SCOTIA BANK IS THE WORST

I have my mortgage there...worst bank in the VI I have ever dealt with. Other than my mortgage, I have no other dealings with them because they are pathetically useless.

Oh, gee whizzz.. MMmm.. Huuuhh... Let me see... it is not a big island... Just get in your car and go to the branch... the other choice is to get an ulcer... just saying...

they suck

And the few other choices we have are so much better? I've not been too happy with Scotia on a few occasions but judging from many comments about many local banks over many years from many people, it seems to be a toss-up.

Every bank on STX sucks. Incompetent, lazy and indifferent. I wouldn't bank there if my life depended on it.

Every bank on STX sucks. Incompetent, lazy and indifferent. I wouldn't bank there if my life depended on it.

Yup, I agree. I've kept my accounts at Bank of America, after opening and soon closing one at Scotia 12 years ago. The most competent here on STX seems to be Bank of St. Croix, IMO, but I'll stay with my free banking at BofA 🙂

I actually like firstbank. Never really had any problems.

nugblazer, bank of st croix is great

Hey Rowdy

The misconception that stress causes ulcers still exists. Peptic ulcers are caused by bacterium, regular use of certain pain relievers, and other medications. Smoking and alchohol use can exacerbate them. 😛

Oh, gee whizzz.. MMmm.. Huuuhh... Let me see... it is not a big island... Just get in your car and go to the branch... the other choice is to get an ulcer... just saying...

By the way, I am not being sarcastic, patronizing, etc, etc. I've been there done that and dealt with it several times, and will continue to run into issues like that... Experience taught me to jump in my car and get there... It would be the only way really fix it, unfortunately...

I do understand your frustration...

Its an electronic world, we shouldnt need to go to the branch.

...we shouldnt need to...

Normal laws of physics do not exist in the VI's...

A body at rest, doesn't always remain at rest... Said body gets dressed comfortably, grabs sunglasses, jumps in the car, and drives to an office to make it happen..

:-p 😉

That might be fine for people who enjoy standing in long lines, but I have better things to do with my island time.

That might be fine for people who enjoy standing in long lines, but I have better things to do with my island time.

Well, good for you...

TTFN

That might be fine for people who enjoy standing in long lines, but I have better things to do with my island time.

In long lines at either the PO or the bank I can usually count on seeing several old island friends I haven't seen in a while so it's always great catch-up time and not wasted for a moment!

1. Internet banking is limited or malfunctioning.
2. Is a foreign bank not FDIC insured (hence the robberies)

I'm glad I still have my stateside banks. Pay everything online automatically including my mortgage.

I guess I am lucky as I prefer them over the other two we have here in STT!

Open an account with Charles Schwab. No fee to use any ATM worldwide. Pay with regular check or VISA card. Take photo to deposit checks. Great online system. No reason to visit a branch anymore.
Only drawback is no excuse for a drive or to stand in line to chat with your friends.

I am actually relatively content with Scotia Bank in STX. Bank of America (stateside) is the company that has aggravated me repeatedly over the years, to the point that I have transfered away from them.

I use the on-line Scotia website regularly. When I looked for a STX bank website years ago, the few other choices were far more primitive and perhaps better now.

Far from perfect, and my biggest gripe is that they closed the F'sted branch. Second gripe is no free checking with minimum balance any more, and instead a $8 monthly fee (seems very high). They have made errors 2-3 times over several years (incorrect deposit and check debits/credits), so far in my favor, so I balance my check book regularly to keep tabs.

Admittedly, my criteria is STX-ized after eight years as a STX consumer, and so I never expect service or prices that I can get stateside. Apparently, I must keep a local checking account to keep local contractors happy.

Also, in 2008, Scotia Bank (international) came through the financial debacle with good ratinsg for stability and avoiding the worst business practices leading to bank troubles.

No disagreement here with others' posted experiences .... just wanted to balance the collective critique a bit.

Joanna, do you feel comfortable keeping your money in a non-FDIC insured bank?

i thought scotia was insured through canada?

i thought scotia was insured through canada?

They are but insured deposits apparently only apply to funds deposited in Canada in Canadian currency. I'm not so sure that the FDIC is really such a major issue overall as it seems that one's deposits there are only covered up to $250K. Precisely why those with a lot of money diversify their investments.

Banking in the USVI is much like life in Cuba or the old USSR. No one gives a shit, 80% of the people are dumber than rocks, and no one gives a shit (repeating intentional). It's an embarassing failure of capitalism that this is what we've been stuck with, and some people even just smile and accept it like at the BMV.

In the states I am treated like gold, greeted by name, and never waited behind more than 1 person in 400+ visits, becuase they actually hire enough staff to handle their customer count. In the USVI I humbly say my 'good afternoon's to a surly crotchety troll hoping they'll process my transaction after waiting 20-30 minutes in a depression-era breadline. When I write Scotia checks to contractors they make them wait over 30 minutes while they run a background check on them (not kidding).

Took me 10 months to get my checks from Scotia, and over a year later they still won't let me add my wife to our account, or let us change our address to the place we actually live, in the VI, forcing us to keep our old stateside mailing address and have any correspondence forwarded us to our home in St. Thomas, DESPITE HAVING OUR MORTGAGE WITH THEM. You can't make this shit up!

At least the weather's nice 🙂