Consumer complaint received 2025-07-08 00:00:00
Product: Checking or savings account — Checking account
Issue: Managing an account — Funds not handled or disbursed as instructed
Company: WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
State: CA

Complaint narrative:
Dear Wells Fargo Customer Relations, I am writing to formally express my deep concern and frustration regarding a second incident of discrimination I have experienced while interacting with your institution. 

On XX/XX/year>, at the XXXX XXXX Wells Fargo Branch in person, was subjected to treatment that I believe to be discriminatory and inconsistent with your companys stated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. This follows a previous incident that occurred with Branch Manager XXXX  Complaint filed with CFPB, XXXX, and Corporate Wells Fargo Complaint # XXXX, filed and emailed to XXXX with no response on XX/XX/year> which I reported and hoped would be addressed appropriately. Unfortunately, the recurrence of such behavior suggests that the matter was not resolved adequately. 

During this recent interaction, As I went to deposit a check from the XXXX XXXX XXXX district in the amount of {$18000.00} XXXX the teller told me that the check was not reading properly and that she needed to scan it, after her first attempt she gave me a look as to judge my character of person to see why it wasnt reading. She went on to scan the check and later came back and said she needed approval for the deposit. She whispered something to Branch operations manager XXXX XXXX ( please check the camera footage ), followed by what was whispered to her in the ear XXXX looked up and looked up at me to judge me as a person ( seeing a minority business owner XXXX XXXX went on to say she would need to verify the funds of the check and see if it could be deposited. Keep in mind the district also banks with Wells Fargo and their account number and routing number are Cleary in the bottom of the check. I sat down for XXXX minutes when I got up to see what was taking so long. XXXX said she was still on the phone verifying the check. 
During this time another banker by the name XXXX came out to talk to me and I told her that its unfair that this always happens to me when Certain tellers see the amounts of my deposits question my validity of the check being presented. She was there for the incident with branch manager XXXX when the first incident occurred with his remarks. 

Since then, Im sure the issue has been discussed with staff because I see how Im treated when I do go for any bank transaction. She went on to say that the warehouse account of the check being issued showed it didnt have any funds in the account, ( odd situation considering this is a check being issued from an account for the county of education ) I told her if that is the case I need the check so I can go directly back to the school district and see what is going on because this is a Project being done by my company with hundreds of thousand dollars still pending. 

XXXX was compassionate in listening to me express myself with my concerns of being discriminated against by teller XXXX who appears to be of XXXX  ethnicity. 
The XXXX XXXX Branch is a branch that prominently consists of more XXXX  patrons than anything from my observations of when I have had to go in the branch. 

During this time XXXX came outside and said that there were no funds and I said in my account or theirs and she said she needed to continue with the verification. XXXX went on to tell her that I am a customer who makes deposits in those amounts and larger amounts. I told her if there is no money in their account, I need the check back to take it back to the school district. XXXX went on to say that was not the case and I said dont call me a liar, your staff just said that, and she said no she did not. So, I stood there in the middle of the bank with about XXXX other patrons there being called a liar. As a XXXX minority business owner this was very embarrassing for me to go through with other people looking on. I told XXXX not to call me a liar, and I asked XXXX if that was not what she said and she confirmed with XXXX that is what she said based on what the system showed. XXXX looked stunned and had nothing to say after her staff confirmed what she said to me and after I was accused by your operations Branch manager of lying. This is uncalled for, and this branch manager should be FIRED for not only humiliating, discriminating a minority XXXX business owner in front of people, she could have easily pulled me to the side, to an office not have this conversation out in the open for everyone to hear. 

XXXX went on to say let me try and make the deposit myself. What do you know? XXXX was able to make the deposit and tell me that {$2500.00} was available immediately with the balance being available XXXX. I simply went int there to make a deposit. I was seeking XXXX money out. 

I have been a LOYAL customer to Wells Fargo with XXXX bounced checks in my time with Wells Fargo. Please review my account yourself and see, the behavior I encountered was both inappropriate and unacceptable, and it has left me feeling disrespected, embarrassed, humiliated and marginalized as a customer. 

As a long-standing customer, I expect to be treated fairly and respectfully, regardless of my race, ethnicity, or any other personal characteristic. That expectation has not been met on my XXXX incident and now again with a XXXX incident. and I am extremely disappointed. I emailed XXXX at XXXX XXXX this morning XX/XX/year> and as now have not heard back from him. 

I am requesting the following : XXXX. A formal investigation into this incident and a written response outlining the steps being taken. 
XXXX. Confirmation that appropriate disciplinary or corrective actions will be implemented if wrongdoing is found. 
XXXX. Assurance that Wells Fargo is taking meaningful steps to prevent discrimination in the future, including staff training and accountability measures. 
XXXX. A written apology letter from both XXXX and XXXX Branch Manager, and Operations Manager for their actions towards me. 
XXXX. Complaints will be filed with the following agencies for the XXXX time being discriminated, humiliated as a minority business owner to the following agencies. CFPB, XXXX, Attorney General of California, FDIC, Civil Rights Department of California. 

Please consider this my formal complaint. I am escalating this matter to the appropriate regulatory agencies. I would appreciate a response within XXXX business days. 
I can be reached at XXXX or XXXX. Should you need further details.

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