El Sol Retirement Club

Pros

• The staff is friendly, courteous, and professional.
• Emerson is knowledgeable about account options and very helpful.
• Madeline listened carefully and provided attentive service.
• Johndae was lovely, helpful, and efficient.
• Dixie greeted customers warmly and was helpful and sweet.
• Theron Simpson is praised for taking time to assist customers and make a positive impact.
• The bank offers longer hours and shared branching available to members.
• Customers express strong satisfaction and loyalty to the bank.

Cons

• A customer states that after promising to help refinance, a representative refused to take calls and never returned messages.
• A reviewer strongly advises others not to bank there and to go elsewhere.
• A reviewer notes that customer service is routinely poor.
• A reviewer claims the dispute department denied a dispute, did not return calls, and fees were not refunded.
• A reviewer alleges overdrafts were allowed to occur and charges posted with explanations that seemed like excuses.
• A reviewer accuses a branch manager of discriminatory behavior, delaying help for Black customers.
• A reviewer says MidFlorida is the worst credit union they've ever banked with and plans to close their account.
• A reviewer complains about long phone wait times (about 25 minutes) and being ignored when requesting a paper statement.
• A reviewer notes it is difficult for non-members to use shared branching, making the experience unfriendly and inconvenient.

Review

Across a spread of reviews about MidFlorida Credit Union, the picture is a mix of warm, personal service and frustrating, sometimes troubling experiences. Several customers highlight staff who are caring, knowledgeable, and willing to go the extra mile, while others recount miscommunications, slow responses, and decisions that left them feeling neglected or frustrated. It's a tale of two banks in one: one branch or one teller can feel remarkably helpful, while another encounter can feel dismissive or impersonal. The overall impression is that service quality varies widely by location and, to some extent, by individual staff.

Several stories center on attempts to refinance or get timely updates, only to be met with silence or unreturned calls. One person recalls that Maria told them refinancing was a very likely option, but after a few days of trying to follow up, Maria wouldn't take calls and didn't return messages. That kind of experience - where proactive outreach turns into radio silence - left the customer feeling abandoned just at the moment they needed guidance and reassurance. In contrast, other clients sing the praises of specific tellers and employees who made processes smoother, with one noting that a representative was "knowledgeable on all account options & specifics" and helped them get their account set up quickly before closing.

There are persistent complaints about deposit holds and perceived rigidity in the service model. Several reviewers mention mobile deposits being placed on a seven-day hold, which feels unusually long and inconvenient to customers who rely on timely access to funds. A separate thread describes a pattern of holds or delays that occur despite accounts being supposedly protected against overdrafts, with some customers alleging that the bank sometimes allowed transactions to post negatively and then offered explanations that didn't satisfy them. The sense conveyed is that, in some circumstances, the bank's controls can feel automatic and impersonal, rather than tailored to the circumstances of individual customers.

Disputes and customer service during conflict appear as another recurring sore point. One reviewer describes a protracted dispute process in which the department allegedly directed staff not to submit a dispute until certain documents were provided, only to end up with a denial and later a reversal after the person supplied the requested materials. The frustration is amplified by reports of long hold times when contacting the bank for help and a sense that the dispute unit isn't responsive to customers' needs. The result for several people is a loss of trust in the system's ability to protect their funds, even when they eventually see a refund after pushing back with documentation.

Amid these criticisms, there are clearly positive experiences that stand out. A number of customers describe friendly, patient, and professional interactions with tellers and branch staff. Dixie greeted people warmly and provided helpful service, while Emerson was praised for being knowledgeable and assisting with account setup in a timely way. Madeline is another name that clients repeatedly credit for listening carefully and helping customers complete transactions without hassle. These comments aren't isolated; they recur across multiple branches and visits, suggesting that when the right staff are involved, the bank can deliver a very good customer experience.

