Consumer complaint received 2019-09-18
Company: JPMORGAN CHASE & CO.
State: AZ
Product: Checking or savings account
Sub-product: Checking account
Issue: Opening an account
Sub-issue: Unable to open an account

Complaint:
COMPLAINT : Chase bank has denied me from opening a checking account but is refusing to give an explanation. ( I have a Chase credit card and have no issues with the credit card ) Chase Bank Timeline & Notes on Checking Account Denial : XX/XX/XXXX Met with XXXX XXXX ( Private Client Banker ) at XXXX XXXX XXXX location ; opened checking account using a {$1000.00} check from our XXXX XXXX XXXX personal checking account and a Chase check ( from a recently closed Chase credit card ) for {$530.00} ; was given 3 pre printed checks and a deposit slip ; Chase Total Checking Account # XXXX  ; XXXX mentioned that the account might be closed after a review is done but could not tell me any reason why I had no idea what this might be about and assumed this was boiler plate language and assumed that it wouldnt get closed ; I electronically signed their documents ( but did not receive copies ) XX/XX/XXXX XXXX Account Alert Screen Shot of a new application inquiry : XX/XX/XXXX See Email from Chase Debit/ATM XX/XX/XXXX See Email from Chase Mobile App requesting that I sign into the mobile app to get electronic copies of the disclosures that were signed when opening the account. Note : since I no longer have the account, I can no longer access these documents. On XX/XX/XXXX I asked XXXX for a copy of these documents and received a printout of only the Deposit Account Agreement and Privacy Notice. 

