Webster Bank Reviews 

Access to account information
I have had my very elderly mother’s power of attorney for years. Her Webster bank account receives only her social security check, and I use those funds to pay part of her assisted living fee (veteran widow payments and my funds pay the balance). I have had trouble getting account balance information online so a couple of months ago I went to the Providence branch, gave them my power of attorney, and at their request changed the account password. Today I could not get the balance online, and called Webster. Refused to help. Account is small and there is no reason to be suspicious. It was recent that I personally appeared. Told me to go back the branch.

I initially opened an account with Brio Direct based on their ad for a high interest rate money market account. Since it was higher than most banks I opened the account. The account opening process was straight forward, quick and shockingly easy.

It all goes way down hill after the account is open.
I initially requested a transfer from my external savings account. After 10 days I noticed it still was not processed. I called in and was told, no issues present, just takes a little longer for the first deposit. Seems odd, but I went with it. I initiated another transfer from another external account. I got an email a few days later saying there was an issue but it wasn’t specific. I checked the secure messages in my account and nothing was there. I called customer service, was told no issues, the email must have been an error. Few days go by still no initial transfer and still nothing in regards to the new transfer. I called customer service, was told you should have got an email saying that we need proof of ownership of the account being transferred from. I advised I did not receive any type of email like that and why would I need to show ownership. Its an electronic transfer from an external account which was already verified by Webster Bank. I was told that’s their policy. Fine, I sent in proof, waited a few more days, still nothing. I called back, was told the initial transfer was rejected and returned due to not receiving proof of ownership. 2nd transfer was pending. None of the prior agents ever told me there was an issue with the initial transfer request after calling multiple times and the proof of ownership was only needed for the 2nd transfer. Finally the other deposit was received via electronic transfer from an external account which again they had already verified and now have proof of ownership. With all that, they put a TEN (10) day hold on the deposit…. I called asking for an explanation and was told, this is there policy. I got fed up after weeks of dealing with a simple savings account opening. I called in to close my account, was told, you have to email through the secure messaging to request it be closed. I got an email returned saying you have to call in. I call in, was told their system was down and to call back the next day because they could not get into a 3rd party verification service. I called back the next day, was told a check would be mailed for my balance and the account would be closed after I went through the 3rd party verification process. 10 days later I received a phone call from them saying there was a “glitch” in the system and the account closure never went through. I was also told there was a $11 mail fee, but I could transfer for free, which I was not told about this before. I went through closing the account yet again and this time had to wait 4 hours for them to open up the transfer maximums because they have limits on the transfer amounts which are pretty ridiculous.
I am unsure if the multiple agents I spoke to throughout the process were either not aware of basic account questions or just flat out lied to me, but dealing with this bank for the month it took to open the account and then close the account was definitely not worth the extra 1% interest over my credit union. I have never dealt with such incompetent “Customer Service” agents and ridiculous bank policies and would not recommend anyone attempt to open an account with Brio Direct.

As of writing this review, the account still is not closed however, I did finally receive my balance into a external account.

This is the worst bank. They were offering over 5% interest for a BrioDirect savings account. I opened the account online & registered it. Once acct was funded I could not log in online nor their app. I spent time calling cust svc & had the worst possible experience. They use a 3rd party Verifier to verify you over the phone; ask the most insane questions & cannot repeat the questions... Upon trying to enroll again online it said that it cannot validate the info I put in. Yet I had put in the same info b/c even my laptop auto populated the answers. It didn't matter if I used the laptop or the app, both didn't work & wouldn't give me access to the acct.
ABSOLUTELY the worst cust svc reps ever. I finally got so frustrated that within 2 months I asked them to mail me a check for the $5K I invested & they said they MUST send the check via fedex & charge me $11 fee yet they had me snail mail a check to them to fund the account. Highway robbery.

Having been customer w/Webster Bank for many years, I have discovered that when we the customer have virtually ANY issue such as 'unauthorized charges' on a bank debit or credit card-they throw us under the bus. They either want to shut down the card (a MAJOR headache for US) but will NOT actually delve into our complaint. Now I had the exact same thing happen with my Capital One Card. THEY started a dispute-actually LOOKED into it and refunded all unauthorized monies (PLUS INTEREST) and it was the exact same entity that just started charging my W.B. debit card (through Paypal which is just a medium one has one or more accounts with from which one CHOOSES to make a payment to an entity) So after dealing with TWO nice enough regular Customer Service persons at Webster- the first tries to transfer me to their 'debit card department' to 'file a dispute' but I am put back into a menu system having to start ALL OVER again. I do. The 2nd person stays w/me and I am actually (after a 10 minute hold) put on with 'the FRAUD department where I discover? They do NOTHING. They HAVE to 'block the card' (another term for CLOSE) thus creating an even BIGGER headache w/legitimate charges that are done-some automatically! THAT makes sense no??? By the way-it is Sunday, the Memorial Day weekend, so my hats off to the two regular Customer Service persons working who were very understanding! In short? Webster Bank is NOT in the league of Capital One (who by the way told me they BLOCKED any future transactions from the same culprit on their end) but which Webster Bank says they CAN'T.... Go figure. The ONLY bank (or entity I know that requires (if using a phone) for us to punch in our entire SS# to get acct access-in these times?? That alone is a risk!! Me thinks it is time to leave and find a BETTER 'local bank' here in Connecticut!

I banked with webster for close to a year and when I say this is the worst bank to bank with in America I mean it. Customer service is nonexistent they either don’t know how to help or lie over n over saying there will be a fix with any issue you have when there won’t be. When the merger happened I was locked out of my account for over a month, password still the same reset it and still couldn’t get in, I went into the bank two different times to get help to login and got the same response both times that it will be resolved in 3-5 business days and it never was. I finally got sick and tired of hearing same excuse and not being able to login when I got money. I went in to close my account but I couldn’t from a purchase that was 4 days prior so withdrew my entire account and went in to close it completely days after. I’m now with M&T Bank and it’s been great I haven’t had any issues since switching. I recommend anyone who’s still using Webster Bank to transfer to a different and better bank.

I have money in my account. But they are leaving unable to access and telling to just try again later. I looked like a fool at the grocery store already. I can’t even get diner tonight because of them.

Attractive rates via their online subsidiary Briodirect, but liquidity via external transactions is very poor. Getting funds into Webster Bank is easy, getting funds out is very difficult. After linking an external account and getting confirmation of my transfer request from Webster it took 14 days to move funds. Webster doesn't allow wire transfers in any amount or to even close the account. The ACH required to transfer amounts within their written limits took 14 days to "settle" (settle is their word). Their emails state 3 business days but they cannot meet this. A second ACH is currently past their 3 business day description and estimated to take at least 6 business days before the funds move. In this latest case after Webster Bank missed their 3 business day description they simply sent a second "initial" confirmation of the identical ACH request but with a new transaction number resetting the schedule to zero. Multiple Brio customer service representatives seem helpful but after an extended hold period their is response is simply sorry, the back office is...(pick an excuse) and nothing is done.