The Verdict
For residents of Maryland, The Columbia Bank can be a decent option. It offers competitive mortgage rates, no fee checking, and strong offerings for small businesses. Unfortunately, reviews show that customer service is lacking and the banking products are fairly average.
All branches are located in Maryland, but customers can access ATMs operated by other banks run by its parent company, Fulton Financial Corporation.
Why People Love It
Bank with Columbia and you'll get competitive mortgage rates and free checking
A full-service mortgage company ensures the best rates. Columbia Bank's ‘rate watcher‘ service, makes it easy to get the best mortgage terms available.
You can enter your specific loan requirements and get notified when it's available, or have Columbia Bank email you up-to-date mortgage rates regularly.
Your house is probably the biggest purchase you'll ever make and it's important to get the best loan rate.
For example, a 30-year $300,000 loan at 3.5% compared to the same loan at 3.6% will end up saving you $6,049.
In other words, Columbia Bank's ‘rate watcher‘ has the potential to save you hours of time and thousands of dollars.
Best of all, it's free.
Free financial education. The Education Center can be accessed from any device, with resources that cover everything from money management at different stages of life to online calculators that demystify loan terms.
With advisors and other individuals charging upwards of $100 per month for "financial coaching," Columbia Bank's education center is a great free resource that can save you over $1,000 per year on advice, courses, and coaching.
A checking option that is simple and free. Columbia Bank sets itself apart with the Simply Checking account.
There is no minimum amount required and no maintenance fees. It's simple, free checking at its finest.
"For everyday banking purposes I am very pleased that The Columbia Bank continues to offer very low fees for those services, while so many other banks have made such accounts quite expensive, particularly for those maintaining relatively low account balances" -Gyorgy Goldstein, Columbia Bank customer
Biggest Consumer Complaints
Customer service at the bank isn't the best and location limitations can be costly
Lack of locations means more fees. With less than 300 ATM locations spread across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia, you'll likely need out-of-network ATMs, which cost $2.50 per transaction.
If you use an out-of-network ATM three times per month, you'll end up paying $90 in Columbia Bank fees over the course of one year, and that doesn't even include the fees charged by the ATM provider.
It might not seem like a lot, but over 10 years, you'll pay nearly $1,000 in extra fees, and for customers who travel a lot or don't live in the area, the fees will probably be much higher.
Customer service is lacking. Local banks are usually known for being friendly and serving the community.
Unfortunately, that isn't the case with Columbia Bank.
From reports of rude bank tellers to dismissive call center representatives, customer service at Columbia Bank could be better.
I have been with [Columbia Bank] for many years only to watch the bank continue to cut staff and pile the work on those remaining. They can't even get their own paperwork straight and of course they blame you for it. Good luck getting a call back from anyone…" -customer, Billy J.
Credit card options aren't the best. Even though Columbia Bank offers six personal credit cards, the terms and fees aren't as competitive as other banks.
For example, the Secured Visa Card has an annual fee of $35 and 22.24% APR.
Compared to many other secured credit cards that allow customers to build credit without annual fees, Columbia Bank's card is not worth your time.
Even beyond that, it will cost you $175 in fees over the course of five years.
Why You Should Consider It
The bank is great if you want competitive mortgage rates, business banking, or free checking
Local banking is part of Columbia Bank's heritage.
Formed when two local Maryland banks merged into one, Columbia Bank has been in the local community for a combined total of nearly 200 years.
Is it the best bank for you?
Depending on what you're looking for in a bank, Columbia Bank may or may not be the best bank for you.
Answer these questions to determine if Columbia Bank has what you need.
Do you need all-in-one business banking?
From retirement plan services to international business banking, Columbia Bank offers business owners everything under one roof.
The business offerings are robust and can compete with some of the biggest banks in America.
Would you prefer a personal relationship with a specific representative?
We ask because a relationship manager is assigned to every business account.
The managers provide one-on-one support and will even guide you through loan applications, government contract financing and ensure that your merchant payment system is working properly.
No matter the question or concern, Columbia Bank is ready to help with your business banking needs.
Are you looking for a bank that can travel with you?
With a highly rated app, Columbia Bank offers banking on-the-go, but there are limitations.
Columbia Bank customers have access to free ATM withdrawals at nearly 300 ATMs across five northeast states.
But for customers who travel regularly or don't live in one of the five states serviced by a Fulton Financial bank (Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia), Columbia Bank is not the best option.
The Competition
Columbia Bank competes with Capital One for customers and business
As one of the biggest banks in the Maryland area, Capital One is Columbia Bank's biggest competitor.
Both banks serve locally in Maryland and a handful of other states, but Capital One also excels online.
Here's how they compare:
Capital One is stronger online. Both Columbia Bank and Capital One serve locally in Maryland and offer personal and business banking.
The main difference?
With no fees or minimums and 1% interest on the Capital One 360 online savings account, Capital One's online offerings appeal to customers across the country.
Columbia Bank offers mortgages. When it comes to mortgages, Columbia is the clear winner.
Columbia Bank offers competitive mortgage loans and its full-service mortgage company is one of its strongest offerings.
As of 2017, Capital One no longer offers mortgage loans.
Capital One offers some of the best credit cards. From cash back credit cards that offers 1.5% back on every purchase, to flexible travel rewards credit cards, Capital One Bank has superior credit offerings.
But there's one area where Columbia Bank and Capital Bank are tied: annual fees.
Both banks offer quite a few credit cards that don't have annual fees.
If you like Columbia Bank, here are other competitive bank offerings to consider
LendingTree for a faster mortgage. With mortgages that close in as fast as 30 days, LendingTree is a great option for securing a mortgage fast and easily.
