Mechanics Bank - Broad Street Branch Broad St, San Luis Obispo

I opened my accounts with Mechanics Bank the day Rabobank closed. I've never had a problem with the bank personnel, the services have always been top-notch and the staff has always responded efficiently to my questions and transaction needs. Whether in person or by phone, they have always been courteous and knowledgeable.

I sadly regret I ever opened an account with this bank. They seem to be the most ignorant when I ask questions, they're grossly unavailable either by email, or phone and even when I do a walk in to expedite transactions I have to wait... always put on hold or waiting for someone to call, text or answer my emails. Even when I go to the bank, I STILL have to make an appointments to come back. The person that opened my account in the first place is either not there, and another time, was too busy to help me deposit over $200,000.00 into an IRA account. If I owned this bank I would fire personnel, and only hire people who are trained, experienced and care about customer service.

Not recommended. I got cash from the ATM. I paid fees to get that cash. I go inside with my ATM receipts to exchange the $20s for $100s. The teller seems willing and nice enough and even counts out all the cash. She wants to confirm with some supervisor. She then comes back and says since I don't have an account they can't do it. Makes some comment about the gov has rules about cash transaction and they need a record of who people are for this type of transaction. Ridiculous and just the worst customer service. Avoid this bank. Afterward I went to 3 other banks (US Bank, Heritage Oaks, Union) they all exchanged cash for me and I didn't even get the cash at their banks! I need a bank in SLO and even mentioned it to them at Robo, I'll be choosing one of the others. Your ATM could give out $100s, but it gives out $20s. There is a RECORD with my name on it. You're just exchanging that money!

I LOVE THIS BANK, NO MATTER WHAT THE CORPORATE NAME IS, RABOBANK, MID-STATE BANK, OR THE NEW MECHANICS BANK. THEY HAVE ALWAYS BEEN SO NICE TO ME, AND EFFICIENT. I LOVE THIS BANK!

Friendly, helpful, and courteous to their customers!

It seems to me that the bank is stuck in the 20th century. They DO NOT accept credit card payments They do not accept bank to bank electronic payments I explained, we are in a pandemic, and under quarantine and I am high risk, so I would like to pay by phone for my safe deposit. Nope, sorry mam..... So I will have to send my son with my credit card, get cash at the ATM and ask him to enter the bank, pay in cash and expose himself to Covid, because the bank does not understand the danger. Bad form Mechanics Bank

I have numerous complaints about this bank. Firstly, it takes literally days for your online money tranfers to go through. If I transfer $50 from my checking to my savings and then forget about it, it will tell me I have $50 in checking and $0 in my savings 48 hours later. If I then think to myself, "Oh nice, I have $50 in my checkings account, I'll by a burger for $10!", my card will either be declined or I will have overdrawn by $10, resulting in a $30 dollar overdraft fee (which is also totally absurd). Secondly, just today I was using a Rabobank ATM with my Rabobank card, withdrawing cash. Or so I thought, because apparently a RABOBANK ATM DOESNT ACCEPT MY CARD'S BANK? Amazing. You can't make this stuff up. Not only that, but after several attempts, the ATM ate my card and said it needed to be "retained". No call from Rabobank before this occurred, and after 30 minutes of trying to call them and getting put on hold and transferred through robotically manned departments and not ONCE hearing a human voice, I gave up. These people are totally apathetic and incompetent. Do not use Rabobank.

Rabobank customer service policies and account fees are far more realistic compared to other local banks. Side by side Rabobank probably does have the better / faster / easier local banking.

They have no concept of wait times. They talk about everything with the friend they have at their window.