Amalgamated Bank Reviews 12

I am writing to formally express my concern regarding the unprofessional handling of my recent mortgage pre-approval application. Ms. Kate Aldinger, Vice President,Residential Mortgage Lending,NMLS # 58011 was the person who handled my application at Almagamated Bank. During my application process, I experienced a lack of transparency, repeated delays, and what appeared to have been an inappropriate sharing of my personal financial information with my real estate broker without my explicit authorization.

Instead of receiving a prompt written response regarding my application, I was subjected to repeated personal questions and unclear communication that unnecessarily prolonged the process. Questions even asking for divorce papers and how I allocated the funds to a house sold years before. I was told that whoever gave me a prior pre- approval did a disservice to me. This is not my first home purchase, yet I have never encountered such a disorganized or unprofessional experience with a lender. Regardless of the outcome, the way this situation was handled left me feeling disrespected and discriminated against.

I expect better professionalism, confidentiality, and accountability from a financial institution. I made it clear that I intended to share my experience truthfully with colleagues, my professional network, and on social media so that others are informed of how my application was managed.

I hope Almagamated Bank takes this feedback seriously, reviews the handling of my file, and addresses any procedural or ethical issues that contributed to this experience. A simple letter of approval or denial would've sufficed.

I am a small business owner. I work several jobs to keep my head above water in New York City. When my business partner and I sought out a bank, we chose Amalgamated Bank because it claimed to follow a set of ethical values we felt it was important to support as members of a union. Our years of being Amalgamated Bank clients have been rough. Amongst the difficulties have been:

- Difficulties setting up an online account since April of 2024. This took about a year because staff at the Union Square branch would promise emails that never arrived with necessary information.
- Being burdened with operating as if banking in the 1980s and 90s. (Ex. Working with checks and having to make physical trips to branches.)
- Promised emails from service staff that never arrive.
- Numerous phone calls and visits to the Union Square branch to solve problems.

On April 29th of this year (2025) at 1:18p.m. I was finally able to open an online account. When I tried to sign in one month later, I discovered my PIN number does not work. I called Customer service, and they instructed me reset my PIN. As it turns out, there is a software issue with the PIN reset page. I took a screenshot and emailed it to their support center as requested.
On June 26th, I made another call to Customer Support at 1:30p.m. to check on the status. I was told that it could take two months for a solution and that I ‘just have to wait.’
Because I have not been able to have online access to my bank for the entire time, I have owned this account my partner and I currently:
1. Can only accept checks from clients. Most of our clients want to use Zelle.
2. Lose money by using Paypal and other systems.
3. Work from paper statements which I am charged for.
4. Pay for wire transfer services (including Zelle) which I cannot use because I cannot access my bank account.
5. Have thousands of dollars of money I cannot accept from clients because I cannot access my bank account.
6. Still do not have online access to my bank account.

My experience over the past four months is the culmination of many years of dysfunction. I believe it is unacceptable to charge for services I am unable to use because of Amalgamated Bank’s own technical issues. What is more insulting is to be told with a shrug to sit and wait months for the problem to be resolved. And Amalgamated Bank’s technical ineptitude prevents me from accessing my account I am being squeezed with charges for a service I cannot use and paper bank statements just so I can keep track of my transactions. All the rhetoric on the website that Amalgamated Bank is for the ‘working class’ and is socially conscious is hollow.

The lack of help has required that I submit complaints to state and federal organizations.

If you want a functional bank, go somewhere else.

I would really like to be working with Amalgamated Bank; however, I haven't even been able to open a business checking account over the course of a week. I initially called on Thursday and spoke to a representative about a business banking account. After asking several questions and being satisfied with the answers, I asked how I could open an account. I was told I needed to fill out a form online and would then be able to open an account.

When I went to the website the next day (Friday), I found there were no online forms available—you can only send an email requesting a callback I then sent said email. I did not hear back by the following Tuesday, so I called the customer service line, explained the issue, and was told they would submit a new business inquiry.

By Thursday (now one week later), I had not heard back and called the customer service line again asking for an update. I was told there was nothing they could do other than send a third new business inquiry. When I persisted, they said my only option was to transfer to a financial advisor at the branch. When I asked if the financial advisor would be able to help me open a new account, I was told they would not be able to, but could simply take down more information.

