Consumer complaint received 2023-12-19
Company: MIDFIRST BANK
State: TX
Product: Checking or savings account
Sub-product: Savings account
Issue: Closing an account
Sub-issue: Can't close your account

Complaint:
I attempted to open an account online with Vio Bank and tried to fund it from my XXXX XXXX account . When I called XXXX, they had to verify additional information with Vio so we both got on the line with MidFirst Bank. The MidFirst Bank representative was incredibly rude to me and he put me and the XXXX rep over to Vio Bank. When the Vio Bank came on the line, I told her I was not going to proceed to open the account as the MidFirst Bank rep was snotty and rude. She said ok, she'd close the account. That should've been the end of it. 

To date, I'm receiving a slow drip of emails as an, " Online Banking Alert - Account Verification Required. '' I've replied to these emails XXXX  to stop send them to me and they continue to auto send. The reply I've gotten from the reps is to call in and verify my information so they can further assist. Today ( XXXX ) I called in and the rep was once again totally unhelpful. He told me I had to have logged into their online banking and I'd need to do so again to shut off alerts. I told him I never got that far with his bank and he needed to stop sending me these alerts. He then said he'd verify me through his system and try and help. He asked for a lot of information : Full name, SSN, DOB, date account was opened, funding source, funding amount, and a few other things. I provided what I knew - my full name, dob, SSN, funding account and told him, " I don't know '' for the other items. He said he couldn't verify me through and I'd need to hang up, research the things I didn't know and call them back. That is totally ridiculous. I was able to provide my most sensitive information and couldn't provide the date the account was opened or the amount from months ago on a never fully opened and funded account? This is bad practice and these emails are harassment at this point. I've received numerous emails from their automated system to fund an account that is closed and have no options to make it stop. 

The rep today told me to log into their online banking and shut off the alerts. I don't have any information to do so, but tried all user IDs I would normally use and tried the Forgot Username? link on their site. Since I've never logged in, the system is saying, " Verification Unsuccessful '', so there is nothing I can do with these harassing emails but to close an email address that I've had opened for XXXX years. They also emailed me my account number not using any security methods or practices. That's scary and totally bad practice. 

I will never do business with Vio Bank or MidFirst Bank ever. This has been a terrible experience and I've been senior management at banks across the country for XXXX years. I should not have to stop spam marketing alerts or funding account alerts from a bank I told to go away and was confirmed on the phone with me that the account was closed.

Company public response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation