Consumer complaint received 2018-11-12
Company: CATHAY BANK
State: CA
Product: Money transfer, virtual currency, or money service
Sub-product: Domestic (US) money transfer
Issue: Fraud or scam

Complaint:
Back in XX/XX/XXXX and XX/XX/XXXX, at Cathay Bank XXXX XXXX  Branch, Ms. XXXX XXXX  recommended and persuaded me to purchase the XXXX ( {$40000.00} ) & XXXX XXXX ( {$30000.00} ) XXXX. Later on, the Financial Consultant - Mr. XXXX XXXX signature appeared on my investment papers but I have never met with XXXX nor had any advice from him. Recently I was surprised to find out that XXXX XXXX only received her Series 7 license in XX/XX/XXXX. That means XXXX XXXX  sold both investment products to me without a formal government authorized license. 
Specifically, XXXX XXXX  and XXXX XXXX have made false and misleading statements and failed to disclose important terms and conditions to me by : ( i ) Saying products were " principal guaranteed and 100 % redeemable after 4 years '' ( ii ) Did not mention products were illiquid investment nor mentioned the company could change dividend & redemption policy ( iii ) Indicating that all papers signed or initialed were just standard model language without explaining that if there were certain terms and conditions could negatively impact investor 's financial well-being or disclosed any risks involved ( iv ) The new account application form overstated my account profile such as investment experience, annual income, net worth, etc., by Cathay Bank ( v ) All the dates on the Investment Acknowledgement form of XXXX XXXX were not conducted by me. 
( vi ) XXXX XXXX  was not properly licensed to sell and/or advise the investment products back in XXXX and XXXX. 

The share value of XXXX has dropped to $ XXXXshare from my purchase price ( $ XXXXshare ) and the dividends were cut down 50 % starting from XX/XX/XXXX. The worst of all, starting from XXXX XXXX, a notice indicated that shares can be only repurchased in connection with a stockholders death or qualifying disability, which totally altered the products original investment nature and features. Share value of XXXX XXXX also dropped significantly and dividends were suspended. 

I filed a complaint letter dated XX/XX/XXXX to Mr. XXXX XXXX the President at Cathay Bank and it was forwarded to XXXX XXXX XXXX ( Brokerage firm on the premises of Cathay Bank ). I received a reply letter dated XXXX XXXX from XXXX XXXX ( Compliance Analyst, XXXX XXXX XXXX ) simply based on XXXX & XXXX stories and quoting application form and documents bearing my signature and initials to deny my statement regarding their wrongdoings. The way they are doing is to just simply delayed the response and never tried to work out a fair and positive solution. Im willing to do the face to face confrontation with XXXX and XXXX. I could not agree or accept the result and I feel this whole thing has been a deceptive and misleading business practice which could be a case of UDAAP violation. I am very disappointed that Cathay Bank senior managers did not fulfill their supervisory responsibilities and XXXX XXXX XXXX did not offer any positive support to customers to resolve issues. 
I'm fighting for my right to redeem the investments after 4 years of holding ( which would be fulfilled as of XX/XX/XXXX & XX/XX/XXXX ) and the guaranteed 100 % principal as XXXX XXXX  conveyed me.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation