Employee US Bank Revelations

I have would have to agree that the bank is not very customer service oriented especially on the retail side. I worked in trust and
institutional business with Firstar for ten plus years. I managed a few areas and feel that we made every effort to cater to our
customers. The first signs of trouble began with Firstar's failed attempt to pull off their own internal reorganization; Firstar Forward
(or Backward as we like to call it). But the problems really set in when Star Bank of Cinninnati bought Firstar. Once Jerry
Grundhofer's team of managers infiltrated the system the chaos began and grew exponentially as Jerry strived to become the
biggest bank (or at least bigger than his brother's). The bank was making new acquisitions before conversions from the last
merger were half complete. It became so bad that internal personnel didn't have a clue who handled what anymore. I started
getting calls from old customers I hadn't dealt with in years who were wondering what was going on. To the employees the
corporate motto became "do more with less". Lunches became a luxury. If you didn't put in consistent overtime, you were not
promoted regardless of your production levels. Travel didn't count because it incurred cost. If you made too much money because
of tenure or too high of production, your head was in line for the chopping block. The only thing that mattered was cutting cost and
increasing revenue no matter what. Everyone was expendable. Soon it became apparent that because of Jerry's ego, the bank
would never again be a quality firm that I could be proud to work for. I left well after year-end and was owed serious compensation
for far exceeding production levels the prior year. I will never see any of that money. The one thing they are willing to spend money
on is making sure no one gets anything out of them that they don't want to give. I learned the hard way. I am sorry for what you've
had to go through. Most of the managers I know well from the old Firstar would have never let that happen. Some are still there but
it has become a large bank under the control of the remaining hard nose players that have survived with USB and Star Bank. Good
luck to you. As for me, I just want to stay as far away as possible from what is now US Bank.

N.E.

I was recently terminated from employment at U.S. Bank after 13+ years for 'reversing fees on a personal account.' I sent in
request and was canned. Code of ethics states we cannot do this on family accounts, personal acquaintances, etc. We live in
a town of 500, so not processing transactions on personal acquintances accounts is just not possible. My co-worker sent e-
mail to Region president, after I was terminated stating she did same thing, but she has not been fired. Other small branch
managers in area stated they have done same thing, and how are they suppose to work if they can't even process personal
acquaintances accounts---I am the only one that was fired. There was no recourse or appeals. I showed up for work on
Monday, and was told to sign my termination letter ----shock of all shocks.

Also, I was an exempt employee working 34 hours/week with no chance of overtime, even when I averaged working 8-8-1/2
hours/day. I sent e-mail to my manager and District Manager and they did not answer. I e-mailed Human Resouces dept. and
she said that job could be done in 34 hours---even though other small branch managers were paid for 40 hours. Also, my
duties were not all managerial--teller duties at least 2 days/week, filing, certifications, cleaning, ordering and stocking
supplies, etc. I did nothing about this last year as I valued my job and didn't want to create hassles. With labor standards, I feel
I have a claim for back wages/uncompensated overtime.

BK 2/03

Folks, I used to work at US Bank. I was a manager. The bank was as mean to its employees as it was to its customers
(the epitome of hatefulness to both). They loved to humiliate the managers and we were the ones trying to take care of
our customers and employees. We often were screaming at someone in a call center or faceless department trying to
get them to help our customers we were not empowered to help. I can remember customers literally sobbing at my desk
because they got so frustrated and no one to help. I would like to see a permanent US Bank Complaint web site. Is there
anyone out there that would like to design a web site for this purpose? It would be great if it could be done is such a way
so that a regulatory agency like the comptroller of the currency could be aware of it. Perhaps there is a lawyer reading
this that could put together a class action law suit for related complaints. It will take coordinated effort through regulatory
agencies that oversee the banking industry or efforts through the legal system to bring about permanent changes at this
bank. Jack Grundhofer, ex-CEO, was reportedly proud of his nickname, "Jack the Ripper" for decimating departments and
axing experienced personnel and taking over perfectly good and decent small banks and turning them into incompetent
US Banks. This is why the bank's streamlined processes failed. The arrogance at the top level and obsessive focus on
cost cutting to boost stock share price at all costs, to the eventual near collapse of customer service, created an attitude
of dispirited and abused and overworked employees at all levels of the company, who began to take it out on customers
themselves. Once this type of uncaring and hateful attitude takes root in an organizaton, it spreads the frustration and
anger to many inter-related departments, till eventually everyone is frustrated to the breaking point and takes it out on the
customer. This is the legacy of Jack Grundhofer. I don't think the current management (his brother Jerry) has the courage
and imagination to turn anything around. The most experienced and caring employees were long since forced out or into
early retirement, taking with them a culture of caring and knowledge. Management would have to diligently work at
retraining and most of all listen to employees who really are the ones who have the best insights as to how to change
things for the better. But, that would mean respecting employees and customers, treating them with dignity and concern
and empowering them to make decisions. US Bank's downfall was a belief in a rigid, autocratic, top down, managment
style. It has turned around and bit them, but not before many innocent customers and employees have been deeply hurt
and frustrated. Jack Grundhofer is long gone, ensconced firmly in retirement with his fabulous stock options, leaving a
once fine bank decimated and struggling. The only thing I can think is that perhaps through the internet a web site could
be created with the knowledge and approval of regulatory agencies, the press, perhaps the legal system, and don't forget
shareholders, so that this bank is forced into some sort of structural change. But it will take more than just venting anger.
Anyone else got some ideas out there? We need to be creative, organized, and thoughtful.

I'm forwarding your web site link to a friend who still has lots of disgruntled friends working at US Bank.

W.S.D

Crazy operation ~ I have my depostion with their attorneys on March 26, almost a full YEAR after I was terminated . They have
refiled, rescheduled and relocated this thing so much my head spins ~ but the suit is scheduled for federal court on....January 12,
2004!!!!!! It has just been so hard, but my family insists that I stick with it, so I am trying to do just that!!! What a crappy
organization. What is sad, to me , is that in November 2001 I had the opportunity to relocate but NOT within US Bank. At that time I
was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO content I could not even IMAGINE not staying with them.. and NOW look!!!!! Anyway, I hope I can be
a good sounding board for this person who has been walked on too!!!!