The best part? You can do it all online.
OneMain loans to support Maryland businesses. Originally founded in Baltimore, Maryland in 1912, OneMain was one of the first companies to expand their personal loan offerings, and today, that's what they do best.
OneMain offers secured and unsecured personal loans of up to $25,000.
Get better access with US Bank. With brick-and-mortar locations in 40 states, US Bank is an excellent option if you're looking for easy access across the country.
The Question Everyone's Asking Now
"Is Columbia Bank a bank or a credit union?"
The difference between the two.The main difference between banks and credit unions is that banks are for-profit.
In other words, a bank's primary goal is to maximize profit.
Credit unions share their profits with their customers by providing perks like lower interest rates.
Columbia provides local banking. Columbia Bank is a bank.
But because it calls itself a local bank, many customers are confused about what that means.
For Columbia Bank, it simply means that the bank is focused on providing services to a few select states—Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia.
Giving back to the community. Even though Columbia Bank is a for-profit institution, it does still give back to the community.
Through Fulton Forward, Columbia Bank helps provide services for housing assistance, financial education, and economic development in the local community.
How the Bank Works
It provides all-in-one access to personal banking, business banking, loans, and wealth management
Personal checking accounts with no fees. Columbia Bank offers five different checking accounts:
- Simply Checking
- Interest Checking
- Prime Life Interest
- Relationship Banking
- Student Checking
The product most worth your time? Simply Checking.
With no minimum daily balance requirements and no maintenance fees, the Simply Checking account is a free checking account with no strings attached.
Savings account options are limited. Offering only two types of personal savings accounts—student statement savings and statement savings—the options at Columbia are limited.
The interest rates are below average compared to online savings accounts and in order to avoid a $6 monthly fee, you need to have a minimum account balance of $100.
Loan benefits and rates vary by type. With a full-service mortgage company and the free rate watcher, Columbia Bank is a great place to shop for a mortgage.
It also offers excellent terms on unsecured personal loans, but there's a catch.
You must have excellent credit with a minimum score of 695.
But if you do have great credit, the terms are good.
Compared to an average interest rate of 16%, Columbia Bank's interest rate of 10.49% would save you $848 on a $5,000 loan with a five-year term.
Applicants are required to apply in-person and they must open a checking account with Columbia Bank.
Columbia Bank also offers auto loans, but with APRs that range from 3.99–9.99%, you can probably find a better deal somewhere else.
Credit card offerings are average. Columbia Bank offers six different credit cards, including two American Express cards.
The interest rates on the credit cards are variable and range from 13.24–24.24%.
A few of the cards boast no annual fees, but the rewards aren't great.
For example, the Visa Bonus Rewards card offers one point for every $1 spent plus 25% bonus points.
So you'll earn 1.25 points for every $1 spent as you earn cash back.
It sounds like a good deal, but 100 points equal $1 cash back.
In other words, you'll need to spend $80 to earn $1 cash back.
Business banking is excellent. If there's an area in which Columbia Bank excels, it's business banking.
With offerings that range from real estate banking to agricultural banking, there is truly something for every type of business owner.
Regardless of what you need—payment systems, business credit cards, small business banking, or retirement solutions for your team—Columbia Bank has it.
Columbia Bank offers four business credit cards with variable interest rates between 13.24–24.24%, no annual fees, and cash back rewards.
The Visa Business Card even offers a 12-month introductory rate of 0% interest with no annual fee.
For business owners just starting out, it's a game changer.
Columbia Bank also offers Small Business Association loans, but in order to get a quote or more information, you contact a Columbia representative directly.
Commercial Banking combines services and support. Wells Fargo commercial banking offers a comprehensive look at your business.
Customers love the digital tools that provide a company-wide snapshot and the local Wells Fargo advisor.
Wealth management is outsourced. Columbia Bank offers wealth management services that include financial planning, investment counseling, investment management, and wealth advisory services.
Even though the services are offered from Columbia Bank, the actual services are provided by Clermont Wealth Strategies, which is headquartered in Pennsylvania.
Service fees and accounts minimums vary by account type.
Key Digital Services
The bank's Web Education Center provides free, easy-to-use financial education
With a variety of accessible and easy-to-understand finance resources that are broken down by stage of life, Columbia Bank's education center is a place where you can learn what you weren't taught in school.
Different lessons for different stages. The resource categories include young professional, getting married, retirement, and more.
There are also easy-to-use financial calculators that will help you understand interest rates and minimum payments for your car loan, mortgage, or student loans.
A glossary of terms that make sense. If you've ever felt like financial terms make zero sense, then the Education Center's glossary is for you.
With simple definitions for terms like "overdraft protection" and "identity fraud," you'll feel confident talking about your money.
Giving back through financial education. Fulton Forward is an initiative created by Columbia Bank's parent company, Fulton Financial.
Committed to making "our communities better," Fulton Forward has pledged to increase financial literacy, and the Education Center is one way the initiative is making good on that promise.
Routing Number
Columbia Bank Routing #: 055002338
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
If you're in the Maryland area and need a mortgage or business account, Columbia Bank could be a good option
The best bank is one that fits your personal needs for a competitive cost.
Local banks like Columbia Bank often have unique connections to their communities that can make some customers overlook the lack of bells and whistles that larger national banks offer.
Unfortunately, Columbia Bank struggles in the areas that its local customers deserve excellence, namely customer service.
Add that it can't match the value offered by larger banks–except in the area of competitive mortgages–and you may reconsider the bank for your business.
Do you bank with Columbia Bank?
Does it matter if you're not in Maryland and still bank with Columbia?
We'd love to know what you think about this local bank.
Please let us know about your experiences (good or bad) in the comments below.
