Consumer complaint received 2026-02-06 00:00:00
Product: Checking or savings account — Checking account
Issue: Opening an account — Unable to open an account
Company: WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
State: CA

Complaint narrative:
I am submitting this complaint regarding my experience attempting to open a business bank account at a Wells Fargo branch. I believe I was subjected to requirements beyond Wells Fargos stated policies, inconsistent treatment, and conduct that raises concerns of arbitrary and potentially discriminatory practices. 

I had a scheduled appointment at XXXX XXXX to open a business account. The appointment was scheduled for XXXX minutes, meaning it was confirmed through XXXX XXXX Upon arrival, I was seated with a Wells Fargo representative I had never previously met. This appointment was not scheduled with XXXX XXXX. 

During the appointment, XXXX XXXX, a Wells Fargo employee at the branch located at XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX, XXXX, California, approached the desk and inserted herself into the appointment without being the assigned banker. Upon doing so, she questioned me by asking Why are you opening an account?, despite the fact that I was already seated with another banker who was actively in the process of opening the business account. 

After inserting herself into the appointment, XXXX XXXX proceeded to intervene in the account-opening process and began imposing additional requirements. This is the second time I have experienced unusually difficult and obstructive treatment involving this same individual at this branch. 

According to Wells Fargos own website and appointment confirmation emails, the stated requirements to open a business account include : Two forms of identification For corporations, articles of incorporation During the appointment, Wells Fargo employees accessed and reviewed the Secretary of State website, confirming that : The business is active The corporation is properly registered I am listed as the XXXX XXXX and owner Despite this confirmation, XXXX XXXX required me to provide additional documentation not listed in Wells Fargos published requirements, including a utility bill, which I was never informed to bring prior to the appointment. I scheduled and attended this appointment in reliance on Wells Fargos stated requirements according to the email provided. 

I was then informed during the appointment that any utility statement would need to : Be in the business name, and Reflect only one business address and can't list any other addresses on the insurance policy not going off of the official mailing address These requirements were never disclosed prior to the appointment, are not stated in Wells Fargos online materials, and appear to fall outside standard protocol for opening a business account. 

When I was asked to obtain additional documentation, my assistant was bringing the requested insurance documentation to the branch. and was approximately five minutes away, XXXX XXXX refused to accept it in advance, stating that she would not accept the insurance based on what she believed it would or would not state, despite the fact that she had not reviewed the document. I attempted to explain that the insurance covered all applicable locations and that the billing and mailing address listed on the insurance statements and policy declaration pages matched the corporate address she was questioning. Had she allowed the document to arrive and reviewed it, this would have resolved the address concern. Instead, XXXX XXXX prematurely canceled the appointment, despite knowing the documentation was moments away. 

At approximately XXXX XXXX., while the documentation was approximately five minutes away, XXXX XXXX terminated the appointment saying we were out of time and sent me out of the branch, despite the fact that the appointment was scheduled to continue until XXXX XXXX This prematurely ended a confirmed 90-minute appointment. I was never informed of any other documents besides a utility statement that could be used that could have been accessible from my phone to be emailed. 

This is the second time at this same branch, and involving the same employee, that I have experienced unusually difficult and inconsistent treatment when conducting legitimate business banking activities. As a good standing tax-paying corporation, I should not be subjected to undocumented requirements, selective enforcement, or unauthorized interference by an employee who was not assigned to my appointment. 

The repeated imposition of requirements beyond published policy, the refusal to review documentation, refusal to give me alternative document options t that I could have been able to email from my phone, the premature termination of a scheduled appointment, and the pattern of conduct involving the same individual give the appearance that my ability to open a business account was being unreasonably impeded. 

I respectfully request that this matter be reviewed for : Failure to follow published business account opening requirements Arbitrary and inconsistent application of documentation standards Disregard for confirmed appointment commitments. 
Whether XXXX XXXX intervention and conduct at the XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX, XXXX, California branch was authorized, compliant with Wells Fargo policy, and appropriate Potential discriminatory or obstructive practices at this branch I am seeking accountability, clarification of Wells Fargos official requirements for business account openings, and assurance that customers will not be subjected to undocumented or selectively enforced standards, or unauthorized employee interference, that impede their ability to open accounts.

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