First Republic Bank

 

7

35

jules c.

Oakland, CA

i have never had a good experience with a bank until this one. i was wary at first when i walked into this bank, but a man named Alvin Sandhir quickly put my worries to rest. at first republic, when they say they are here to help you...for once a company actually means it! i can honestly say every time i ever need any help my own personal banker (Alvin) always is there or gets back to me within the working day.

* but the best part? they pay for your ATM fees! how can you beat that?!? *

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30

23

Ivy C.

San Francisco, CA

This is what a bank should be like................
The bankers all know your name and you get to sit at a desk and be treated as a person.
You can actually call them on the phone and have them take care of your banking needs too,  try  doing that with Bank of America. Imagine a bank that lists their phone number.  I call them up sometimes just to make sure I'm not dreaming.
Okay I admit it, I'm also partial to their fresh baked cookies that they conveniently leave at the waiting area.

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Elite '08

40

154

Brandon B.

San Francisco, CA

I've been bank shopping for the past week or two and decided to check out First Republic while I was making the rounds.

The layout here is refreshing. You sit down at a desk where a banker--not a teller--will shake your hand and greet you with a smile. I spent a bit of time talking to one particular banker about their account options. I can't speak as a customer, but as a prospective customer, their service is second to none. Another big plus is that when you bank with First Republic, you open your account(s) and are assigned to a single banker who handles everything pertaining to your account. You have their direct line and their email address to reach them anytime should you need to.

The downside, and likely reason that I won't end up banking with First Republic, is that most of their accounts and services are geared towards people with considerable assets and investments. They have only one checking account available, the "ATM Rebate Checking", which, compared to some high-fee national banks like Wells Fargo and B of A, doesn't have a lot of fees attached. However, it does cost $15 a month if you don't maintain a minimum balance of $2500.

Opening a Passbook Account (aka a savings account), requires a minimum deposit of $5000 and a CD, $10000. In other words, this bank is not meant for the working poor of San Francisco or those of us who have to wait for payday to pay the rent.

That being said, they treat their customers as 'clients' and give people respect that most businesses couldn't dream of in this century. I don't think that given the requirements to benefit from many of their accounts, its the right bank for me, but its made my decision a tough one due to their impeccable service.

Definitely worth taking a look at if you are tired of '1-800' banking numbers, teller lines and endlessly impersonal banking.

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1

2

john g.

San Francisco, CA

First Republic has changed many of their "customer Friendly" small-time banking policies since being taken over by Merrill Lynch. The fees have gone up, check clearing practices have changed, and the level of customer service is unequal.

Now, if you are not a high-roller- the tellers don't even give you the time of day. It is kind of like walking into Hermes in jeans and a t-shirt- the clerks will not even aknowledge you because they think you are a peon.

As first republic customers, we already pay high fees for a higher degree of customer service. That's what I pay for. Now, because I don't have 100K in my checking- I am treated like I am a "bother."  

Be wary of this takeover- and the impact on good customer service.

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99

33

max y.

San Francisco, CA

These guys just rock. I do both my personal and business banking here and I cannot tell you what a pleasure it is to walk in and have everyone in the branch know me by name and actually care about helping me and my business grow and make good banking decisions. Great employees and the service is phenomenal. There is no reason to bank anywhere else. First Republic's Laurel Village branch does Banking right.
When you go to open your account tell them Max sent you and you will see for yourself.
And a bonus - the bankers are actually hip enough to hang at Mr. Smiths- what more could you want?

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