It started off really well. New account application and setup went much smoother than at many other banks and the APRs are very competitive. While online account management is basic, it is functional and includes the requisite functions of messaging, ACH transfers and establishing account alerts. Since Barclays Bank USA currently only offers savings accounts and CDs and, as a result, cannot really be your daily banking partner, a less robust online account management system is of no real concern.
And then they added remote deposit.
Remote deposit is great! I'm not sure how crucial it is given the restrictions on savings accounts and the fact that Barclays does not offer checking accounts yet, but it is still a nice touch and could come in useful at times. So I signed up.
Yes, it did strike me as unusual that you have to sign up to use the remote deposit function inside the online banking system. It also seemed strange that after logging into your online banking you needed a further login to use remote deposit. I have never seen it structured that way at any other bank. Still, minor inconveniences that matter little given how rarely I'd use it.
I did use remote deposit once right after signing up for it and it went smoothly. Granted it was rudimentary and had none of the bells & whistles that you find with USAA's remote deposit function, but it got the job done and seemed reliable.
Well, maybe not so reliable. I went to use the remote deposit function the other day after not using it since that first time a long, long time ago. For some reason I couldn't log in. After a couple of tries, I began to wonder just WTH was happening? Had I ever signed up in the first place? Was having used the service before just a dream? Could I have been using remote deposit with another bank and mistakenly thought it was Barclays? I sent a message through online banking to Barclays to see just what was going on and expected a prompt, easy solution to the issue.
Prompt, yes; easy, nope. Apparently I needed to call Barclays Bank USA on their toll-free number to get assistance. Aside from the fact that toll-free is NOT toll-free when you are stationed overseas, there was the pesky little issue of Barclays' banking staff only working Monday to Friday from 8 to 8. So I waited until Monday all the while cursing USAA, Navy Federal, Bank of America, Discover Bank and, yes, even Chase for getting me accustomed to customer service via secure messaging that actually works and 24/7 telephone bankers.
The good news, after calling bright and early Monday morning, was that I indeed had previously registered for the remote deposit function. After that, though, it promptly went downhill. Apparently if you do not log in to the function for over 90 days you are automatically dropped and need to re-register for remote deposit. Ok. So I re-registered.
I logged back into to my online banking and prepared my check for deposit. I logged into the remote deposit function and . . . forced password change. Yup! When you re-register you keep your previous username, but are forced to change your password. And I mean CHANGE your password. You cannot reuse your previous password. You cannot use any previous password you have ever used. So now I need a password to log into the Barclays banking site and then a totally different password to use the remote deposit function within that site.
I have a super-duper high security password that the NSA would find virtually impossible to crack that took a bit of work to develop and, more importantly, remember. Now I need two. Most people would likely just say WTF, write their password down somewhere and / or create a very simple password. And that is practically what Barclays forces you to do.
I have yet to see one other bank bungle a process so inherently simple and uncomplicated with the apparent ease that Barclays does. Not one! With Barclays Bank in the US it's almost like the proverbial monkey vs. football when it comes to remote deposit.
Their remote deposit function sucks sewer water. It's undependable.