Yesterday, Jul 23, I tried to open a CD account with Bank of America online, and in addition to all the standard information (name, age, SSN, address, mother's maiden name, citizenship, routing number and account number) I was also asked to provide my user ID and password to the -another - bank account from which the CD would be funded. Stunned, I called their 800 number and they confirmed that, since I was not an existing customer with Bank of America, I had to provide the user name and password to my account at the other bank, or else could not open the CD.
I strongly believe this kind of information should have been disclosed first-hand, to avoid me entering all my credentials in vain. And what happens now to all my personal information, since I don't even have an account with them, so Bank of America cannot be held responsible for leaking it out?
This morning I went in person to their local branch, and the manager was as surprised as I was to hear that I was asked the user ID and password to access my banking account at another bank. My going in person to the local branch didn't solve the problem though, since apparently they, the local branch), have no communication with the online banking department, other than calling the same 800 number I had called the previous day. According to the local branch manager I talked to, they don't even share the same database!
Needless to say, I would never open an account with Bank of America, if it means to give away my user name AND password to my account at another bank!
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