Beneficial State Bank — Local services in Portland

Rude! Cruel...just horrible customer service. In this lifetime I pray I never have to bank at this location again. drive the extra mile(s) to the Sandy location

Here's what happened: My business partner and I have a business account. I was told a signature card was to be signed...okay. And I got a call saying I needed to come in soon to sign or the account would be closed.

So I show up politely told them I needed to sign the card and they lady (shoulder length black hair/olive skin) was like:

Rude employee: Who'd you talk too? Do you have name? - she begins naming other employees

My response: Handed her my ID. I don't remember, can you please look up my account to see the notes

Rude employee: well...I'm logging in and its taking time so I'm asking you questions because if we didn't call you may be the other branch (Sandy) did you call them? Did your business partner tell you?

My response: I don't know. Can you read the notes on the account. Rude employee: The paperwork is not here as it's usually prepared so when you come in to sign its ready.

My response: So you're telling me that this branch can't do the same thing? Rude employee: No we can BUT I'd rather not download the paperwork, its a hassle it will take time. Let me call the other branch

My response: Ok. Can I do a wire transfer as well

Rude employee: Well, I called and they have it ready so go there and no you can't wire if the card isn't signed

I left, and went to Sandy location to handle it and withdrew all but $2.04 of my dough. Spoke to the staff there (pleasant).

My fault: I should have asked my business partner more details about which location before I showed up at "Bank of Rudeness" & I could have called before driving from Happy Valley. Lessons Learned.

My next steps: Continue my primary banking elsewhere. Screw their funky customer service and treatment of a customer who is BIPOC. Trust me I took out 5-figures...so this review anit coming from...

I'm honestly really disappointed to be writing this review. I've banked with these folks since they were Albina community bank, and my son and I have been with them for nearly two decades. My son opened his very first bank account back when they were Albina community bank. Unfortunately today they made it perfectly clear that they don't value the business of individual customers when asked to hold themselves accountable, even when the bank's mistakes have wrought havoc on their customer's lives. The last two times I've needed to replace my debit card, it's taken nearly a month, multiple requests with numerous 'expedited' replacements simply going missing, or having never been ordered in the first place. This time around, my business website was cancelled, my pets went without flea meds that I can only find online, work equipment that requires a satellite subscription was turned off putting me at a significant risk while working off grid, and I was a day away from having my phone shut off. My card was originally cancelled and "reissued" a month ago. I've had to check on it three separate times this month, and each time was told the bank will need to order another card, and they promised they would rush it each time. Today I had to call again. They have no idea where all these replacements have gone, though the bank has my correct address. They can't tell me when a new card will arrive except that hopefully it'll be soon, and they refused to provide me with any way to make online payments in the mean time. The management at the bank has been dismissive of the consequences I've had to deal with and offered no repair of any kind. There really is no financial benefit to staying with a smaller bank like this, and for me the draw was only ever that they claim to invest in their communities. Apparently their customers aren't worth the same investment, and now I have a new...

I wanted to love this bank. I really did. When I was starting a small business, I wanted to find an ethical bank that matched my values, and Beneficial seemed a good fit. But it's only been a few months and there have been so many problems - and some rather large ones, too.

I give two stars instead of one because their customer service via phone and at the Pearl location has been good when I've had a problem - I really believe they've worked tirelessly to resolve each one and they communicate well, and I appreciate that - but these are also problems that never should have happened in the first place. Things happening once or twice, it's OK, everyone makes mistakes, I don't mind that much. But it just seems to keep being some new issue regularly. And when you add in the frustrating in-person service (while those I worked with at the Pearl office were lovely, those at the MLK location, which I'm closest to, were not - I felt I was getting the third degree each time I came in), poor mobile app experience, and restrictive business hours...I just don't have the time or energy to deal anymore. It's hard enough getting a small business up and running without, say, spending a week with zero access to your funds or having to call and ask for permission every time you want to make a transfer.

I've opened an account at a different bank and will be closing this one out as soon as I transition...