First Chatham Bank

"I have two business accounts and one personal banking account with First Chatham Bank. I visited the downtown Savannah branch recently to take care of some banking as well as to answer some specific questions related to my accounts. I had the good fortune to meet with the Branch Manager Rochelle Hines who went above and beyond to assist me. I purposely bank with smaller, community banks because I want to have a relationship with the people that work there. Running a small business can have many challenges, and you want your banker to know you and be there for you. Rochelle was friendly, professional and made sure my banking experience focused on taking care of my needs. I highly recommend FCB and am happy that the downtown branch has a dedicated, customer-focused branch manager who cares about me and my businesses."

"My experience was less than good, putting it lightly. First, I opened the account at the Pooler branch, where I had to wait for someone to finish socializing with a co-worker before I could be assisted. It wasn't a long wait, and a desk clerk offered me some informational brochures while I waited, but I still felt like an unwanted burden. Then, I was finally able to meet with the banker, and she was friendly, but I might easily assume this was because I immediately communicated the $$ amount of the large deposit I brought with me to use for opening a new account. The banker assisted with the new account and the deposit but was unable to answer many questions I had regarding other accounts I wanted to open. The banker was moderately pleasant throughout the experience. I went home. Next, after a 36-hour period passed, I decided to set up the mobile/online banking service. The website was clean, neat, and easy to understand, but the software was unacceptably buggy. I was kicked out of the mobile app three times while trying to set up my initial account, and the app crashed while I was trying to choose a username and password for logging in. I would have to contact technical support. Everything went downhill from here. To make a long story short, the phone support person was curt, unpleasant, unhelpful, confused, slow, and painfully misinformed, offering me incorrect instructions numerous times. I am someone who has over 35 years of computer and IT experience, assisting clients and co-workers, and I was astonished at the incompetence. The fact that the bank would have a person like this assist customers with technical support for a mobile app or web app of this nature was enough to give a 1-star review (the second star was only because the Pooler branch teller was kind and helpful to me while I waited). The tech support number was a phone number with a Springfield origin. And that's not the end: when the technical support service person finally realized she was incapable of helping me, she abruptly blurted out the statement, "I'mma puchyoo on a brief hold" (did NOT ask me if this would be OK), and then she immediately clicked her hold button, leaving no window for a response. As if that wasn't bad enough, I waited on hold for 10 minutes, only to have the line disconnected from the other end. I called back twice, the first time, no one picked up, and the second time, someone picked up, set the handset down, and left me on the line to listen to their office noises while they worked elsewhere. I'm not impressed, First Chatham Bank. I'm sorry to say that we will be withdrawing the funds and taking our money to a more professional institution."

"It was a painful process to try to get a real person to answer the phone to talk about my money. Automated system should offer the option to press 0 to talk to someone."

"When I first moved to Savannah, First Chatham Bank branches were next to my house and the law firm I worked at. Not only do they have more convenient locations across Savannah than any other local bank, but the customer service I’ve always received from staff at all locations has been remarkable! I never dread walking into a branch for assistance and they have always been more than happy to do what they can even through the hard times for as long as I’ve been banking with them. Mrs. Marcella’s team at this Downtown location has never failed to help my family and all the other people I’ve urged to bank with FCB over the past two years. I highly recommend FCB and will continue to send my clients to them to open accounts for many, many years to come!"

"Been our local bank since our business opened and they've always been fantastic! Superior customer service, fast to assist and respond. Highly recommended especially for other local businesses!"