Farmers & Merchants Bank

We were looking for a trustworthy local bank to which we could transfer our checking and saving accounts and our investment advisor recommended Farmers and Merchants Bank (FMB). We wanted to get away from the big national banks who have been divulging private info when they had no right to do so and been in the papers for other questionable practices.

From the moment I walked in the Torrance FMB branch Gilberto Rodriguez (Banking Relationship Specialist) greeted me and made me feel like family. I explained my concerns with our current bank and he assured me FMB was a good bank while explaining their philosophy, trustworthiness, and their years in business. He was patient with all of my questions and concerns. He explained what FMB had to offer as far as banking plans went and we discussed the best plan for our needs. Based on what Gilberto told me we opened an account that day and ever since then Gilberto and the rest of the staff have been providing excellent service. He calls me by name when I walk in the bank; I am not just a number to him. Since opening our account he has called and e-mailed me several times to check on how my banking experience is going and if I need anything. Gilbert stands out as far as customer service goes and I am so glad we moved our bank account to FMB.

FMB provides free seminars for their customers and the list of their services far exceed any other bank I've used. I especially like that they don't allow a line to form if you go into the bank for transactions. I used to end up leaving our old bank after seeing long lines or waiting for long periods of time for help. I try to transact most banking business on-line however there are times you can't avoid going into the branch. I can't recommend Gilbert and FMB highly enough; you won't be sorry if you open an account with Gilbert and FMB.

Good service

Farmers bank has always given us great service. We uses they for our real estate loans and banking. Always good service and friendly tellers.

Disappointed with customer support. Called to ask a question regarding recent transactions. Person who answered (Emmet Johnson) basically said he couldn’t help me and that I’d have to call the bank where I originally opened my account to have my question answered. Not sure why this would be necessary. Not sure why he couldn’t help me with my question. Fine. The problem is this, I did call the other bank and spoke with management (Rigo Bahena) and was basically told that my question should have been answered at the Torrance bank. Interesting and frustrating. Not sure why tellers are not on the same page. Not sure why this guy is basically giving me the run around while another person is saying that my questions re: transactions should have been answered at any bank. Would appreciate better customer service versus blaming the customer. Would appreciate having been heard correctly to begin with versus making assumptions of what I need. Would appreciate having my question answered from the very beginning instead of giving me false information. Maybe this guy is great and awesome, but with me, he really wasn’t.