Consumer complaint received 2015-08-12
Company: M&T BANK CORPORATION
State: MD
Product: Bank account or service
Sub-product: Savings account
Issue: Deposits and withdrawals

Complaint:
On or around XX/XX/XXXX, I opened a free checking account with Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company, in speaking to a vice president of a small branch, he also signed me up for a free interest bearing savings at that time. I never put much in it because I had another savings that I did an auto deduct from my paycheck and paid a slightly higher yield. I began using the MT savings more when I lost my job and had to rent my house, at which time I put money in the account that was given to me as a security deposit. XX/XX/XXXX, due to my job loss and lack of income, my boyfriend added his name to my checking account in order to keep the account open and for me to have some sort of checking account, HIS NAME was the only change, not the type of accounts, checking and savings, the account # XXXX are the same as before. I didnt use the account much and XX/XX/XXXX, I noticed withdrawals coming out of the savings associated with the free checking which had never happened previous to my adding My boyfriends name to the checking account. So why if all they did was add his name to my free checking would they change my savings account ( I have my old statements with no fees ) from a no fee account to one with fees and why would I ever agree to that when I had a small savings at XXXX? I told them on the phone at that time to stop the charges immediately this was a free savings account and I never agreed to this. They told me I had to come in, which I did and this was supposed to be cleared up. It was not and the deductions continued, I called again, this time I had been injured and could not come into the bank and my boyfriend tried to inquire about it but he doesnt handle the account so I had to wait. I eventually brought him into the bank with me and spoke to a manager who refused to change the account back the my original type of account, informing me that this account would be credited the fees and to keep a balance of XXXX which I had. What she did not tell me was that the next day, they were going to offset my boyfriends solo overdrawn account ( which was mostly fees-every couple of days- his boss could not pay him ) with my savings account, which was n't even my money. So as far as I am concerned, the bank was very sneaky and not forthcoming in their handling of the handling of the savings account and its fees on more than one occasion, and when the bank manager had the opportunity to discuss with me fees and the overdraft account, she neglected to tell me about something called an " offset '' which could occur on my account. Which again, is sneaky and as far as I am concerned, unethical. The bank is there to protect your money, not steal it. Most banks are like this and its difficult to find a good bank. But as mad as I have been at other banks I can say I had some hand in whatever happened. But not this, they took money from my account for over a year without my consent. I repeatedly asked them to stop. They refused, crediting the account once ( XXXX ) XX/XX/XXXX. But then taking XXXX the next day for a debt I did not owe and money that wasnt even mine, which I had a discussion with the manager about when at the bank while with my boyfriend. I explained this money was rental escrow and they had to stop removing funds from this account. But the way they did it was ridiculous as well, they waited on his account adding fees until he had exactly what I had in my savings and then XXXX balanced his account with my money. Then charged my savings again another XXXX after I told them to stop it. Also why didnt they previously tell me the account had to have a XXXX balance to avoid the charges.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation