First Citizens Bank Reviews

They charge overdraft fees in the middle of the night, they hold your bill payment for a week so that you're late. The worst bank we have ever used and we are looking to switch right now. They are so shady

First Citizens customer for over 30 years. I agree with other reviews when they were a small local bank. The customer service was the best. They have really gone downhill and their customer service staff seem unequipped to really be able to help you. They recently built a new branch close to me. The branch doesn’t have drive-through. What are handicap or elderly people supposed to do now? They have to go inside the bank. Explain to me how this helps the customers. My advice to new prospective customers after 30 years is to stay away. Find a different bank.

I joined this bank when it's just a small bank because I like to bank local and keep it local and keep it in the USA. So they were only in North and South Carolina when I join back in 2011, but now they've grown into a huge conglomerate bank and they've turned into a Bank of America or Truist and there's no longer any customer service. Their hours are too limited, their employees are untrained, their employees are rude, I have called customer service so many times and the past three years since they closed my local bank that I can't even count.

No one can predict a severe recession. You have managed to damage our credit with no fault of our own. Ruining clients' credit will not help any bank, etc. Clients should be taken care of for future business.

I have banked with First Citizens for many years. My experiences have been with checking, savings, credit card, and HELOC accounts. First Citizens usually doesn’t have the lowest interest rates for loans but they offer a lot of services and are competitive in the banking business. The services they provide have always been exceptional. I have recommended First Citizens to many friends and family members and will continue to do so.

I went online to open account on July 3rd, everything seemed smooth at first. Issued a account number for checking account and savings account. I then tried log in online and for some reason, the site wouldn't let me log in. So I call the 800 number for customer service who informs me, "Must be a glitch in system. I can't see any accounts in your name" and I need to go to a local branch on the 5th.

Should be 0 stars but not an option. After a 12 year breach of contract lawsuit, we agreed to their terms in a court overseen Settlement Agreement. Again the terms were offered by this Bank with their representative present in the hearing. It is now 7 months later and they have failed miserably to live up to their offer. Think twice before entering into an agreement with them.

First Citizen Bank is probably the Worst bank for anything from Personal Banking to Business. This is going to be a Long and pretty In-Depth review: Originally I was with One West Bank, a pretty good bank for years, until it was acquired by First CitizenBank in 2022. Thinking I might still get the same level of banking service and customer support I stayed. I can tell you this that laid off most of One West Bank employees! So I stayed and had no issues and slowly I started to face issues:

I have had nothing but issues with this bank. The first issue was they didn't charge me the agreed upon interest rate. I had to make them aware they had been charging me the wrong rate for a few months. They corrected but it happened again. I lost money because they were overcharging me when my loan was at its largest. They never reimbursed me for that. Fast forward to last year, I had to change bank accounts due to fraud, I connected with loan manager and filed new paperwork to pull out of new bank account. They kept trying to pull from old one, racking up charges.

I have tried to call in and make a payment for a car loan and set up auto draft but the company is making this process so hard. They tell me they need to call a landline to get a code, but then tell me they can’t do that. They say they need to speak to the primary on the business account, and I say he is an attorney and I am the account manager. I will try to call him. They then say he has to call in. I then ask does he have to call from the identical line from the office phone and she tells me I can’t tell you that. I try and remind her that he is an attorney and will need to call from cellphone, so that matters. She then tells me she can’t tell me that. It has never been so hard to make and set up draft for a payment in my life. I will not be using this bank again. I am going to look into refinancing.

The main branch on Main Street in High Point, NC has the worst customer service that I have experienced in any bank. Very rarely do they even say hello or thank you when going through the drive-through. Some don't even say anything even when I say hello. On an average, it takes about 10 minutes to do a simple deposit. Went in today to make a deposit and the teller abruptly said she was waiting on another customer and I would have to wait. I made the comment about "what else is new" and she did not like the comment and proceeded to return my deposit and was told to come back another day. I went inside to get another teller and to speak with the manager.

We opened a Business Account five years ago. When Scott ** became Leesburg Branch Manager the service was AWFUL! The old staff, who were wonderful left & new people replaced them who were lazy, careless & one attempted to cause us to lose money from our business account! CRAZY & CORRUPT? The old saying, "Fish rot from the head down." They need to REPLACE SCOTT ** & services would probably be adequate again. We moved to Bank of Charles Town whom I cannot recommend higher for business, or personal for that matter!!! Bank of Charles Town cannot help enough & have the nicest staff! We love them!

Can't get debit or credit card alerts. Since they do so many updates constantly the alerts get turned off and you can't get them turned back on. Example, your payment due reminder, if card was used at gas station or if cards were used. Now I get no alerts at all. Have called several times. The customer service rep first stated there was no problem but yet when you call you get a message that the system is having problems getting you logged in. She stated she would have someone call which she did and this customer service person actually stated it was my browser which it wasn't. I tried on my Chromebook and my their mobile app neither works. So she went in and cut the alerts on on both cards but they still are not on. I have messaged them and no fix yet. Time to change banks. Wouldn't advise anyone to put your money in their bank.

I opened an account here and switched my direct deposits and auto drafts over to it. My direct deposits would hit every Friday but would not post to my account until late Monday...so they are constantly charging me overdraft fees for transactions that hit before they decide to make my money available... ridiculous, I'm switching back to a bank that can actually handle transactions in a timely fashion. The point of direct deposit is to be able to use your money ON payday.

Absolutely terrible. My wife wanted to move to another bank and she chose First Citizens. We opened a joint checking, savings, personal checking (for my business), I got a FC credit card and rolled our HELOC all into one nice online interface. I set up auto payments for my CC, autodraft from our joint account the full balance every Monday. I bought some personal items I wanted to pay for out of my own personal account instead of the Joint, so I manually paid the full balance out of my personal funds. Their transaction process is so slow and archaic that it took my payment and then withdrew the full amount AGAIN from our joint account. Branch manager told me that "the autopay is going to process no matter what." So I had overpaid $1,364.00. It took me a MONTH to get credit back into my joint account. Absolutely inexcusable.

I have a huge problem with your bank.

I opened a checking account with First Citizens Bank. It lasted two days. When I was unable to login, I found out to my horror that First Citizens Bank closed my account without notifying me. Not only that, they forced me to pay $103.26 to do that. I had to pay for checks I couldn't use, and the funds were not available because the account was closed without my consent. I will never trust this bank again.

They caught someone trying to charge $7000 and sent me a text. I never used their debit card once. I happened to log in to my account and a charge to a charity in FL as well as a charge to a Flower shop were allowed. Apparently, this happens a lot to this bank. The charity refunded my money first, so First Citizens got off easy there. Their money is insured, which they don't make well known. The police told me about their money being insured. I contacted the FTC, CFPB, police, etc., because no one in fraud seemed to be empathetic or bright.

After 4.5 years as a customer, I received a new $15 fee for online banking. The only reason I am a First Citizens customer was for Free Checking. Customer Service said I could go to a branch and have them switch my accounts to a different online banking system with very little difference with no fee. Could they make it more difficult. AVOID THIS BANK. Worst in class technology and branches closed on Saturdays. Convenience is clearly not a consideration for them. They are so bad, I get my SBA loans through other institutions and just use their checking in case I need a local branch. If they want to nickel & dime small businesses, I'll take multiple accounts and tens of thousands of dollars to a new bank. First Citizens is NOT SMALL BUSINESS FRIENDLY.

I can't get any support over the phone and continue to be sent to a local office to receive help. Once I drive to the local office, I see a sign posted on the door stating the office is closed due to COVID. I then go back through the drive-thru to talk with someone who gives me the name of the branch GM who can't seem to figure out how to help me either. He is very nice and continues to say he is "pushing buttons" and the back office will fix the issue one of these days. Well, the issue doesn't get fixed so I go on-line and am able to create a Bank of America account and all my issues are addressed and solved within 12 days.

First Citizens Bank purchased the bank that I did business with over a year ago. Since that time, they’ve continued to send monthly statements @ $5 each. I call each month asking them to stop. I’ve tried to close the account-they said my signature didn’t match. My balance has gone to zero, and they had the nerve to charge an OVERDRAFT FEE!!! Once they charged the overdraft fee, they closed my account! (Which is fine because I’ve wanted to close it anyway.) But I shouldn’t have to pay $35 for this. THEY dwindled my account down to $0 and have the nerve to charge me!! Customer service is unhelpful. They talk you in circles and in the end, rob you of your money through a $5 monthly statement fee that they make impossible to cancel.

I have been a First Citizens Bank customer for 9 years. I have a savings, a checking and credit card with them. I needed to open an Estate Account for an inheritance. I checked with them to make sure I had all the proper documents. Went to the bank when I received the check and presented my documents. Their legal department balked because the Letter of Authority from the court was not original. Strange because I had the check in hand. Nothing illegal happening here. I went to First Bank of SC with the same documents that same day and opened the Estate Account there in 20 minutes. This is the 2nd time I have been disappointed by FCB's legal department. The other time was for a simple Notarized Signature that they would not do because it was a property sale. Went to the UPS Store and got it. I don't feel like they really want to assist their customers. Apparently, they don't need my business.

This is absolutely the worst bank ever! My bank account was compromised and I called several times and even went so far as to file complaints with the BBB (they never responded so the BBB just closes your case). Someone was making large payments on bills from my account and FC called me a liar and said, "Why would someone pay your bills?" Gee, I don't know? I explained over and over to them it wasn't me and now they screwed up my credit so bad it'll take years to recover. The branch in Brookfield is pitiful and the bank manager doesn't call you back, she just goes on vacation and then calls you back 2 weeks later. I never had an issue with Guaranty Bank and they were friendly. I also reported to the CFPB but, they didn't do anything either. I can't believe they allow this bank to exist.

As a retired Realtor, don't ever go to a bank branch manager for any credit accounts. They are amateurs. I was produced with HUD statement with three errors on it. Most people would have never caught the errors.

I'm constantly being hit with over draft fee. I always check the available amount I have before using my card but sometimes they don't add a charge til days later I guess. I went over by 85 cents and deposited money into my acct few hrs later. 5 days after that, they hit me with over draft. A few times I was charged over draft and I added up all the charges and one couple occasions I was not over. When I sent a auto draft out and I did not get the money in the bank in time I was charged insignificant funds fee and I understand that. I did not get the money in the acct in time, that was completely my fault. But when I only go over 85 cents and only because it said I had money in my acct and I deposit my check same day to charge me over $30 is ridiculous.

I've been working with First Citizens since the first week of December, 2019. I submitted everything they requested within 1 business day of request. I got all inspections I Was told to get done. My closing was scheduled for Friday, 1/17. On Monday, 1/14, 4 days before closing, First Citizens requested additional paperwork. I submitted it.

I've been banking with FC for over 20 years. Since I've been banking online I've been hit with numerous fees. I called to complain and out of 5 fees I was reimbursed 3. The other 2 should have been reimbursed but I got 3 back it felt like a small victory. I had one fee reimbursed and 2 days later they hit me again for no reason. I figure it was to get the reimbursed one back. Every time I complain it's always my fault. They also hit me each month with atm fees for using their atms. When I complained the atm fees stopped. This is a very bad bank to bank with. They will hit you with needless fees and there is nothing you can do about it. Bunch of crooks!!!!

So, First Citizens is literally the worst bank. Normally, if the bank allows a charge to go through and it results in a negative balance you will not be charged an overdraft fee until midnight. Not the case here. This bank will let the charge go through, allow you to straighten out the account before midnight and then charge you TWO overdraft fees 3 days later.

First Citizens Bank purchased the bank that I did business with. The Result: They shut down my Debit Card while I was traveling. Apparently they do not have customers that travel more than 30 days at a time. It’s MY MONEY. But with the purchase I had to follow their rules which required me to get a new debit card. My bank was sold before and I was not required to get a new debit card. I was FORCED to play by their rules to access MY MONEY. ARROGANT! Charges that never appeared on my past statements started to appear. Nickel and dime is how they they expand their revenue stream. GREEDY!

I banked with FC for decades before moving from NC. Because it was no longer convenient to bank with them and the level of service had been declining I changed banks 10+ yrs ago. The following is the 2nd unscrupulous incident I’ve had with them this year. On 9/26/2019 the treasury department on behalf of my federal agency mistakenly sent my travel reimbursement pay via ACH to my closed FC checking account.