Consumer complaint received 2023-07-19
Company: BANK OF AMERICA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
State: CA
Product: Checking or savings account
Sub-product: Checking account
Issue: Managing an account
Sub-issue: Fee problem

Complaint:
Dear CFPB Team, I have been a Bank of America customer for over 30 years. My 'Advantage Relationship Banking ' checking account is linked to a Regular Savings Account and a Money Market Savings Account. I have maintained a minimum balance in both savings accounts of {$5000.00} for years -- {$10000.00} min. per month total -- in order to avoid monthly maintenance charges on my checking account. 

Beginning in XX/XX/XXXX BofA began charging a {$25.00} 'Advantage Monthly Maintenance Fee '. I didn't notice this until XX/XX/XXXX -- 15 months later -- by which time I had been charged {$370.00} in fees despite the fact that my Advantage Relationship Banking checking account was linked to my 2 savings accounts. 

This monthly service fee was not charged in XX/XX/XXXX, nor in any months prior -- because my checking account was properly linked to my 2 savings account. 

Over the past month I have called BofA 's customer service line several times, have been transferred to supervisors to explain my concern. I was told to visit a branch and speak to a branch manager - I did so, had to schedule an appointment for a week later. 
Following the appointment where I spoke to both the bank manager and a 'Credit Solutions Advisor ' I heard nothing for 2 weeks. 

Yesterday, XX/XX/XXXX, I returned to the bank and asked the bank manager about the status of my complaint about the monthly service fees. She apparently called her supervisor because after 15 minutes she returned to tell me that I had to have a $ XXXX balance to avoid monthly fees. 

Today I again called the BofA Customer Service number ( XXXX ) and the upshot of 45 minutes on line with a customer service representative ( after conferring with his supervisor ) was that my checking account hadn't been properly linked to the 2 savings accounts, and by not maintaining a minimum XXXX XXXXXXXX balance in my checking account I had incurred the XXXX XXXX monthly charge. 

Conclusion : I did nothing in XXXX of XXXX to 'de-link ' my checking account from my 2 savings accounts. I believe the bank surreptitiously de-linked them to charge a monthly maintenance fee, expecting that I would not notice it. Today the BofA representative assured me that the checking account has be properly linked to the 2 savings accounts again and that I should incur the monthly charge no longer if I continue to maintain a min. balance between the 2 savings accounts of at least $ XXXX. 

On the heels of last week 's announcement that the CFPB has ordered BofA to pay more than XXXX XXXXXXXX to customers in fines, junk fees, fake accounts, etc., I am registering my complaint against this blatant effort by BofA to enhance its corporate revenue at the expense of unsuspecting customers such as myself. 

I welcome any inquiries should you be willing to act on this complaint. 

Thank you for your service.

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