Washington Mutual Customer Service — Complete Practical Guide
Contents
- 1 Washington Mutual Customer Service — Complete Practical Guide
- 1.1 Historical summary and what customers experienced
- 1.2 Key contacts, addresses and authoritative resources
- 1.3 How to obtain records, statements and proofs of deposit
- 1.4 Mortgage, loan servicing, and escrow specifics
- 1.5 Practical step-by-step checklist for former WaMu customers
- 1.5.1 Final recommendations and expectations
- 1.5.2 What is Washington Mutual called now?
- 1.5.3 What is insurance customer service?
- 1.5.4 What is the phone number for Washington Good to Go customer service?
- 1.5.5 What is the phone number for Washington Mutual?
- 1.5.6 What is the phone number for Washington National Medicare supplement provider?
- 1.5.7 Is National General 24/7 customer service?
Historical summary and what customers experienced
Washington Mutual (commonly “WaMu”) was seized by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) on September 25, 2008 — the largest bank failure in U.S. history at the time. The institution held roughly $307 billion in assets and operated several thousand branches nationwide. Within hours of the FDIC seizure, JPMorgan Chase purchased substantially all deposits and most branch locations for $1.9 billion, and many branches reopened as Chase the following business day, preserving customer deposit access.
For individual customers the transition was effectively immediate: deposit accounts that were covered by FDIC insurance (the statutory limit of $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank, per ownership category) remained protected, and most deposit and checking accounts were converted to Chase systems with new account numbers or routing instructions only when necessary. Where visible change occurred it was primarily brand and service platform: online banking moved to chase.com and branch signage changed to Chase.
After the seizure, two organizations became the primary points of contact for former WaMu customers: JPMorgan Chase for accounts and servicing that Chase acquired, and the FDIC for matters related to the receivership and any unresolved claims. Important contact data to retain:
- JPMorgan Chase (general consumer banking): 1-800-935-9935; website: https://www.chase.com — use this for account access, debit/credit card issues, branch locations, and online banking migration questions.
- FDIC (receiver for Washington Mutual Bank, FA): 1-877-275-3342; main website: https://www.fdic.gov — FDIC maintains a dedicated failed-bank page with receivership documents at /bank/individual/failed/washingtonmutual/index.html.
- Washington Mutual corporate headquarters (historical address): WaMu Tower, 1201 Third Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101 — useful when checking legacy correspondence or archival addresses.
How to obtain records, statements and proofs of deposit
If you need historical account records (statements, deposit proofs, cancelled checks, loan documents) there are three practical routes: (1) contact Chase if your account was assumed by Chase — Chase retains many electronic records and can provide images and statements on request; (2) if the account was closed as part of the receivership or if Chase did not assume that specific product, submit a records request to the FDIC receivership office — the FDIC page for Washington Mutual contains instructions and downloadable claim forms; (3) use third-party records (tax returns, payroll stubs, or accountant archives) if bank copies are incomplete.
Expect turnaround times and potential fees: Chase generally fulfills statement and check-image requests within 7–14 business days and may charge document retrieval fees (commonly $10–$30 per statement or image copy depending on age). FDIC receivership requests can take longer (weeks to months) if paper-only archives are involved; the FDIC provides status updates via the contact number above and posts receivership distribution schedules and claimant information on its website.
Mortgage, loan servicing, and escrow specifics
Many WaMu mortgage and loan accounts transferred to Chase mortgage servicing. If you have (or had) a WaMu-serviced mortgage, practical checks include: confirm the current servicer via your last statement or the Chase mortgage portal; verify escrow balance and payment due dates; and confirm the payee and remittance address before sending payments. Misrouted mortgage payments are rare in this case because Chase assumed servicing in large volume, but always verify routing information when correspondence changes.
If you believe a loan or escrow item was mishandled during the transition (for example, a missing escrow deposit or application of payment to the wrong account), document the discrepancy with copies of bank statements and send a written dispute to Chase and a simultaneous inquiry to the FDIC receivership office if Chase did not assume that particular loan. Keep clear logs of dates, amounts, check numbers, and representative names — these details materially improve resolution speed.
Practical step-by-step checklist for former WaMu customers
- Locate last WaMu statement and note account number(s), routing number(s), and branch location used most often. If you don’t have statements, request images from Chase (1-800-935-9935) or the FDIC receivership page.
- Confirm current servicer for each product: use chase.com for accounts taken by Chase, and the FDIC failed-bank page for unresolved receivership assets. Verify payee names and remittance addresses before sending funds.
- For deposit insurance questions, reference FDIC coverage rules: $250,000 per depositor, per ownership category (this limit became permanent in 2010 after temporary increases in 2008–2010) — contact FDIC at 1-877-275-3342 for complex estate or trust scenarios.
- If you need to file a claim against the receivership (for example, an unpaid creditor claim), use the FDIC claim forms and follow the timelines posted on the FDIC’s Washington Mutual receivership page; retain copies of all submissions and send by traceable mail.
Final recommendations and expectations
Most everyday customers experienced minimal disruption because Chase assumed deposits and reopened branches quickly. However, administrative items (archival documents, closed-account records, or complex loan claims) are best handled either through Chase customer service if Chase assumed the asset, or through the FDIC receivership procedures if not. Keep originals or certified copies of identification, the last WaMu statements, and any correspondence when initiating these requests — concrete documentation significantly shortens resolution timelines.
For authoritative, up-to-date instructions consult the FDIC failed-bank webpage for Washington Mutual (https://www.fdic.gov) and Chase’s customer service resources (https://www.chase.com or 1-800-935-9935). These two sources are the definitive channels for account restoration, record retrieval, and legal receivership questions stemming from the September 25, 2008, seizure and subsequent acquisition.
What is Washington Mutual called now?
JPMorgan Chase
Washington Mutual
| Industry | Finance and Insurance |
|---|---|
| Successor | JPMorgan Chase |
| Headquarters | Seattle, Washington, United States |
| Key people | Alan H. Fishman, Chief Executive Officer |
| Products | Consumer Banking Financial Services |
What is insurance customer service?
Insurance. Customer service representatives in the insurance field are responsible for helping out customers who have queries about insurance plans and other insurance related inquiries.
What is the phone number for Washington Good to Go customer service?
1-866-936-8246
Get help over the phone:
Call customer service at 1-866-936-8246 and the customer service representative will be able to add the vehicle to your account at the Good To Go!
What is the phone number for Washington Mutual?
(800) 421-9900.
What is the phone number for Washington National Medicare supplement provider?
Or you can call customer care at (800) 525-7662, Monday-Friday, 8:00 A.M.-5:45 P.M. ET.
Is National General 24/7 customer service?
If you do not have your policy card handy, please call 1-800-468-3466 to report your claim. We are here for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.