XX/XX/XXXX XXXX  Account Alert of new account opening : XX/XX/XXXX See Email from Chase Account Tools XX/XX/XXXX Received and activated the ATM card ; XXXX exp XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX See Email from Chase Get More From Your New Account XX/XX/XXXX By chance, I discovered that the new checking account had been closed ( no notification was received ) ; it was discovered because we were locked out of our online access to our credit card ; upon calling the 800 number I talked to various people yielding various messages but no specifics were given as to why the account was closed ; I was told that the account can no longer be maintained and the back office has decided to end the relationship ; I was also told Chase is not required to give a reasonthere is no specific reasonthe local branch can not give a reasonthe letter being sent will not have a reason, I was informed that online credit card access would be reinstated once the checking account was officially closed but that I would have to call back and have the reinstatement done ; I was told that the checking account was restricted on XX/XX/XXXX and that a letter dated XX/XX/XXXX would be mailed out ; it doesnt make sense that the account was restricted on XX/XX/XXXX but I was able to activate the ATM card on XX/XX/XXXX ; this conversation was on a recorded line ; I was hung up on XX/XX/XXXX Credit Scores from XXXX : XXXX  : XXXX XXXX  : XXXX XXXX  : XXXX XX/XX/XXXX We met with XXXX and also with XXXX XXXX ( Branch Manager Vice President ) to determine WHY this occurred as the 800 number folks basically said that Chase has decided, effective XX/XX/XXXX, to no longer maintain the relationship and would NOT give a reason WHY ; they were unable to provide any clarity ; XXXX called an internal department and they informed him that no specific reason could be given ; XXXX eluded to seeing something in the system regarding a closed account from XXXX & XXXX but could not provide any specific information ; XXXX said that the person on the phone said that Chase is not required to disclose why the account was closed and that this was stated in the initial documents that were signed ; I requested a paper copy of these documents and was given the Deposit Account Agreement and Privacy Notice ; I can not find where this is stated and it appears that Chase Bank has a history of not complying with the Fair Credit Reporting Act https : //www.consumerfinance.govXXXX  ; XXXX said that she would investigate and get back to me or send it on to Escalations XX/XX/XXXX See Email to XXXX  XXXX, Local Bank Branch Manager XX/XX/XXXX XXXX the afternoon mail I received three letters from Chase ; even though we were told that no specific reason would be given two of the letters dated XX/XX/XXXX ( which appear to be identical letters ) gave specific reasons stating inability to verify identity and referencing an XXXX  credit score of XXXX ; these two letters have no contact phone number ; I cant understand the bottom of the letters as it is not in English ; the two letters were from Chase in XXXX XXXX, TX . The third letter, dated XX/XX/XXXX, from Chase in XXXX, Ohio, stated that my account was being blocked and would soon close because of information obtained from a consumer reporting agency XX/XX/XXXX See Email from Chase Know Your Overdraft Options inviting me to set up overdraft preferences XX/XX/XXXX See Email from Chase Low Balance Alert XX/XX/XXXX Phone call ( on a recorded line ) with XXXX in Branch Escalations & Complaints Dept ( XXXX ) XXXX ext # XXXX Case # XXXX  ; my email to XXXX was sent on to him ; he too stated that Chase has decided to no longer maintain the relationship and that they were not required to give a specific reason why ; he said that credit score has no bearing in decisions to open checking accounts and that he was unable to provide further specifics ; he said ( as I was also told by XXXX & XXXX ) that credit and banking are separate and one does not influence the other ; once a decision is made by Chase Bank then a generic response is given and specifics are not provided ; he said that this was the end of the line and that I have no other recourse or resources to contact and that my only option would be to subpoena Chase Bank to try an obtain the reason why ; he said that he doesnt see in his system the 2 letters dated XX/XX/XXXX but suggested I call the 800 number on these letters I let him know that there was no phone number on the letters ; he said that the other department that was supplying him information was the Banking Loss Prevention department and they stated that there were no letters sent out siting specifics I read him the letters and suggested that he get a copy of them from XXXX since I am not allowed to email him directly ; he said that specifics stay internal and that a subpoena would be the only way to possibly be able to obtain any specifics as to why the account was closed ; he mentioned seeing something about a closed account in XXXX but was not allowed to give specifics ; I asked him to dig further by obtaining the letters from XXXX  and to call me back XX/XX/XXXX Phone call ( on a recorded line ) from XXXX he got the letters from XXXX and forwarded them to the back offices ; he again said that the credit score has no bearing on their decision even though all of the letters reference XXXX  ; he said that no human was used to create the letters dated XX/XX/XXXX and this was just a generic automatic thing ; he stated the bank does not want to bank with me ; he said that a review was done after the account was opened and that is why it is now closed ; he stated that XXXX should not have opened the account in the first place based on the notes that are in the system and that a note was in their system to not enter into a banking relationship with me even those I have had credit cards with Chase ; he again stated that banking & credit are two separate things ; I pressed and pressed for what my next steps were and he stated that this is the end of the line based on actions occurring in XXXX and an alert in their system to not open an account with me ; he said that the decision is final and that there is no further recourse for me ; upon further pressing he did say that I could write to the Executive Offices ( Chase Bank, XXXX XXXX  XXXX, XXXX Ohio XXXX ) but that I can not call them or email them and it that it is unlikely that this will yield resolution without a subpoena XX/XX/XXXX Started process of requesting specialized consumer disclosure reports. 

XX/XX/XXXX Received refund check from Chase ( dated XX/XX/XXXX ) for the initial account opening amount of {$1500.00}. Note on check stub said : We closed your account ( s ) and attached a check for the remaining balance ( s ). 

XX/XX/XXXX Received Marketing-Mail inviting me to open a Chase Checking Account XX/XX/XXXX Email with XXXX XXXX XXXX ( in MT ) requesting to find out any derogatory information that may have been submitted to XXXX on me personally or on my businesses ( XXXX   ). Relations with XXXX XXXX XXXX have spanned over 10 years and there were no derogatory issues. 

XX/XX/XXXX Received XXXX report with No Information On File XX/XX/XXXX Received XXXX   report with No Information Found ( only Social Security Number Validation in XXXX  ) XX/XX/XXXX Will proceed with Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Complaint Contact Information : XXXX XXXX, XXXX, Private Client Banker, NMLS ID : XXXX ( XXXX ) XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX, NMLS ID : XXXX ( XXXX ) XXXX XXXX, Branch Escalations & Complaints Dept ( XXXX ) XXXX ext # XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation