Verithiathe honest score on any app
Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Coastal Credit Union vs Atlas

Coastal Credit Union 4.8★ · Free to download 65
Winner Coastal Credit Union
Atlas 4.7★ · Free to download 50

Coastal Credit Union is better for traditional banking needs, despite recent app issues, while Atlas is a niche product for credit building that faces significant user complaints about hidden fees and account management.

Full reviews: Coastal Credit Union · Atlas

Coastal Credit Union offers a full-service banking app, though recent updates have introduced performance and functionality issues. Atlas is primarily a credit-building tool with many users praising its effectiveness, but a substantial number report problems with unexpected charges and difficulty closing accounts.

Head to head

Features & Functionality edge: Coastal Credit UnionR3R5R7R9
Coastal Credit Union Coastal Credit Union users appreciate features like checking balances, transferring money, and Zelle integration R5. However, recent updates have caused significant problems with bill pay, remote check deposits, and external account syncing R3R9R15. Some users also dislike new ads and unwanted widgets R7.
Atlas Atlas is highly praised for its credit-building capabilities, with many users reporting significant score increases R62R65R75. It offers budgeting tools and cash-back rewards R65. However, users report issues with instant transfers, linking external accounts, and a confusing array of financial tools R70.
Ease of Use tieR1R4R12R15
Coastal Credit Union Some Coastal Credit Union users find the app user-friendly and easy to navigate . However, many recent reviews describe the app as slow, buggy, and difficult to use, with issues like freezing, long loading times, and unresponsive features R1R12. Specific complaints include difficulty with check capture, password resets, and a cluttered interface after updates R4R15.
Atlas Atlas is described as user-friendly and simple to use by many who praise its credit-building aspect . However, other users find it confusing, especially with multiple account types . Significant issues are reported with account setup, login, and the process of closing accounts, which is described as complicated and scam-like R61R64R70R72.
Reliability & Performance edge: Coastal Credit UnionR1R5R10R12
Coastal Credit Union Coastal Credit Union's app is frequently criticized for being unreliable, slow, crashing often, and having features that don't work consistently R1R10R12. Users report issues with login, check deposits, and general responsiveness, especially after recent updates R1R10R15. Some users, however, report it always works great for them R5.
Atlas Atlas users report significant reliability issues, particularly concerning unauthorized charges, money being stuck, and accounts being put on hold without warning R67R70R72R80. Many describe the app as a 'scam' due to these issues and difficulty accessing funds or closing accounts R61R64R67R70.
Price & Value edge: Coastal Credit UnionR58R60R62R65
Coastal Credit Union Coastal Credit Union is a credit union, and users appreciate the lack of hidden fees and the overall value of their banking services R58R60. The app itself is free to download.
Atlas Atlas is free to download, but many users report unexpected charges, membership fees, and issues with money being taken from their accounts without authorization R67R72R78R80. Some users mention an $89 charge for a metal card and yearly membership R67. Conversely, many users find Atlas to be affordable and a valuable tool for building credit, considering it a good investment R62R65R75.
Customer Support edge: Coastal Credit UnionR2R4R12R14
Coastal Credit Union Coastal Credit Union users generally praise the bank's staff and customer service R2R12R14. However, some report difficulty reaching customer service for app-related issues, especially outside business hours, and that representatives sometimes cannot help with password recovery R4.
Atlas Atlas users report a severe lack of human customer support, with only AI chat bots available R80. Response times are described as terrible, and some users state they were told they would be contacted in one business day but waited three R61.
Pick Coastal Credit Union if

You need a traditional banking app with a wide range of features and value good customer service, even if you might encounter occasional app performance issues R2R5.

Pick Atlas if

Your primary goal is to build or rebuild your credit score, and you are willing to navigate a potentially confusing app interface and monitor for unexpected charges R62R65R75.

Evidence note: Coastal Credit Union's recent reviews show a significant negative skew due to app updates, contrasting with its high lifetime rating. Atlas has a large number of positive credit-building reviews, but also a substantial, consistent volume of negative reviews detailing severe issues with unauthorized charges and account management.

