Business & Finance

Readers Respond: View and Submit Bank Reviews

Responses: 52

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HSBC Online - Horrible lockout process

HSBC locks you out if you mess up your online banking login info one time. To get back on you need to call. Only some of their call center stff is trained to handle lock outs so you might get put on hold and rerouted. Today I have spent one hour trying to get access to my account. Do not bank with HSBC
—Guest HSBC Stinks

Chase, beyond dumb and dumber

Needed new bank on west coast. I spurn BoA like a rabid dog, so few choices left. Eh, Chase...they gotta take care of every penny these days, right? Uhhh....no. Opened acct online n they WANTED me to fund it with current bank (was Suntrust). Great. Hook up the accounts, move money in, update direct deposit. Should be good. Uhhh....no. 5 days later, deposit txfr never came thru...then at the last second did...then I received a text, email, then snail mail from Chase they closed my account for security reasons. Seems they didn't have enuf history for me under my 2-week old address. No kidding? Took reference from God into branch to get account reactivated. Done. Still can't activate check cards. Must cancel and request new. Egad. FFWD 10 days later, new ck cards arrive, activated, but immediately declined. Oh, Chase says check cards not connected to checking account. They seem to think ur money is their money w/ultra dumb excuses keeping you from it.
—Guest missesaw

Suntrust, crazy security

Recently moved out of SunTrust territory from east coast to west coast. Put in a change of address well ahead of time, since it was for work, and my direct deposit was still going there, as well. On the drive out west and during my first 3 weeks in sunny California, Suntrust Security blocked my check cards 5 times. No phone call, no email, no message when logging onto online banking....just blocked. Said they didn't have my phone number or email address, a standardized lie it seems. Kicker: Spent a year in Europe in 2010, didn't even tell them I was going, used the check card all over Europe for thousands of dollars without one hiccup. The only reason I used them was for the Delta SkyMiles card, but while I previously found them useless, never underestimate a bank's ability to screw up your life!
—Guest missesaw

ANB Bank doesn't like small businesses

I have been banking with ANB for over 5 years. I have a personal and business account with them and have never had an overdraft, never asked for any favors. The business account gets automatic deposits several times a week, which I transfer to my personal account. The other day, the business account had a chargeback from a credit card sale that was $12. The bank refused to pay it because there wasn't enough in the account, charged me $30, plus $2 per day and I didn't find out until 2 days later via USPS rather than a phone call or even email. When I called to ask why the $12 was returned rather than just paid, the branch manager was defensive and rude. She said she took into account my average daily balance which was only $32, however neglected to realize it was more than twice the chargeback amount. When I pointed that out, her stance was pretty much that my meager little business did not matter to their bank and she could care less if I banked there or not. One would expe
—Guest Ex ANB Bank Banker

Fees, fees, and more fees

Let's face it . Banks are in business to make money. The more fees a Branch Manager makes for the bank, the bigger his/her year end bonus. Managers' compensations are many times tied to the income generated by his/her branch. As long as it is this way, the managers can be as nice or as mean as they want, but when lost fee income is charged to his/her branch, he/she loses in the long run. I think the WORST practice is the one of paying the largest item first to MAXIMIZE income for the bank, rather than maximizing savings for the customer. If the bank can charge 4 fees instead of 1 - who wins? Find a bank whose managers are compensated based on the goodwill they generate among their customers rather than on the number of fees they can charge...Is there one out there?
—Guest Tiffany

Thanks to Chase~ I will lose my home.

My story is too long to list here. Tried to get a refi. on my home since May of '09. Over and over they led me on a wild goose chase with offers and options, always telling me I was missing pieces of information and had to begin again and again and again!!! Sent them stacks of documents. Started over 7 different times. Now it is too late for me and they will take my home, have ruined my credit rating , and have lost my life savings in my down payment. I could never get anywhere with their service dept. They would tell me that options which they offered to me would become invalid when I would attempt to utilize them. They deceived me, played financial games, and phone clerks were rude and threatening. The bottom line is that they are not concerned that I will lose my home. They will not lose but will auction it off, be funded through the gov. bailouts for the balance due and then turn around and sell it.The banks will never lose!!!!! I am heart-broken that I will lose my home.
—Guest CHASE~ scam artists

HSBC & B of A

Customer service at HSBC & BofA are pretty stellar compared to other banks in my experience. As much as Id love to transfer all money to a credit union, these 2 are just too convenient and have, thus far, done me no wrong and have never been an inconvenience in any way despite the fact that Im not a big fan of commercial banks. The recent BofA debit card charge did not affect me since I always use a credit card but Im keeping an eye on it. Online banking for both is easy and convenient. Unless either decides to charge me random fees, which both have not yet been guilty of, I will continue to bank with them. If HSBC or BofA pull something that just screams "I need more revenue so Ill just charge you here" then I will seriously consider credit unions.
—Guest bankee

Fraudulent NSF fee - 1st Bank

I recently opened an account with 1stBank with a few thousand dollars (from my financial aid check from school). I live off my financial aid due to the fact that I go to school 35+ hrs/week and only can work a few extra hours a week. I was told upon opening the account that bcuz im a student I could elect to have the checking accnt protected by my savings. It was also necessary to sign up for the online banking if enrolled in this kind of account. I did everything I was told to do and checked my accounts everyday (a neurotic habit) and my accnt was never in the negative and so I didn't transfer money as it wasn't needed. All of the sudden I got a call from bank saying I was overdrawn about $400. I transferred money to cover then called them back asking why I had $200 (6nsf fees). They told me that they would only refund half bcuz I needed to have had the money in the checking account. No matter that I was told it would be taken from sav. 1 more charge cuz they posted my am deposit next day.
—Guest Sick & Tired of paying fraudulent NSFfee

BBVA Compass, So Bad

Terrible customer service. Horrid! I could go on and on and on! The will charge you NSF fees, without cause once your balance falls below a certain amount, then treat you as if you were a child. The will give you a reason for their charges, like pending VS posted... time transactions post... all of it is BS! I live and breathe by online banking. I am not a reckless spender. If something may, MAY make me go under a certain balance, I transfer money! Not rocket science! Oh, by the way... my own personal banker has told me on more than 1 occasion that She "does not agree with their banking practices" her words, not mine! I have direct deposit along with 2 savings acct. I LIVE by the available balance. I have been given the run around and cornered them in so many excuses, it is pathetic. If someone steals money from you, you would fight to get it back, right? This is very bad business! They are con artists to say the least. I am disgusted! Oh, 1 more thing. If you do encounter 1 NSF fee...
—kristindaymon

Stay away from Ally

The worst customer service ever! I have had many car loans in the past - no problems. But one day past the due date and you are getting late letters and phone calls. Who does that?? It is a 10 day grace period people!! Not that I use it but really have never been treated like that.
—Guest racbri

Wachovia is a fraud and mean too

Sun I deposited an endorsed check at Wachovia ATM and the machine jammed and kept my card. Mon I inquired. no deposit here. 1 month later I closed my account and got a cashier check. Wachovia put a HOLD on it. I could not open my new account and had 7K in limbo for several weeks. Wachovia later "found" the original lost deposit. The manager probably got a bonus.
—Guest scrued in georgia

Wachovia: Where's my Gift Card?

Wachovia promised a free 500 dollar prepaid gift card as an incentive for paying my mortgage on time for 12 consecutive months. I completed a loan mod in March of 2010. It was 12 consecutive months in March 2011. I called last month and inquired and was told the mod took place in June of 2010. This is not true.I have my records. None theless, it is now Agust 2011 and still no gift card. How can they get away with deceitful practices? Is there no recourse for getting them to hold up on their end of the promise?
—Guest speshok

SCAMMED BY WACHOVIA FOR 500,00 GIFT CARD

WACHOVIA IS THE WORST MORTGAGE COMPANY ! I WAS PROMISED A 500.00 DOLLAR GIFT CARD FOR MODIFYING MY MORTGAGE.....SCAM...THEY COME UP WITH EVERY EXCUSE THEY CAN , WHEN YOU TALK TO SOMEONE ABOUT IT ,THEY MAKE IT UP AS THEY GO ALONG !
—Guest GUESTD

TD Bank - Bank of FEES

When I first opened my account I was told it was a free checking account. I quickly learned that it is "free" unless your balance is under $100 during any point in your statement cycle. I've incurred this $15 fee a few times because I use my TD bank account as an extra account. I have automatic deposit set up which always covers in the event that my balance is under $100 but that does not matter at this institution. Even if your ending balance is over $100, you will get a $15 fee for going under during statement cycle. I also have a shared account with a family member which has a nice balance. When I called to speak with customer service I was told I could change my checking account to one that will only charge $3.99/mo. Are you out of your mind? I will not give 4% of my account to anyone, I'd rather take this account to PNC with my other accounts. I really felt this need to write this review for people who live paycheck to paycheck and would be greatly affected by the $15 fee.
—Guest Jul

Chase checking charges

Suddenly from feb 2011, Chase started charging $25 per month if the checking account does not have a minimum balance of $1500 or direct deposit of $500. They use my money w/o interest and charge me $25 !!! I closed my account immediately.
—Guest Ex Chase customer