SchoolsFirst FCU Mobile Reviews

by Jthiele

I delayed downloading SchoolsFirstFCU , hoping the bugs would get worked out. I had enjoyed the website teases they sent via email - the site & app looked promising. But that’s where the excitement ended.
How is this new mobile app of any improvement over the old? It is so clunky. Very un-user friendly. And it has substantially fewer transaction options than the old app. For instance, I paid my CC bill today and there was no option to enter a custom amount. Only the monthly minimum or the full amount. Come ON Schools First - This is child’s play. And you’ve digressed 20 years.
I have been online banking for the past 15 years as I live in another state and I’ve been with schools first since it was OCTFCU credit union. What’s that tell you, in the fact their new app in 2021 is now making me want to consider a new FCU for the first time in my life…can we have our old mobile app back please?

by Mamashann

I make complaints in the apps messages all the time because this is the worst banking app ever created. Why the heck did they change??? So first of IT IS NOT ADA COMPLIANT!!! Anyone with vision problems cannot use SchoolsFirstFCU!! Colors are awful for vision impaired. 2nd Where is the pending transactions??? 3rd where is the transaction details? 4th why is there so much junk listed -how to turn off all the junk? 5th Zelle is totally a mess and hard to find 6th making transfers is just cumbersome. I don’t mind change but this new “upgrade” is the worst DOWNGRADE ever! I don’t think anyone who has ever baked tested it out. Do they even care they have like a hundred bad reviews?

I don’t think schools first gives one little bit that they screwed up and SchoolsFirstFCU stinks. Complaints don’t matter any more, customers have to wait on hold for excessively long times, complaints don’t get resolved…just a normal crappy bank now 🤬🤬

by Liskajj

There were a couple of things that I didn't like about the old app but this new one is no Bueno. The print is too large and in your face. I like seeing my finances all at once. It will also only let me make one transfer at a time and then I have to log out and log back in. Maybe do a survey first before launching this wonderful new change? It's not. The web version is the same but at least I can make more than one transfer. I also don't like the way the new version has this in your face "offers" advertisement, even when you have to click it away each time and it still says offers. I don't like how it doesn't give me the option to go to the web version like the old app had when logging in. Now I'm extra confused knowing what money I have with the set up having to scroll around. I hate that the credit will post two days later but not tell you. It won't let you choose the amount to pay off the credit card more than one time or if its more than the recommended. So the more transactions you make and pay you begin to lose track. Too bad it doesn't display it more clearly. ZELLE is missing and they're saying is a profile issue. Uhhhh Ohhh kayyyy! Thanks for nothing.

by Very Unhapoy Camper!

I had been with Schools for 40+ years and never had any problems with their banking service in person and online. I am very dissatisfied with how the merger was handled with the difficulties that so many of us encountered . I do not like your on line app, I am asked to verify my account often with a number sent to me via email , have to find a pencil and paper to write that number down and then put it in to verify it’s me! And, it doesn’t always work . What’s up with this verification ? I pay many of my bills on line, with Schools it would be paid within two days days( if not weekend) . With your online banking it takes 3-4 days turn around time. I am not a very satisfied camper ! Will give it awhile longer to see if you can get all the “bugs” out of your services . If not, like so many that I have talked to , will be looking for another banking service .

by Summertime4me

Very difficult to use app. Awkward, especially if you use a tablet to pay your bills or do banking. I use my iPad. Too many steps to go through with no explanation. Have to turn the tablet horizontal then vertical and back to horizontal in the middle of transactions. Not clear how to delete a payee. I had to call the bank and they could not figure it out and they had to connect me with their tech services, who also took several times to figure it out. laborious when paying several bills since they no longer have the last 4 numbers of the account on the right side. You have to read all the numbers of the account and they do not show a column of payees. You have to go through each one. They lump all the transactions in one place, not separating the one time payments from the routine monthly pending payments. Have to look up the transaction to find out if it is a one time or routine monthly pending payment. The worst banking app I have ever used. My husband and 2 daughters dislike it also. The old app was easy to use and user friendly. Whoever came up with this one needs to go back to tech school.

by UnhappywSchools

This has been the worst merger I have ever dealt with in my life. I have been with Schools for 20 years and am sorely disappointed with all the problems and changes. First, there were loads of issues and miscommunication at the beginning of the merger. Had to wait in line for hours before we could get our answer. Actually a customer coming out of the building gave us the answer to our question about accounts and account numbers. This was never communicated to us by Schools First. Then the website didn’t work for days. Finally, when we did log on, the redesign of the website was terrible and our mortgage wasn’t even listed. The old website and bill pay was easy and straightforward, this is not. Later we received a letter that we didn’t have insurance (which we did) and if we didn’t respond they were going to buy some for us. Some time after that we receive a letter saying, “Oh nevermind, you really did have insurance and we aren’t going to make you pay for new insurance.” Ridiculous. Seriously considering moving all accounts and mortgage to my other hassle free credit union Safe CU.

by GeneralPeatry

No merger in the history of the banking community has EVER gone smoothly, and Schools First eating Schools Financial was no exception. That being said, the breadth and width of their failure is still rather shocking to someone who was EXPECTING it to be a rough ride.