Frequently asked

Is Coastal Credit Union's app reliable for banking?
Coastal Credit Union's app reliability is mixed; while some users find it consistently works well R5, many others report frequent issues with slowness, freezing, crashing, and features not working, especially after recent updates R1R10R12.
Does Atlas help improve credit scores?
Yes, many Atlas users report significant improvements in their credit scores, with some increasing by 50 to nearly 100 points within a few months R62R75R83R101.
Are there hidden fees or unauthorized charges with Atlas?
Yes, a significant number of Atlas users report experiencing unauthorized charges, unexpected membership fees (such as an $89 charge for a metal card and yearly membership), and money being taken from their accounts without permission R67R72R78R80.
Is it difficult to close an Atlas account?
Yes, several Atlas users describe the process of deleting data and closing an account as complicated, involving many steps, and feeling like a scam, with some reporting difficulty getting their accounts closed or their data removed R61R64R70R88.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R3] Coastal Credit Union 3/5 · US Good news, bad news: Good news: Coastal Credit Union is a great institution and the iPad app finally works in landscape orientation. Bad news: Since some update to the app or iOS, bill pay can’t be completed in the app, so it’s just a convenient way to check your balances. This glitch also affects the Mac laptop. Why?
  2. [R5] Coastal Credit Union 5/5 · US Coastal app: Always works great for me! Checking loot. Transferring loot. Clock it 👌
  3. [R7] Coastal Credit Union 2/5 · US Ads are annoying: The new app is fine but the ads that appear above my account balances are annoying. No matter how many times I remove them, they always come back.
  4. [R9] Coastal Credit Union 3/5 · US Remote Deposit Downgraded: The recent upgrade eliminated my ability to make a remote deposit to my Business Checking account - a capability I’ve had for several years. The call center agent said I would need to set up a separate online ID for the business accounts, a needless complication in my user experience. This loss of functionality was not included in pre-upgrade communications, so perha
  5. [R1] Coastal Credit Union 1/5 · US Unreliable: Sometimes the app works like you would expect an app to work in 2026. Most of the time it works like dialup. I’ll tap on something to access it and I wonder if my phone has frozen or locked up. If I tap on my checking account to see transactions, it can take up to 15 seconds for it to open.
  6. [R4] Coastal Credit Union 1/5 · US App needs a rework: Have been a Coastal member since 2003. Unfortunately the last year of using the app has presented some issues from an end user perspective. How does one reset the password? This is basic functionality that does not exist in the app. One is prompted to call customer service which is not available in the evenings or on weekends. We have been locked out of our account for two d
  7. [R12] Coastal Credit Union 3/5 · US Bank is great, app is wonky most days: The bank and stag are great. The app is hit or miss and sometimes features don’t work consistently
  8. [R15] Coastal Credit Union 3/5 · US Mobile deposits: I love working with Coastal and the fact that it’s not one of these huge national for profit banks. However, their mobile app leaves much to be desired, particularly when it comes to depositing a check. Over the course of several different, smart phones with increasingly better cameras, the check capture photography often times does not work to the point of frustration. Need to ge
  9. [R10] Coastal Credit Union 1/5 · US Bug fix broke it entirely: Sigh. The children are back at Coastal. The bug fixes today broke the app completely. Someone call the adults and let them know what the kids are doing.
  10. [R58] Coastal Credit Union 5/5 · US Online banking: The experience is always pleasant. The best decision o ever made was open an account with Coastal Credit no hidden fees and always taking care of the customers.
  11. [R60] Coastal Credit Union 5/5 · US 30 years: I have been with Coastal for nearly 30 years. Always been reliable with very kind staff. Even though I moved to TN, I still bank with Coastal.
  12. [R62] Atlas 5/5 · US The building Process: Thank you to Atlas! I appreciate the well being of the benefits giving another chance. Atlas showing that it’s possible, and it’s always a way. Atlas help shape me all around, helping me as well during my enlisted time in the military. Atlas help Rebuild self confidence creating better discipline, budgeting, managing, and creating a healthy routine. The results show for its
  13. [R65] Atlas 5/5 · US Quality: Service Card is great, usage and credit reporting is very helpful and the capabilities are endless. Love this card and the free credit assistance and add-ons.
  14. [R2] Coastal Credit Union 5/5 · US Great banking: I love your banking at CCoastal
  15. [R14] Coastal Credit Union 5/5 · US Satisfied Customer: Coastal Credit Union cares about our banking needs.
  16. [R75] Atlas 5/5 · US Atlas: I’ve been using Atlas only for a few months now and since then my credit score has gone up and it also helps me to pay my bills on time.
  17. [R83] Atlas 5/5 · US My score: Best credit place ever 532 to 735
  18. [R101] Atlas 5/5 · US Good for building credit.: I have had so far a good experience with them. My score has went up almost 50 points since I started 6 months ago. They have great customer service as well.
  19. [R67] Atlas 1/5 · US Terrible app!: This is nothing but a scam. Do not deposit any $ into it! It is not what it says, it took my deposited money, after paid for my membership. Then it charged me. The $89 for the metal card and yearly membership! WITHOUT MY PERMISSION!!
  20. [R72] Atlas 1/5 · US Super scammy: I installed this app with the intention of improving my credit score. I signed up for the app, but completely forgot the app in general I had found another app that really worked for me. Over 45/50-ish days later I mistakenly open the app and find that I have somehow a $30 past due balance. Mind you I’ve never used the app before and accidentally opened it mistaking it for the App St
  21. [R78] Atlas 1/5 · US It’s a lie: It’s a scam I got approved to open a bank account. Not a credit card they want me to deposit $8.99 so I can have a $10 credit. With a 1.00 %APR
  22. [R80] Atlas 1/5 · US Scam: Zero human customer support it’s only AI chat bots. Take money out of your account without authorization
  23. [R61] Atlas 1/5 · US They refuse to delete my account: They are going against the privacy laws and refusing to delete my account . They said they will reach out in one business day. It’s been three. They don’t have an option to delete my bank account information. Their response time is terrible. Fraud alert
  24. [R64] Atlas 1/5 · US Can’t close account: Be warned there are 19 steps to being able to delete your data and close your account if you’ve just signed up. Feels like a scam. Doesn’t matter if it’s legit; they obfuscate the ability to remove yourself from the service. 1000% red flags all around.
  25. [R70] Atlas 1/5 · US Terrible I’d never use this app again 0/10: Can’t instant transfer - they put a pause on my account so I didn’t have access to money with no warning - I canceled/deleted my account yet I still got charged and I had money stuck in this app. There are other easier apps that this one. Way too complicated compared to other apps. I would never recommend this to anyone.
  26. [R88] Atlas 1/5 · US Terrible don’t do it: Scammers won’t even let you cancel your account without threat of lawsuit.

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store