I was then transferred to the branch after being put on hold, but it wasn't to an actual person—it was the phone tree for the branch location.

I've always believed if a business fumbles the sales process, their likelihood of providing good customer service once you've already signed up is questionable.

On August 29, 2024 I visited the Union Square Amalgamated Bank branch in NYC to inquire about the process of ordering new checks. The female agent I spoke with explained that it was free and that I could place the order with her. Since she indicated it was free, I agreed to place an order. Upon reviewing my checking account on September 11th, I learned I am being debited $36.20 for the check order! I called Amalgamated Bank right away and also spoke with the Union Square Amalgamated Bank branch manager, Orika Cambridge, on September 12th and was assured she would look into the matter and reverse the charge. I also mentioned she could cancel the check order and her response was that I could keep them. Despite numerous emails, the last of which was September 18th, I have not had a response from Orika, nor have I received the checks! Amalgamated Bank's lack of response and follow through on the check order is not acceptable. Not only was I erroneously charged, but I also have not received any information about the check order.
I have been an Amalgamated Bank customer for nearly twenty years! I have stuck with them through their downsizing and elimination of local branches; I now live nowhere near a branch, so it's not like I can stop by and get this resolved. This latest debacle is unacceptable. I have filed a complaint with the CFPB/FDIC and plan on fighting to get my money back and also cease doing business with them by transferring to another bank.
Your soon to be former customer,
Nadia

I've been a customer with Amalgamated Bank since 1985 and in the past year I have not been able to access my account online utilizing their "two-step verification". When I request the 5 digit code to input via my VOIP telephone the recorded female voice on the other end continually asks for the same 5-digit code after I hit option#1 and I cannot access my account. This has been an ongoing, intermittent issue during the past two years. Would someone in the Amalgamated Banks technical department please fix this problem.

I asked for a PIN to change my Password. I called twice. Both times the PIN was never sent. On the third call the customer rep was very rude and was talking over me. She started to yell. I hung up. Her name was "Sam."
I am a bank customer who needed help to get my money. Instead I got this.

Poor customer service, in the bank calling customer service, notice no one answering the phone. Deposit money, they take days to update accounts

I switched to this bank because I was tired of other banks using my money to invest in making our world worse. This bank does the opposite. I miss some of the comforts of the big banks – especially when it comes to business banking – but I have never had an issue with personal banking or personal investment accounts. I'm finally proud of the bank I use, which is a good feeling.

I wanted to file a dispute and ACH withdrawal based on numerous pieces of evidence about a transaction in which a contractual agreement was breached by the service provider, which is now closing, and I am unable to reach my funds. However, the branch, represented by Roslyn Thompson-Loyd, refuses to help or file the dispute.

Instead, She blames me and gives me personal recommendations as to what I should do--

I understand the basics of ACH, the grounds on which my dispute is based, and I have a basic understanding of the banking system. My Dispute claims are valid-- One reason an ACH can be disputed is because the recipient party made ingenious claims and misled me, the sender. Another is a violation of terms of service. I gathered supporting images, documents, and evidence that supports my claims and presented them all in this email thread. All indicate fraud and are deceptive. However, no one at the bank seems to know what to do about it.

So in my frustration, listening to her reasons why she couldn't help, I said that: I thought this bank was supposed to be for the people -- as they promote themselves online, a diverse, socially responsible bank with progressive values-- supposed to be people's bank; she cuts me off by saying: Sir, this isn't PEOPLE'S BANK THIS IS AMALGAMATED BANK!

So here it is. The attitude, the level of disrespect... I know the dates these conversations happened so if the bank would like to listen to the recordings, they will find how their managers handle issues.

And this isn't some just bank employee, mind you; she is Assistant Vice President, Branch Service Manager.

I should've taken the reviews seriously.

This is downright the least consumer friendly bank that I have had the displeasure of having. I am facing an issue where they deemed my account dormant and are now deducting $2.50 every month as a "fee". I called the customer service reps to get the dormancy lifted and they tell me to send them a PDF with my signature on it. I've done this step twice and they still do nothing. Additional calls get me nowhere.

Can't believe how poorly this bank has treated me. I read the glowing reviews, opened the checking account, deposited some money. Immediately(for no reason whatsoever), they closed the account and froze the funds. Do NOT trust this bank.