From a poorly coded phone app, ridiculous wait times for bill pay (they insist on making you wait a minimum of a week, no matter what, despite the old system allowing 1-2 days), new fees and charges (naturally), and the obnoxious integration of Zelle into SchoolsFirstFCU (which kills your old account , if you had one), and the criminally poor communication about all of their changes, it’s a disaster all around. I knew it was going to be bad, but yikes.

SchoolsFirstFCU is a joke, everything is worse, not better, and costs more. Shifting my primary banking to USAA. Gave the merger a chance, but it is getting worse, not better. Not closing my account yet, but not holding my breath that it will get better. The new owners are acting like a bank, not a community credit union. They’re jealous of those sweet sweet executive salaries they see on Wall Street, and it shows.

by Kherrington50

I thought that with as much time as they devoted to supposedly making the merger seamless that things would go at least somewhat smoothly. I can’t even log in to SchoolsFirstFCU to see what’s available or see accounts. I initially was able to try to put in my member number etc but then everything stopped working. Couldn’t even get the screen to work to type in anything. Tried the website and whatever phone numbers I could find and nothing worked. I was able to activate my debit at the atm finally. However I can’t keep track of my account at all if I can’t do online banking. The lines getting into the credit union were long and that hasn’t happened before. Presumably a lot of frustrated customers. I have seen any responses to the new members from the developers yet either. I really liked Schools Credit Union but this merger has me thinking about moving my money to a different credit union. I ,as well as many others apparently, want this problem fixed asap. Going to check out other credit unions over the next few days.

by LizillaBliss

SchoolsFirstFCU is so appallingly bad I’m legitimately considering leaving this credit union. Which is sad, since I’ve been a member my whole life. It makes me feel very nervous that access to my account is dependent upon a faulty, unreliable app.

The old Schools app was easy to use, responsive, and straightforward. When I deposited a check, it showed up right away in my account. SchoolsFirstFCU doesn’t even give an indication that your check was successfully deposited. On the old app, my husband and I could transfer funds into our shared accounts that would be visible immediately, but on the new one, we’re left wondering if the transfer went through for approx 24 hours. This new app has randomly prompted me to change my password, and then change it again, and then say something went wrong and not let me log in. To say this is frustrating is an understatement.

With today’s technology, there is no excuse for such an ancient, temperamental app. I haven’t seen a new update for it in quite a while, so it doesn’t seem as if Schools First is bothered by this.

by Pemely

I have been a member for years and I am very disappointed . I have had the regular old SchoolsFirst app for years there’s a few times were they have had problems with SchoolsFirstFCU similar to today . This morning I tried logging in with it and it was not working because of my connection so I deleted it since I knew it was their problem not mine , it automatically downloaded this new version that won’t even let me log in. Every time something similar to this happens it is always when the bank is closed , can’t contact any member for help even every website for schools first is not working at all they are all down I wanted to try doing it online instead of on SchoolsFirstFCU but no . I’m randomly left with no way to get my money today for who knows how long I have many groceries to get unfortunately it’s broken . This is one of the only problems I’ve had with this bank I really don’t want to end up changing banks

by Rusty Perez

SchoolsFirstFCU has accessibility problems and the developers refuse to fix them!

SchoolsFirstFCU is somewhat accessible to blind people using voiceover on the iPhone. But when it comes down to doing important things, like transferring money between accounts, it is impossible to enter dollar amounts because the keypad does not come up when voiceover is enabled. I have called Schools First several times and attempted to convey this to them, their phone support doesn’t seem to understand, and blames it on my version of iOS or on my phone. I have been complaining about this for nearly a year, several updates have come out, and I have tryed them, but to no avail. There are a couple of other small issues including unlabeled buttons etc., but the keypad issue makes SchoolsFirstFCU unusable for blind people on their own. I wish somebody would pay attention to those of us who can’t see the screen!

by Ksjpnoz

I don’t think the new app is an improvement at all. I hate the stark white background. It’s really harsh on the eyes and just isn’t visually appealing. Also there’s very little color difference between the accounts which for me makes it difficult to see at a glance what you’re looking at. I also hate the new search tool. In the old app you could just drag it down, start typing, and the results would start appearing. In the new app it’s a completely separate search field, you have to type it in, press done, then press search. Then when you do a new search the field doesn’t automatically clear, you have to back it out and do all the steps over again. It’s really annoying and extra work. I don’t like the new transfer/pay section either. The account selection works ok but then it takes you to a new screen to plug in the transfer amount and then. ANOTHER screen to complete. Why??? If you’re going to change it why not just have it all on one screen? Again, it’s more steps. The old app may have needed a little face lift but the functionality was way better in my opinion.

by Jar Headed

i’ve been with schools for as long as I can remember and have never had any issues or complaints and always spoke so highly of them for so long to other people. this merger and this new app is a complete step back from what I knew and loved about schools. the old app was very straightforward and this one seems like a ticking time bomb for overdraft fees and missing funds. I loved that with the old app you could deposit a check and see it immediately in your bank account but now when you deposit a check there’s no confirmation it was received and you have to wait to even make sure it shows up in your account. I get that it’s a standard for a lot of banks to do that but one of the best features of schools before was the no hassle and no waiting time. I really hope things can improve because so far I am not happy. love the new yellow cards though lol

by Ta-Rah-ra

There are changes made to SchoolsFirstFCU that are annoying. My husband and I have 2 separate SchoolsFirst accounts and transfer money each paycheck to allocate our bills. The transfer notes help us to place our transfers accordingly. The new app has lost that capability, and I have asked numerous times to see about this glitch with their IT and they claim it’s resolved, but even when we remove SchoolsFirstFCU and then upload it again, it still doesn’t work.
It also takes a while to generate transfers between members, which the old app was instantaneous, so that’s a bummer too. I have to log out and back in to see any updated transactions.
So all that to say we are not happy and wish we never updated SchoolsFirstFCU :/

by Saxtonator

I love the bank but don't love SchoolsFirstFCU . I find the interface more difficult to use than the old app. The “remember me” doesn't work on my iPhone ( I have the newest iOS). If I use my iCloud passwords, it is a three tap process to refill the password. If I want to quickly check a balance - let's say in a store line, I have to retype my password or go through a three click entry. I can't get face id to work with SchoolsFirstFCU . I paid a bill and SchoolsFirstFCU closed when I went to submit. I couldn't find that the bill was paid when I went back in.

It is a little hard to find zelle in SchoolsFirstFCU . I found it but it wasn't intuitive.

If you use SchoolsFirstFCU to transfer money it would be nice to have the amount you are moving on the same screen as the two accounts. In SchoolsFirstFCU you choose your from and to then hit “continue” before you can type the amount. In my chase bank app I can see the from, to, the amount, date, and memo options on the same transfer screen in the mobile app.

by Nelly.boy

There’s stuff that’s easier to do such as sending money with zelle and finding options to deposit checks though your phone, but SchoolsFirstFCU is much slower in updating money spend/money deposited. Before, with the old app, my purchases and deposits were shown almost immediately no matter the time of day. With the new app, my purchase from 2 days ago haven’t shown in my accounts. Knowing as soon as possible would make tracking how much money is spent much easier before I spend more money than I thought I have lol. The features that are easier to find are very convenient though. Scrolling through the old page to find one of these features was annoying before, but now they’re easy to find and access.

by Naniknowsdesign

There are a lot of significant changes that were made between SchoolsFirstFCU and the old app. It is obvious that it does the job to provide you with your banking options and statements but you have to take a WHILE to navigate if you want to use Zelle or look for a branch. This is something that was way more easier in the previous one. Hence getting a layout honed down would be great, especially if we use SchoolsFirstFCU for Zelle, atm locations, card management and other things that we have to navigate through to get to. It is also not 100% user friendly. It took me two weeks or so to figure certain things out and I personally, don’t like that. In regards to the design, I would say it’s better, but need to focus on user mobility from the previous version to this one! You can’t expect everyone to know where things are especially if they are updating the old app.

by Nickdanger74

Well, loan balances now show up, so I’m satisfied. They’ve made improvements since SchoolsFirstFCU first launched. Seems like they basically launched a beta, but they’ve listened to feedback. I’m mostly please.

The ONE thing I really don’t like is LOANS don’t show the total balance remaining in the new app. They only show the payment due. PLEASE FIX THIS and make it like the old app where it shows tor balance and monthly payment. I really like to see the balance for my mortgage and auto loans. I get satisfaction by seeing the balance go down. It motivates me. And please don’t say “the balance is on your statements.” Those ancient, dot-matrix-printer-looking monthly statements are confounding and useless. Please add this to SchoolsFirstFCU . I also agree that Zelle is hard to find. I really liked the little dashboard with buttons like “mine money” on the bottom of the old app too. You could make SchoolsFirstFCU great with some practical tweaks and user-friendly adjustments. As it is now, I’m not going to use it and keep using the old one until this one has the features I want and should be there.

by This App Will Be Ok

After reading some of the comments I was a bit worried I was going to look somewhere else for banking. Downloaded SchoolsFirstFCU anyways. Can not confirm any of this issues. In fact the logins process was so easy. (Given that you already setup your account with the book that was sent to you a month ago or so) SchoolsFirstFCU has a way to label purchases to quickly identify what they are ie: food or bills.
People complaining are the ones that waited to the last minute to do this or the ones that tried too early when it was clearly stated that it would be completed nov 2nd.

The ultimate test will be once I go in person to a branch office. I’m sure they will be as helpful as always.

by Beware999

This new app is great compared to the old one. At first I didn’t like the because I couldn’t not find what I was looking for. One day I got a new phone and the old app is gone and I have this new app. So I take some time less than an hour for me I would say. I look around and going through everything and I find that SchoolsFirstFCU has a lot more thing than the old app and it is very easy to use. I don’t know about the people that complain this new app is worst than the old one. Yes, at first time uses it seem to be but if you would take some time and learn what with in SchoolsFirstFCU then you would not have a problem. I recommend people spend sometime learning it first before use to get to know SchoolsFirstFCU better.