Santander Bank Branch Gallivan Blvd, Dorchester

I don’t know where they get off calling themselves a bank. My husband and I closed all our accounts with them because they refused a cashier’s check. We weren’t even trying to cash it, we were trying to deposit it. The funds needed to be moved, so we called the issuer in Florida. They in turn called the bank and were refused. The Florida bank was totally baffled, as were we, since a cashier’s check is better than money. After a whole lot of go around, we asked if they would take a wire transfer into our account. That they would do, for an outrageous fee. While my husband and I were shopping around for a new bank, he acquired a mature savings bond. He wanted to cash it and put part of it into his checking account. The teller didn’t even know what it was. The supervisor said they didn’t handle them, they had no procedure. Once again, a U.S. Savings bond is better than cash. So the next day my husband took that bond and just started walking down the street, asking at each different bank if they could cash it. When he found one that could do that, he used that bond to open a new account. The next day we closed all our Santander accounts and moved them to the new bank.

I went to this bank simply to exchange cash for quarters as I’ve done several times before, including since this pandemic started. I have to get quarters to use the laundry machine in my apartment’s basement. This was my third attempt to go in recent days. The first they were already closed because I was driving home after a full day working as a teacher and I hadn’t realized how short their hours were; I work from several hours before they’re open to several hours after. The next time was President’s Day, when their own website said they were open for normal hours but they were in fact closed. On the third attempt, today (I’m off for February break and so could go on a Wednesday), I was denied this simple exchange despite having cash in hand because I was not a member. I understand that banks want to focus on serving their own, but exchanging cash for quarters is just such a basic thing to do for the community you are a part of, especially given that many people in this community cannot afford an in-unit washer/dryer. So many services have become less accessible and more difficult during the pandemic and it’s hard not to see this policy as targeted at those less able to afford access to banking. I’ll admit I don’t know if they are making other efforts to be a good member of the community, but I was disappointed by my experience.

Expect to wait at least 20 minutes in line whenever you go and then another 10 at least at the counter. ATM works 50% of time and their turnover for employees is outrageous. Their ATM ate my card for zero reason, went in to get it and they had shredded it, even though I’m an account member so I need to wait 2 weeks for another one. Literally the WORST.

The teller asked me " what's wrong with you " Closed all my accounts