The Theron Simpson thread adds another layer of complexity to the picture. Some customers speak highly of Theron as a personal banker who makes a real difference, praising his attentiveness and the practical outcomes he achieves, such as opening accounts with little friction and negotiating favorable terms. Yet, within the same vein of stories, there is frustration about the sales approach and the speed of decision-making in new account applications. One reviewer described Theron pushing for a credit card with a hard inquiry and an interview-style process that felt intrusive, then getting pushback when asked for typical documents. Another reviewer notes a broader concern about the bank's adoption of modern features like Zelle, suggesting that while some staff provide great service, the institution as a whole might lag behind peers in digital conveniences. The dichotomy here - excellent personal help from some staff alongside friction or pressure in certain interactions - underscores how individual experiences can diverge even within the same organization.

Access to services beyond the branch also comes up in reviews. Some customers appreciate the longer hours and the availability of shared branching for MidFlorida members, while others report difficulties using shared branching, especially when they are out of town or not currently a member. One reviewer notes that MidFlorida was the only place that made a shared-branch transaction unnecessarily difficult, insisting on an account or member number when other credit unions could locate information with a driver's license or Social Security data. It's a reminder that ancillary services intended to improve convenience can instead become a bottleneck for some customers, depending on the branch and the staff handling the transaction.

Taken together, these reviews present a bank that can feel both intimate and distant. For some clients, MidFlorida stands out as a place with genuinely helpful people - tellers who greet with warmth, advisers who listen, and bankers who deliver on promises. For others, the experience is marked by delays, miscommunications, and a sense that certain policies or practices - such as hold times on deposits, the handling of disputes, or inconsistent responses from management - undermine trust. The recurring themes suggest that improvements could come from standardizing responsiveness across branches, clarifying dispute processes and timelines, and ensuring that digital features and accessibility keep pace with customer expectations. In the end, MidFlorida Credit Union appears to be a place where strong personal service can flourish in some locations and under certain staff, while other experiences leave customers feeling underserved and eager to look elsewhere.

This part of St. Petersburg, Florida, offers a variety of amenities and services that cater to seniors looking for a comfortable and convenient lifestyle. With several parks within close proximity, residents can enjoy nature walks and outdoor activities. There are also numerous cafes and restaurants nearby, providing plenty of dining options. Access to pharmacies, physicians, and hospitals ensures easy access to healthcare services when needed. Places of worship are also available for spiritual support. The area is well-connected with theaters for entertainment purposes. Overall, this neighborhood provides a well-rounded living environment for seniors seeking a peaceful and vibrant community in St. Petersburg.

Parks

• Crescent Lake Park (0.4 miles)
• North Shore Park (1.3 miles)
• Vinoy Park St Petersburg (1.5 miles)
• St Pete Pier Playground (1.7 miles)
• Roser Park (2.4 miles)
• Fossil Park (2.4 miles)
• Northwest Park (4.6 miles)

Cafes

• Panera Bread (0.4 miles)
• Starbucks (1 miles)
• Kahwa Coffee (1.3 miles)
• Mazzaro's Italian Market (2.1 miles)
• Bula Kafe (2.2 miles)
• Kristina's Cafe (2.6 miles)
• Bandit Coffee Co. (2.6 miles)

Restaurants

• El Cap Restaurant (0.5 miles)
• Grand Hacienda (0.9 miles)
• Hooters (0.9 miles)
• Tijuana Flats (1 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (1 miles)
• BellaBrava (1.6 miles)
• Cassis American Brasserie (1.6 miles)

Pharmacies

• Winn-Dixie (0.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (0.7 miles)
• Walgreens (0.8 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.1 miles)
• Walgreens (1.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.8 miles)
• Walgreens (1.8 miles)

Places of Worship

• Allendale United Methodist Church (1 miles)
• Christ The Cornerstone (4.9 miles)

Physicians

• Northeast Family Practice (1.1 miles)
• All Florida Orthopaedic Associates (1.2 miles)
• Updegraff Laser Vision (1.3 miles)
• Bay Area Heart Center (1.4 miles)
• BayCare Behavioral Health - St. Anthony's Primary Care (1.4 miles)
• Suncoast Medical Clinic (1.4 miles)
• Allergy/Immunology (1.5 miles)

Hospitals

• St Anthony's Hospital (1.4 miles)
• All Children's Hospital (2.2 miles)
• Bayfront Health St. Petersburg (2.3 miles)
• All Children's Obgyn Specialists (5 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Sundial 12 (1.6 miles)
• Regal Park Place & RPX (4 miles)