[mike31154]

I think customer service in many cases is largely dependent on where you are. Sure each large organization has it's 'mission statement', overall policies and management style, but it still boils down to who you're dealing with in the actual branch as to the type of service you get. I'm sure everyone has had good/bad experiences with every major banking organization. What I get a kick out of these days, not so much in our country, is the global meltdown of the whole system, which is essentially run by the banks. Now they're all looking for bailout money! What were they up to when times were booming? Giving the average schmo a break? Not likely. What about me? Who's going to bail out my mutual fund RRSP account that's tanking big time? I know, I was well aware of the risks when I started investing..... All I can do now is sit on it, wait and hope the portfolio recovers in a few years. I certainly don't want to start yanking cash out of there now and take the losses, so I won't be contributing much to any economic recovery!

I deal with BMO and generally this organization has been pretty good over the years. I've moved my savings to ING Direct and can move my money back & forth online easily. Also opened a tax free account with ING. ING has consistently offered better interest rates and service than the 'brick and mortar' organizations. Not sure why ING is strictly an online bank here in Canada, since they are huge in Europe with many large branches.

My career in the Air Force had me moving a lot and BMO were the only ones that provided actual branches in Germany when I was stationed there. That's largely why I've remained with them. Starting to wonder about them now though, since I just received a letter in the mail the other day that the BMO here in Vernon is building a brand new branch with a "Drive Thru" banking machine. Great! Talk about being on the wrong end of the pendulum swing. Geez, with online banking I hardly ever visit the branch any longer (I don't own a business). The only time I need to visit the branch is to get a money order or bank draft and again, the way the electronic payment options are going, I can see these kind of instruments being history in the not too distant future. Many towns & cities are considering banning any new drive thru type things due to the traffic jams they can create not to mention the carbon footprint of all those cars sitting in a lineup idling away.... and my good 'ol BMO here in Vernon is real proud of this great new 'service' they're going to provide me.

Whew, I guess I needed to get that out of my system... Sorry if I've gone a little overboard here and maybe ruffled some feathers. Anyhow this is a fish forum and scales are harder to ruffle, he he.