Consumer complaint received 2024-06-13
Product: Checking or savings account — Checking account
Issue: Problem with a lender or other company charging your account — Transaction was not authorized
Company: HUNTINGTON NATIONAL BANK, THE (MI)

I am an XXXXXXXX XXXX woman that had a checking account at Huntington Bank located in XXXX Michigan until earlier this year when I closed the account, because the bank had a data breach resulting in funds stolen from my account. After numerous attempts for resolution, the bank has decided to not fully refund the stolen funds. 
I was a loyal customer at Huntington Bank for more than XXXX  years until earlier this year. On XX/XX/XXXX, I became aware of a theft from my checking account when I visited the local Huntington Bank branch to withdraw money and was informed by the teller that my account balance was XXXX. I was emotionally distraught for days as I was without any money to pay rent and utilities. My sole source of income is my monthly Social Security deposit. Prior to XX/XX/XXXX, my monthly routine included a visit to the bank after deposit of my Social Security funds to withdraw cash for use for my monthly expenses. I have never used a computer and have no IT skills. I do not know how to turn on a computer and have no understanding of electronic banking. Until recently, I wrote paper checks to pay my bills and paid cash for purchases. I had a debit card to use as an ATM card only, and I never used the debit card for any purchases. 
In lateXXXX and XX/XX/XXXX, and in XXXX and XX/XX/XXXX, my daughter-in-law and I had several meetings with various members of the Huntington Bank staff at the local branch . Initially over {$3700.00} in fraudulent electronic debits was stolen from my checking account during the period between XXXX XXXX XXXX in multiple electronic transfers. The bank staff recognized the fraudulent activity and suspended future pending electronic debits that appeared to be originating from outside the United States on XX/XX/XXXX. 
Huntington Bank initially informed me that funds would be returned to me after an internal process was completed, which would take several business days. In XXXX, most funds were credited back to my account. However, in a letter from Hunting Bank dated XX/XX/XXXX, they stated that {$650.00} would be deducted from my account because they determined these transactions were valid. I immediately appealed that decision and after numerous telephone calls, in person meetings, and additional bank internal investigations, Huntington Bank concluded that two transactions totaling {$650.00} were not fraudulent. As a result, Huntington Bank will not return the stolen funds totaling {$650.00} to me. 
In letters dated XX/XX/XXXX, and XX/XX/XXXX, Huntington Bank alleges that I made XXXX purchases from XXXX XXXX  XXXX, who is an XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX located in XXXX XXXX XXXX, in XXXX, in the XXXX XXXX XXXX. XXXX purchase allegedly occurred on XX/XX/XXXX ( {$380.00} ), and the second on XX/XX/XXXX ( {$270.00} ). Both were initiated outside the United States as the bank records indicate international transaction fees. As stated earlier, I do not own a computer, have never used a computer in my entire life, and I have no knowledge of computers or what an XXXX computer is. Additionally, I have no passport and have never been to XXXX, and I have no access to online ordering of anything. If Huntington Bank really did any research of my checking account activities, they would see years worth of paper checks written to the same payees, and the same cash withdraws each month, up until XX/XX/XXXX, when my checking account was breeched due to documented bank security failures. 
In XX/XX/XXXX, Huntington Bank notified customers that between XX/XX/XXXX, and XX/XX/XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX ), was victim of a XXXX-day vulnerability within one of their vendors software, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX application ( XXXX ). A compromise of a server exposed data, which included account information, related to checks processed through XXXX customer, Huntington Bank. After reviewing the compromised files, it appears that some of Huntington Banks customer information may have been accessed by an unauthorized malicious XXXX  party. The data set included account and routing numbers, name, address, phone, and check payee and remittance amount. 
I request that you assist me with my efforts to secure a refund of {$650.00} from Huntington Bank for fraudulent charges that were not due to any action initiated by me. No paper check was written to XXXX XXXX XXXX by me, and as my historical records indicate, I do not use a debit card for electronic purchases nor do I have knowledge of how to generate an electronic check. I personally find it unbelievable that staff at Huntington Bank have concluded that I purchased computer parts from a business in XXXX.