Consumer complaint received 2019-05-16
Company: PNC Bank N.A.
State: VA
Product: Mortgage
Sub-product: Conventional home mortgage
Issue: Applying for a mortgage or refinancing an existing mortgage

Complaint:
I have had a mortgage on the subject property with PNC since XX/XX/XXXX, after having banked with PNC for 20-plus years, moving to Virginia in XXXX and purchasing a small farm in a rural area north of XXXX. At the time of the purchase of the home in question, I was attempting a reconcilation with my ex-wife, and chose to put her on the title. Unfortunately, the reconciliation failed, and we went our separate ways, her to Florida, while I remained in the home in question as my sole residence. Several years passed, and in XX/XX/XXXX, I met and fell in love with a woman who has become my new life partner. We each have our own home, and wish to eventually downsize and move into my home. But first, we decided she should be co-owner and co-signer of a new mortgage on my property. Then we could consider selling her home. 

The matter was complicated because my former wife 's name was on the title of my property ( this was NOT part of our amicable XX/XX/XXXX divorce agreement -- the purchase of the home in question took place 20 months after the divorce and settlement. My putting her name on the deed of trust was an act of good faith at the time of the attempted reconcilation, which took place coincidental with purchasing the property in question. And importantly, at that time, PNC insisted she be put on the mortgage, as co-signer, as she was co-title holder. We were unmarried, 20-months post divorce at the time, for all intents and purposes, single persons with no legal relationship, no court-ordered or court-inforced financial separation agreement. 

Then, commencing in XX/XX/XXXX, my new life partner and I began the process of refinancing my mortgage with the goal of removing my former wife from the deed and mortage and putting my partner on the mortgage and deed of trust. We were forced to pause the refi on XXXX XXXX due to extenuating circumstances -- my ex-wife, who was on the title, demanded certain conditions be met before she would sign the quit-claim to the deed of trust. To meet her conditions would take me six months or more. So I put the refi on pause ( see attached letter to PNC ). 

Then, in XX/XX/XXXX, I notified the PNC case loan officer that I wished to proceed, and on XXXX XX/XX/XXXX, we began the process anew. While the loan officers have been unfailingly professional and understanding of the unusual circumstances that predated this refinance application, the PNC underwriter has displayed, over the past 70 days ( XX/XX/XXXX - XX/XX/XXXX ), a clear prejudice against us, two unmarried individuals who wish to co-sign the refinanced loan. The underwriter has made a series of unreasonable and unwarranted demands for information about my prior relationship and divorce that have nothing to do with the loan application, demanded proof of residency and other off-topic issues, displaying a clear pattern of delay and obstruction, in violation with fair lending practices. Our ability to pay the mortgage is unquestioned -- we have combined assets of over {$1.00} XXXX dollars and a combined income of over {$180000.00} per year, both with stellar credit histories and credit ratings over 800. Of course, PNC has a record of my ontime mortgage payments over four years, and by any standard, clear evidence that my partner and I qualify for this loan ( refinance ). 

The objections and delays put up by the underwriter have had nothing to do with our ability to repay the loan, they have everything to do with the underwriter 's assumption of fraud on my part and prejudice against us as unmarried, non-cohabitating individual ( we each have our own home ; one owns the home and PNC mortgage in question, the other has a separate residence and mortgage with a different lender, and until we can get both of us one one mortage and deed, we are reluctant to sell the second property and move in together permanently ). 

PNC 's loan officers refuse to divulge the name or supervisor of the underwriter, making it impossible for us to resolve our complaint directly with PNC.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation