unfair fee or bad service they'd received. Like me, they'd kept their accounts out of habit, but each one had some point where they pushed them too far and they left.
The last straw for me was today.
I do most of my banking with another bank now, but through that other bank's online portal I can have it check my bank balances at UKFCU. I saw I had a few dollars in my checking account, so I set up a fund transfer to move that money over. I look at my balances a few days later, and see my account at UK is now overdrafted. I look closer. . .they charged me a fee to simply transfer money between accounts, a $3 fee to move $5 dollars, and that $3 overdrafted me.
So, I tried to call them to ask about this and see if I could get them to waive the charge (unlikely, but I thought I'd ask). . .and after spending 20 minutes on hold (in a workday when I have to take break time to call), I've officially reached my wits end. I'd been keeping an account open with them as a nicety to them for years, but now they've spent that last shred of goodwill I had toward them. I'll be going in there in person soon to pay off this tiny overdraft, then close down my account after 21 years.
Please avoid this credit union if you can. It's marginally acceptable (until you can get an account somewhere else) if you're a student on campus and don't have an account at any other institution (and don't have a car so you can easily drive to one), but once you graduate or if you're in the broader community, stay away. read more