Consumer complaint received 2025-10-23 00:00:00
Product: Checking or savings account — Checking account
Issue: Managing an account — Deposits and withdrawals
Company: BANK OF AMERICA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
State: VA

Complaint narrative:
Summary of Complaint : Bank of America is engaging in unfair and deceptive account-management practices that misrepresent my available balance and prioritize the banks own internal transfers ahead of pending customer transactions, resulting in direct financial harm and the loss of funds. 

Details : On XX/XX/year>, I used my primary checking account ( ending in XXXX ) to make a {$430.00} charge at XXXX. On XX/XX/XXXX, I made a {$190.00} payment to XXXX and a XXXX transaction, followed by another XXXX transaction on XX/XX/XXXX. All of these transactions were shown as processing at the time. 

On XX/XX/XXXX, I added {$300.00} to my XXXX account. I was surprised the funds went through because I didnt recall which bank was linked. After checking, I saw my Bank of America accounts reflected the following : the primary account ( XXXX ) still had all prior transactions processing, while my secondary account ( ending in XXXX ) now showed {$300.00}. 

This was unexpected because Bank of America has always declined transactions that would result in a negative balance. Yet this time, the bank allowed an overdraft on the secondary account while my primary accounts pending charges were still unsettled. 

When I checked again on XX/XX/XXXX, my secondary account was brought back to {$0.00}, but my primary checking account now showed a {$190.00} balance. This occurred because Bank of America expedited its own internal balance transfer from my primary account to cover the secondary overdraft. In doing so, the bank treated pending funds as available for its own use while any transaction I initiated was declined for insufficient funds. 

As a result, a {$120.00} refund that I had been waiting for was effectively lost. When the refund finally posted, it was absorbed by the banks negative balance instead of being returned to me. 

Worse, the {$190.00} created by the banks internal transfer caused my XXXX storage payment ( made on XX/XX/XXXX ) to be returned unpaid, even though the payment was originally authorized with available funds and my balance at that time was {$0.00}. Because of the returned payment, my storage unit was put up for auction, resulting in the loss of my personal property and severe stress and hardship. 

Separate Issue {$20.00} available but blocked : On a separate occasion, my primary account showed {$20.00} available. When I attempted ATM/electronic withdrawal/transfer, the bank blocked access and placed a hold on the same fundswhile simultaneously displaying a {$20.00} overdraft. In other words, BofA displayed funds as available, withheld them, and still treated the account as overdrawn. 

Why This Is Unfair/Deceptive : BofA used inconsistent balance representations, favored its own internal transfer over pending merchant transactions, and displayed available funds it would not let me usepractices that mislead consumers and cause avoidable overdrafts/returns. These practices likely violate Regulation E ( EFTA ) and Truth in Savings Act ( TISA ) requirements for accurate, non-misleading balance disclosures and fair posting.

Why This Is Unfair : Bank of Americas conduct demonstrates deceptive and self-serving balance manipulation. The bank presented funds as available, restricted my access to them, prioritized its own repayment, and caused external payments to fail. This dual standard directly harmed me financially and personally. 

These actions likely violate Regulation XXXX ( Electronic Fund Transfers Act ) and the Truth in Savings Act ( XXXX ) by providing misleading balance information and engaging in unfair posting-order practices that result in overdrafts, losses, and consumer harm.

Company public response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation