It is a relief that Union Bank did not actually report me to ChexSystems for some unknown banking infraction, but also infuriating that the idiots at San Diego National Bank made up this lie to begin with. I am totally done with all large and mid-sized banks, so I hoped that choosing a small community bank would yield better results. I should have turned on my heel and left as soon as I walked into San Diego National Bank. The bank interior was small, shabby and run down looking. Despite the fact that there were no customers in the bank and I had just walked in, no one even looked up at me. I had to interrupt a conversation between the security guard and the guy at the accounts desk in order to let him know that I would like to open an account. Looking at the people working there — I would not want to judge employees solely by their appearance and demeanor but let’s just say that my gut instinct was right about the level of professionalism based on their appearance.
Anyway, Todd Griffiths, the “Relationship Banker” did not want to do any business that day for whatever reason, so he declined to open the account. He looked up my profile in ChexSystems, came up with the outrageous lie that Union Bank had reported something negative on me though he couldn’t say what exactly, and told me that I would need to “get with them and pay back the money you owe them” in order to clear it up. When I told him incredulously that I did not owe them any money and showed him again the check for over $30,000 that they had issued to me, he said he couldn’t do anything about it and that I need to talk to Union Bank about it. And then just to get rid of me and get back to his loafing, he printed out, signed, and dated the ridiculous lie.
Well obviously when I left the bank I was stupid enough to believe him, with it in my hand in black and white and all. And it made sense considering what Union Bank had already done to me that they would file a bogus ChexSystems report on me as well. So I went home and freaked out for about 24 hours, researching what my life would be like for the next 5 years while banned from the banking system, and all of the consequences that would follow from that.
I ordered my ChexSystems report, which takes several weeks to arrive, but as I said before my husband was really upset over the consequences of this report, and after exhausting all channels of communication with Union Bank, we decided to go back to San Diego National Bank to find out anything we could. My husband is very very persistent and after quite a while got Jonathan at San Diego National Bank to look up my ChexSystems report again and he had to admit that there was nothing there.
Still lacking an explanation as to what was really going on here, we asked for the bank manager. She refused to see us, but sent over a woman who did not tell us her title. This woman said that Todd had the discretion to deny an account to anyone for any reason. So my husband asked her why he had made up the story about a ChexSystems report, and showed her the document that Todd had given me. She was full of excuses and they went back and forth for a while, but she finally conceded and said that Todd should not have given me that document. Not that he shouldn’t have lied, not that he shouldn’t have made up a whole story surrounding the document, just that he should not have given it to me.
It slowly became clear to us that this was just another unrelated, unexplainable bad banking experience — Todd had simply made up the bogus report because he didn’t want to open the account and wanted me to go away. I will do my best to never again have to deal with a live person at a bank.
Update: I finally got my ChexSystems report in the mail, and as expected there is nothing reported in it. See for yourself:
ChexSystems Page 1
ChexSystems Page 2
Lady, no offense but your story doesn’t add up! I hate to say this, but I think your blowing hot air out your rear! Banks don’t turn people away because they “don’t want to open an account”. Especially in these tough banking times, I don’t believe your story for a second. I have the pleasure of banking with San Diego National Bank, though not the North Park Office, and have never had a problem with them. I bank with them because there are rarely lines, and the people are nicer than my old bank, WAMU.
I would highly doubt that a bank would give you a “denial letter” signed and dated if you truly did not have a record with chexsystems.
Sounds to me like banking and you just don’t mix well, perhaps you should let your husband do the banking from now on.
Comment by Matthew — January 7, 2009 @ 9:07 am
Hi Matthew, thanks for commenting. I know the story does not seem likely, but it is true. And you are right that banking and me don’t mix well. I have ordered my ChexSystems report and will post it here when I get it.
Comment by heather — January 7, 2009 @ 12:05 pm
We have had similar experiences with Union Bank and I would like to share with you what has been going on.
Union bank caused us more headaches than we ever would have imagined it would be possible. After doing research online and going into every bank in San Diego, we carefully made our decision to open our account with Union Bank because of their surprisingly low fees they offer.
So we go in and start opening our regular business checking account. Everything went great until the manager got involved (this is at the San Diego Kearny Mesa branch). After asking us two questions about our business during the process of opening the account, she left with the words “I will be right back”.
She never came back.
Two days later we get a phone call from her, telling us that she had put a hold on our entire account. She didn’t understand how our business worked, so she felt uncomfortable with it (it’s an Internet business, lady! How difficult is that to understand?) and had decided to close our account.
Of course, we protested and set a time and date to meet with her. We had to go through a lot of paperwork to try and explain to her what we were doing. Apparently, selling on ebay and our website is just too confusing and suspicious.
On the day of the meeting, she was late. Not only did we feel incredibly disrespected, but also discriminated against.
After talking to her for about an hour, she still didn’t understand or didn’t want to understand, but at least she was willing to talk to her boss about it and make a decision, so that we can get on with it.
Just a reminder at this point – we were NOT trying to get a credit card, a loan, or anything. We were simply trying to open a business CHECKING account.
After having our account (which we had already made a deposit in!) on hold for an ENTIRE WEEK, they call and tell us that their verdict was that they wanted to close our account.
The most shocking thing was that once the manager found out how much money we had in our personal account, she tried to get us to open a premium account with them – sure, after all the hassle we had with you?!?
The manager at this branch is judgmental, disrespectful, rude, and she didn’t follow through with a single thing she said she would do.
We would never recommend anybody to do business with this bank in any way shape or form. The higher up you go, the more difficult it gets and the more involved you get with them, the more headaches they will cause you.
Comment by Small Business Owner — August 21, 2010 @ 1:43 pm
So, What happened after? Were you able to open an account at the different bank?
I’m in the same situation….. Can’t believe its actually happening to me..
Comment by david — December 13, 2011 @ 10:55 pm
Hi David,
Since there was nothing in the ChexSystem report, I was able to open an account at another bank. I went with an Fidelity.com online account. The user interface is terrible, but at least I have not had any problems with them, and have never had to speak to a real person on the phone. Can you tell me your story?
Comment by heather — December 14, 2011 @ 4:05 am
Hello Heather,
I’d been doing business with the Union Bank for over 15 years. I’m a self employee. Exporting
lots of vintage goodies include high $ vintage cars to oversea. Never owed anybody include credit companies, file tax every year, every single bills were paid on time and my credit score is 800. About 10 days ago, I logged in my online account to confirm my incoming wire transfers and found out that my both business and personal account were closed…. My CPA didn’t even believe this at first.
I thought this would only happen in the movies but its actually happening to me.
My chexsytem report was all clean by the way. Good friend of mine told me that its something to do with Bank Secrecy Act and the USA Patriot Act. If large portion of your transactions were in cash and international wires, it gives them a red flag. They or government monitor your activities for years first and make a decision to close your account without any notifications. I would have given them all my business information if they had asked me what I exactly do…..15 years of relationship ended just like that.
Anyway, this whole thing was a wake up call for me. I realized that people depend on banks too much. Protect your self! You always have to have your backup plans.
Eventhough I have another account at the different bank, I don’t trust them anymore. They might close my account anytime soon. I have a feeling they have another reporting system besides the chexSytem. I think that’s what happened to you at the SanDiego national bank.
I was just checking out the Fidelity.com Looks pretty good. Hope I can use them like as I was using
my previous bank. I believe there are lots of honest and hard working people out there treated like criminals.
Comment by david — December 14, 2011 @ 9:35 am