Conference 7.286::dcu

    
    I disagree about the 8-4 hours.  DCU opens earlier than most banks so
    closing earlier is no big hasstle as long as you know it and can plan
    on it.
    
    But I totally agree with you on the mid-day closing.  It has amazed me
    on how they can be so concerned about customer satisfaction but close
    down SOME branches for 1 hour lunch periods.  MRO1 doesn't close down
    for lunch breaks but some branches do.  This may sound like trivial
    complaining to some people, but it won't be so trivial when they too
    get bitten by the "Out to lunch" break when they need something at DCU.
    
    It would be interesting to hear DCU's justification for these random
    closings.  Is this what we have to look forward to at ALL branches
    eventually?  If that's the case, then let us know NOW that their service
    level will be declining instead of trying to slip it in on a branch
    by branch basis.
    
    
    

    DCU has attempted to claim that its mid-day closing somehow provides
    BETTER SERVICE, but I'm unconvinced.  While DCU branches are indeed
    open longer than traditional "bankers' hours" (10:00-3:00), the mid-day
    closing makes sense only in cases where there aren't enough tellers to
    allow for reasonable lunch breaks for the staff.

>    open longer than traditional "bankers' hours" (10:00-3:00), the mid-day
    
    Wait, that's a very old tradition isn't it? I haven't heard of any
    banks these days that keep 10-3 hours, it simply isn't competitive any
    more. Most banks I've encountered over the past few years have hours
    more like 9-5 as the norm, and 9-8 or one night a week. And they all
    have Saturday hours too.
    
    It's also interesting to note that some banks in a few stats are even
    open on Sundays. This article I was reading said that this might become
    a trend in the not too distant future. It's simply something banks
    might have to start doing for customer satisfaction and to stay
    competitive.
    
    I think DCU closing for lunch just plain stinks. In my opinion it's a
    rediculous business practice. As the base noter says, the tellers
    should just stagger their lunches. And if need be, hire more tellers.
    
    -Glenn-

    FWIW, the traditional banker's hours are pretty common in Maryland. 
    After spending years in NY/New England, getting used to the limited
    banking hours down here took some effort.  Several banks down here have
    "split" days (10AM-2PM; 3PM-5PM) where the later hours are viewed as
    part of the next business day.  And, yes, the bank is closed for an
    hour between "business days".
    
    Even free checking can't be found without a sizable investment ($1000+ in
    savings, etc.).  In my last job, I opened an account at one of the
    largest banks in MD because I could get free checking for payroll direct
    deposit (this was the ONLY MD bank I could find that would give me a
    free checking account w/o large amounts in savings).  Unfortunately,
    the local branch had hours of 10AM - 2:30PM with drive-in hours on
    Friday night and no Saturday hours.  It was a pain, but it saved me
    over $100 a year in checking costs to use that bank.
    
    In my experience, DCU is competitive in this geography.  Now, if we just
    had an ATM which didn't cost a buck to use...
    
    -- Russ

    >In my experience, DCU is competitive in this geography.  Now, if we just
    >had an ATM which didn't cost a buck to use...
    
    DCU is loosing its competitiveness in NH/MA.  Banks are staying open
    longer here.  From what I have seen in the midwest, they are also staying
    open longer.  The trend is to service the people, because if you do
    not, people move to a institution that will.
    
    	- mark

    re: .5
    
    DCU would be more enticing if it had:
    
    	1.  Evening (at least once a week) or Saturday hours 
    	2.  An ATM which didn't incur the $1 Cirrus fee
    	3.  A branch (or DCU ATM) closer to home (45 miles from the office)
    
    Regardless, it is currently where I do all my banking.  If I get put on
    a residency or moved to a different site, however, I might have to
    consider some changes out of necessity.
    
    re: .6
    
    Not surprising that it is losing to other bank in New England.  I
    remember banks in NY and CT which had great hours, free checking with
    little or no conditions, and lots of ATMs.  I also remember one bank in
    Hartford CT which used to give a _rebate_ (x� per transaction, up to $2
    per month, I think) if you used one of their ATMs instead of using the
    branch office.  I hope DCU considers matching some of these features
    (and I hope some of this competitive goodness makes its way to the
    Mid-Atlantic;  banking here is the pits!).
    
    -- Russ

re Note 204.6 by STAR::BUDA:

>     DCU is loosing its competitiveness in NH/MA.  Banks are staying open
>     longer here.  From what I have seen in the midwest, they are also staying
>     open longer.  The trend is to service the people, because if you do
>     not, people move to a institution that will.
  
        I hope you are right, but my experience with BayBanks (my
        "main bank") is that they are shortening their hours, too. 
        My local BayBank (Groton, MA) closes at Noon on Wednesdays,
        for example.  They seem to feel that their extensive ATM
        network lessens the need for live tellers and live access (as
        to a safe deposit box).  It does indeed lessen the need, but
        it doesn't eliminate it.  Also, it doesn't reduce the
        inconvenience of short hours when the need is there.

        Our local Post Office did the same thing a few years ago.  It
        used to be that I could buy stamps and other services on my
        way to work.  I can no longer do that (although neighboring
        Dunstable's Post Office opens at 7:00 AM -- closing for
        lunch, however).

        I guess they all think we're on flex-time!

        Bob

    I once asked a dcu teller in the Hudson branch If there was any
    consideration of staying open until 5:00pm to make it a little more
    conveniant for the people who work 2nd shift. Her reply was " If
    we stayed open until 5:00 that would mean that I wouldn't get to
    leave until 6:30pm and since I come in at 7:30am I'ld be working
    11 hr days which are too long. " When I started working first shift
    I noticed that this same teller came in at 7:45 am and left at 4:30
    pm.