I am appaled at this banks application process. I am also appaled at the level of professionalism demonstrated by the employees in one particular branch. I am researching what the consequences are to banks that fail to comply with federally mandated disclosure laws that were certainly broken by not 1 but 2 employees at a Mchenry County branch.
In my situation, I called to speak with my personal banker when I could not access my account on line. At that time I was having some marital issues and was concerned that my access to our joint account had been removed with a password change or possibly my money had been pulled and placed in a private account my husband had at the bank. My personal banker could have told me that no money was removed or reset my password, therby ending the entire situation. However, she chose to take a different route. I can only assume she chose to open a new account becaue there is some kind of incentive for her to open as many accounts as possible.
I discussed confidential information with my personal banker on the phone. She assured me that there was no problem, she would just transfer some money out of the joint account and put it into a new checking account that only I would have access to. The account was opened and I was told to come in later that day to sign the paperwork on the checking account. I came in to sign paper work and she asked me if I wanted overdraft protection, checks or a credit card. I said NO to all three. I signed a few documents quickly as I was trying to get out and pick up my kids. As I was standing up to leave she slid a page over and said oh yeah sign this, it just says I had to pull your credit to open your checking account. I signed it, thinking nothing of it, the account was already opened so It would not effect my credit right?
I had brought in one of my W2's and a bill to prove who I was because I only had a ticket not a license at the time. My banker took income information and employer info from only one of my W2's (not all) my W2's and applied for a credit card I specifically said I did not want. She entered false information on a credit application which I later found out was for the overdraft protection that I had clearly declined when asked about.
I mentioned that I was concerned that there was another employee at the bank that was friends with my husband and his family. I stated that I was unsure about keeping any private account at this bank because I did not want my confidential business discussed. Again, I was assured that my privacy and account information would not be discussed. I left the bank feeling relieved that I had my own account and knowing that everything was ok.
Two weeks later a credit card shows up in my mailbox. At the same time that I am opening a credit card (I did not apply for or want)... My mother in law calls to ask what is going on in my marriage, she had been asked by the teller at the bank, her former neighbor and friend, What was going on with me and my husband? The teller had disclosed information to my mother-in -law that my 'personal banker' received over the phone. It was not possible for the teller to 'overhear' what I was saying.
Why did the teller even know there were problems? Because she and my 'personal banker' had discussed what was said in confidence on a phone. I still can't figure out in what world a teller thinks its ok to disclose account information to perfect strangers or to anyone who is not listed on the account. Nonethless, I am a victim of careless gossip in addition to credit fraud.
To top it all off, I received (a few days later) a denial letter saying that I had been denied overdraft protection as well. Again I did not want overdrat protection. No one disclosed annual fees or any of the federally mandated disclosure requirements when soliciting credit that I had clearly declined. My personal banker made up an application against my instructions with inaccurate information and has damaged my cedit score not once but two times. I can not refinance my home now and I have yet to resolve this issue. I did close my checking account. I want to warn all consumers to beware of the fraudulent and unprofessional practices this bank continues to demonstrate during its day to day business.
Lied to and pissed
Northbrook, Illinois
U.S.A.
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