Consumer complaint received 2024-09-18 00:00:00
Product: Checking or savings account — Checking account
Issue: Opening an account — Unable to open an account
Company: BANK OF AMERICA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
State: CA

Complaint narrative:
On XX/XX/2024, I received a check from Bank of America that was from the closure of my prepaid Bank of America XXXX  card account issued from XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. Upon receiving this check, I went to a local Bank of America branch to cash the check which was also issued from Bank of America. I was told by the bank representative that, since I was NOT a member of the bank, they could attempt to cash the check however, there are limits to the amount allowed to cash for non members and, I would not know what the amount would be until after the check gets ran thru a machine which will spray ink all over the check and could ( would ) prevent me from cashing the check somewhere else if they weren't able to cash it at that time.

I asked if there was any other option and the bank teller informed me that I could open an account, become a member then I could cash the check without the limit or possibility of not being able to cash it.

I agreed to open the account. However, I was then told that while submitting my application to open a checking account, the system used at the branch was returning a " alert '' on my profile that would need to be cleared in order for me to open the account.

The bank representative and I called the fraud department which was the department listed on this alert to contact. The phone number was ( XXXX ) XXXX. 

We spoke to several different agents a total of approximately 10 times and were informed that the alerts that were on my account were cleared. They were due to the monthly maintenance fee for a checking account I had opened 4 years prior and never used the account so, Bank of America closed the account but charged me the monthly maintenece fee even tho I had never used the account.

The agent in the fraud department cleared this alert stating I would now be able to open an account without any issues and cash my check. However, the system wasn't clearing the alert properly for the local branch and their computer system to continue with opening of the account.

The bank tellers would not assist me any futher for no reason other than " there is an alert that needs to be cleared ''.

Again, the fraud department has cleared all alerts and they said I AM APPROVED TO OPEN A NEW ACCOUNT!

After contacting several managers of Bank of America and attempts in multiple ways to satisfy this matter ( whatever it is ) I was not given any options. The employees seemed careless and just wanted to move on to the next customer without helping me or resolving the problem.

I want to be able to take my BANK OF AMERICA CHECK into a local BANK OF AMERICA and cash it!

I also want to be able to open an account especially when I am not able to because of an alert that HAS BEEN CLEARED!

I feel like I am being discriminated against or treated with unfair and unethical practices.

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 non-monetary relief