Consumer complaint received 2015-08-06
Company: HUNTINGTON NATIONAL BANK, THE - FIRSTMERIT BANK, N.A. BRANCH
State: OH
Product: Bank account or service
Sub-product: Checking account
Issue: Deposits and withdrawals

Complaint:
On XXXX XXXX I transferred {$1200.00} from my First Merit savings account to my First Merit checking account to cover a purchase I would make later that day. I made the transfer at a First Merit ATM during regular business hours. The purchase was made and approved less than XXXX minutes later ( the bank is a block from the retailer ). On XXXX XXXX my online statement reflected these transactions but with the statement incorrectly reflecting that the purchase had occurred prior to the transfer of funds necessary to cover the purchase. Although my online balance reflected a negative balance associated with the purchase, no overdraft charge was reflected, my overall balance was in the black, and the actual transfer was additionally reflected in a separate statement section marked " pending '' ... '' Hold ''. On XXXX XXXX my online balance reflected XXXX separate {$35.00} overdraft charges ( {$170.00} ) as a direct result of the bank 's failure to recognize that the transfer of funds preceded the purchase that, according to my statement, caused the overdraft. Per bank policy, I was required to personally visit my home branch to seek management correction of the bank 's error. I did just that on XXXX XXXX. There I was informed that, despite the fact that my records reflect that at no time was my checking account lacking sufficient funds to cover the purchase, by transacting my money transfer at the bank 's ATM ( as opposed to in-person or online ), I had inadvertently - based upon their policy and practice - in fact made the transfer ( for their accounting purposes ) on XXXX XXXX ... not XXXX XXXX as their time-stamped receipt reflects. I was further informed that, despite the transfer occurring during normal business hours, they had already " balanced out '' that particular ATM for the XXXX XXXX business day. In fact, my time-stamped XXXX XXXX XXXX receipt of the transfer does ( further down ) identify the business day as XXXX XXXX ( a fiction both in reality and practice as the bank 's branch hours on XXXX XXXX continued until XXXX ). Finally I was informed by the branch manager that a call would be made on my behalf seeking a resolution. An hour later, the branch manager left me a voicemail cheerfully informing me that the bank had decided to " waive '' XXXX of the XXXX overdraft charges levied against my checking account. I attempt to return the call but was only able to leave a message stating that their " resolution '' offer of ONLY stealing {$70.00} from me instead of {$170.00} was unacceptable. The bank has, in their XXXX XXXX online statement, reflected the refund of {$100.00}. Other than taking the necessary steps to find and establish another banking institution for my banking needs, I am requesting that the CFPB investigate First Merit 's unethical and arbitrary abuse of depositors ' funds specifically regarding the transfer and/or " business day '' posting of funds between one FM account to another FM account. In my particular case, I am requesting that First Merit be required to refund all XXXX overdraft charges ( not just XXXX ) levied on my checking account. More importantly, I am hopeful that First Merit be required to 'cease and desist ' from continuing their apparent practice of 'posting ' credits and deposits/transfers in such a manner as to artificially create non-existent overdrafts.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation