Consumer complaint received 2017-05-06
Company: BANK OF AMERICA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
State: AZ
Product: Checking or savings account
Sub-product: Checking account
Issue: Opening an account
Sub-issue: Unable to open an account

Complaint:
Bank of Americ a ( " B of A ' ' ), closed my checking acct on   XX/XX/XXXX  ( that I had just opened  XX/XX/XXXX  )   and reported for " SUSPECTED FRAUD ACTIVITY '' on   XX/XX/XXXX , closure status  XX/XX/XXXX  =  " UNPAID. I have been unable to open a checking acct at ANY other institution based on a presumption published by B of A. I consider this Defamation of Character! FACTS  : 1 ) My  account was overdrawn beginning Tue sday  XX/XX/XXXX  ; this overdraft was settled w/ cash, in a branch on Monday  XX/XX/XXXX  ( {$310.00} ). B of A reported with  XX/XX/XXXX  dat e as unpaid at time of closure. This is untrue. My account was overdrawn fo r 3 bu siness days. I have already disputed this with the bank and  XXXX , with no success.    2  ) I was changing banks from  XXXX   XXXX  (  XXXX   )  to Bank of America ; both accts were open/active.    3  ) I was expecting funds in both of my B of A and  XXXX  accts over the weekend (  XX/XX/XXXX - XX/XX/XXXX  ) from a family member AND another source. I conducted transactions between the  XXXX  accts on what I considered deposits in transit. Due to a misunderstanding, the deposits were not made. I learned my acct was negative the morning of  XX/XX/XXXX , and due to financial hardship at the time, I was unable to resolve immediately ; my acct was  o/d 4  out of 5 days that week at B of A. My aunt was out of the country on an international cruise, returning by Sun  XX/XX/XXXX , so I thought we would talk, and fix Monday  XX/XX/XXXX . We went to the banks on Monday, and she explained to both branch managers/personal bankers, confirming that it was an oversight on her part. We deposited cash to over the overdrawn balance, again, on  XX/XX/XXXX .   I have had an active checking account with a major financial institution since  XX/XX/XXXX , It is appalling that a major financial institution can report their " opinion '' of " suspected fraud '', when it is defamatory in nature. I am a   XXXX   XXXX   XXXX  , I started and LLC and I ca n't open bank accounts at even " 2nd chance '' banks because of one word that they have inappropriately used ... '' FRAUD ''. This has caused people to be skeptical and has hurt me financially in a number of ways. I disputed this with various departments and went to my local branch and sat down with the branch manager and walked him through all of the facts and circumstances. I conducted what I would consider non-significant transactions over the weekends based on what I considered to be deposits in transit. I resolved the problem within 4 days paid the negative balance in full. When I continued to follow-up with the branch  manager  I was finally told that they would be doing nothing, and not changing the reporting because, and I quote " the  risk  department told me there was no business purpose for them to reverse anything ''. WOW! My 25 year career includes over 10 years of providing   XXXX   XXXX   XXXX   XXXX   XXXX   XXXX  , including over 5 years with a "  XXXX   XXXX  ''   XXXX   XXXX   and over 10 years in   XXXX   XXXX  and  XXXX   the majority of which was at the   XXXX   XXXX  l.  XX/XX/XXXX  was a somewhat tragic year for me financially as I was unemployed. Given what I do for a living, background checks are performed. I have been forced to do my banking through  XXXX . With all due respect to  XXXX  given my profession, it literally hurts me daily because I work with smart people ... who assume that I have a banking problem to make that my choice for my personal and business accounts. I am currently  XX/XX/XXXX , and even my client who pays me via ACH deposit ( between {$3000.00} and {$5000.00} per week ) has questioned and shown suspicion about my banking. Finally, I work very long days and often cant make it to the bank. This  XXXX  bank does not even provide the opportunity to make deposits into an ATM. How can a bank unilaterally do this to someone? To not allow them to bank with them, and report to an agency used by banks such defamatory wording ... using words that essentially " bans '' me from opening an account at a reputable or even "  2nd  chance '' bank. Then, to have to gall to actually tell me, in so many words, that they are not going to change anything because there is nothing in it for them?!

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