Consumer complaint received 2024-12-23 00:00:00
Product: Checking or savings account — Checking account
Issue: Closing an account — Company closed your account
Company: WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
State: GA

Complaint narrative:
Subject : Complaint Regarding Discriminatory Treatment and Account Closures at Wells Fargo Dear Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, I am writing to formally lodge a complaint regarding my recent experience with Wells Fargo, which I believe involves discriminatory treatment and unjustified account closures. 

On XX/XX/year>, I visited a Wells Fargo branch with my pregnant wife to open a joint account. Upon arrival, I noticed the waiting area was completely full, leaving no available seats for customers. While politely approaching a banker in a cubicle to ask about seating for my wife, the branch manager, XXXX XXXX, abruptly interrupted from across the bank. She loudly and publicly instructed me to go to the waiting area, pointing aggressively in front of other customers. Her tone was rude, unprofessional, and unnecessarily hostile. 

This encounter was shocking, especially as I am a loyal Wells Fargo customer with a premier account for over three years. XXXX had no knowledge of what I intended to ask the banker or that the waiting area was already full. Her decision to yell at me, a XXXX man with his XXXX  wife was not only unwarranted but deeply humiliating. When I calmly attempted to clarify the situation, she escalated the matter by raising her voice further and dismissively pointing to the waiting area. 

Despite this treatment, my wife and I waited for hours to speak with a banker. During this time, I requested to speak with XXXX to express my concerns about her conduct. Instead of showing empathy or accountability, she was dismissive and condescending, repeatedly stating, Im the manager, so if anyone has questions, they should come to me. When I explained that the waiting area was full and her instructions were unclear, she admitted she was unaware but maintained a defensive and dismissive tone, offering no apology. 

After this ordeal, we were finally assisted by XXXX XXXX, who was professional and kind. She successfully helped us open the joint account, and we left the branch hopeful that the matter was behind us. 

However, on XX/XX/year>, I received an email from Wells Fargo notifying me that both the newly opened joint account and my existing XXXX  account of three years would be closed. When I contacted the loss prevention department, I was informed that the decision was a business decision. When I pressed further, I was told a formal letter would follow. On XX/XX/XXXX, I received a letter stating that Wells Fargo had decided to close my accounts after a review. 

This timeline is deeply concerning. The decision to close my accounts came just two days after my interaction with XXXX XXXX. The closure of my XXXX account which was entirely unrelated to the joint account raises serious questions about whether this action was retaliatory. 

On XX/XX/XXXX, Wells Fargo contacted me to inform me that the account closure decision was based on a review conducted on XX/XX/XXXX. However, they failed to notify me of this decision until after my interaction with XXXX XXXX, my follow-up call, and their eventual issuance of a letter on XX/XX/XXXX. This sequence of events is highly unusual and suggests retaliation linked to the incident at the branch. 

As of XX/XX/year>, the joint account has been closed, and I am left distraught and distressed. This experience has caused significant emotional harm to my wife and me. As a minority, this incident feels targeted and rooted in discriminatory treatment. Wells Fargos actions have not only damaged my trust in their institution but may also negatively impact my credit and financial standing.

This is America, and every individual deserves fair treatment and respect, regardless of their ethnicity or background. The closure of these accounts, following an incident of public humiliation, demonstrates a failure by Wells Fargo to uphold these principles. 

I respectfully request that the CFPB investigate this matter thoroughly and ensure accountability for any discriminatory practices or retaliatory actions taken by Wells Fargo. 

Thank you for your attention to this serious matter. 

Sincerely, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX

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