Complain about a product or service

Bank of the West

William of Covina, CA October 28, 2009

I was pulling into the parking lot on my motorcycle when a guy in a truck backed into me. He would have continued to back up if I hadn't been able to reach my horn in time. My leg was pinched between his rear bumper and my motorcycle engine. He said he was sorry and left. The whole time a security guard was standing in the parking lot by the entrance watching with a big smile on his face. I limped over to the ATM and asked the security guard if he was going to do anything about the guy and who may have also been intoxicated. The security guard said "Nah he don't drink" and walked into the bank shaking his head and chuckling. I called customer service and told them what happened and they asked me if there was any damage to the building. They said they couldn't do anything and to call someone else. I called another number and spoke to Alicia who told me she would look into it. If that security guard is still working next week I will be closing my accounts and going to a local credit union because Bank of the West is NOT a safe place for me to do business. That security guard should have went to the scene and assisted me instead he defended the driver who ran over me and treated me like dirt. He should have asked if I needed assistance and got the license plate number of the driver but he just didn't care at all.

gerald of rawlins, WY October 16, 2009

We went to make our fridge payment and the store ran it through twice. They immediately caught it and refunded the atm/visa card. However Bank of the west ran with it. They bounced that for 33.00, a 6.00 gas station charge bounced for another 33.00....the list goes on. The grand total was 298.00 worth of overdraft fees on items that had cleared already the day before!!!! We go to the bank to dispute it. We are told that we have to go after the merchant to get the fees paid back.....The manager tells us it takes up to 48 hrs for refunds to come across. I told her, I understand how the credit card machines work and it should have voided itself out before they even sent their "batch report" for the day. The really funny thing is that on MY statement, the charge only went through once for 288.00 and left us with a couple hundred bucks positive.....sneaky, sneaky....I have filed a complaint with the FDIC and recommend for everyone else to do the same. They need to close this corrupt bank down!!!!

Nina of pinole, CA October 1, 2009

We had a Bank of the West Account for nearly two years here in Oakland, CA. I have a small business and I know that customer service is important. This bank is by far the WORST bank I have ever dealt with and have no intention of returning again. They hold the checks for too long, charge you as many fees as they can possibly get away with and their employees do not care about their clients. They have costed me hundreds in fees and have lost me accounts.

JUDITH of HENDERSON, NV October 1, 2009

I live in Nevada, after moving from California. I own a small bookkeeping firm and my clients are still in California. All of my payments come from banks in California. When I make deposits at my local Henderson branch (which is 25 minute drive from my home) I never have my California checks put on hold. But lately if I drive only 20 minutes to the Bank of the West branch in Las Vegas (saving me 5 whole minutes) they put 5 day collection holds on my California checks. I do not understand why the Henderson branch does not but the Las Vegas branch does. What has no occured twice is that I have funds listed in my account that I cannot access for 5 days (banking days keep in mind) and then they start bouncing my checks that come in and charge me 35/check for them. For the month of September 2009 alone they have taken 560.00 in fees from my account after holding checks twice that month.

theresa of delta, CO August 12, 2009

I have been banking with this bank for years. 10 years. i deposited my retirement in there bank last year i guess thats not enough. my car burnt and i needed 1500 to get a car purchased.out of the insurance money i got. they would not have it they wanted to deposit the whole check for 7 days. i told them thats crazy im paying for a rental. they didnt care i filed a complaint i then went in 4 days later to deposit my check 651. and i would get cash back. they wanted to whole check again. i again fought with them and i get well maybe the check wont clear. this is a comp check i have deposited for 2 years. and now this. and i argued with them again and they didnt seem to care again and they are still holding my other check.

Holly of Oklahoma City, OK July 24, 2009

I have been a customer with Bank of the West for almost 10 years. I have never had a complaint until now. I was involved in an auto accident, which resulted in my car being a total loss. I received a check from the other guy's insurance company and planned to use the money to purchase a new vehicle. I took the check for 3,900 to Bank of the West and opened a new checking account, which was on a Tuesday (07/21/09). I was told the full amount would be available in a couple of days.

The next day, I checked their online banking and it showed that I had the full amount ready and available. I showed up that day and asked if I could withdraw 2,800 for a vehicle that I wanted to purchase. The Teller had to ask Account Clerk that originally opened the account for me why she was unable to withdraw the amount. Turns out they did not place a hold on the account immediately, like they were supposed to. I was told that the funds would be available on Friday (07/24/09).

I returned on Friday and was told that the funds would not be available until Tuesday (07/28/09). Then I was handed a "Notice of Hold" document showing me when the funds would be available. I was told there was no way I could get my funds before Tuesday. I attempted to close the account and take the claim check back so I could do business elsewhere. I was informed that they could not give me the check and that if I wanted to close the account, I would have to wait until Wednesday (07/29/09). I informed the Account Clerk that the Teller told me that all my funds would be available on Friday. She denied that was ever said and walked back in to her office. At this point, I was very upset with Bank of the West's customer service.

I got home and called the 1-800 number listed on my new account card. I was told there was nothing they could do and that I should contact the Customer Service Manager at the location I do business with. I called my local Bank of the West and was told by the Customer Service Manager that he would have done the same thing and that he's sure the other Bank of the West employees were not trying to make me look like a liar or make me feel bad. I was told that the "Notice of Hold" document did not have to be given to me immediately. However, the document clearly states the notice should be given at the time of deposit. Not only did the Teller, Account Clerk, and Customer Service Manager treat me like a second class citizen, but they all lied to me to cover up their actions.

Daniel of Turlock, CA July 8, 2009

Bank of the west has caught me in their web of technicalities. I didn't realize it but I fell for one of the most basic methods they currently have for stealing your cash, legally. I call it Transaction Hold.

Here is how it works in their favor (and this is how it happened to me): The Company that you use your ATM card with, let's say a gas station, has the option to hold your fund for a few days or deposit it right away. Most hold it for a few days. Let’s say while your ATM balance is 40 dollars, you make a gas purchase for 35. It leaves your balance at a positive 10. All is well if you decide not to use your ATM card until after you make your next deposit.

Here is the clincher - We will say you are a college student with no job relying on loans to get you through school and you need to purchase a new tire for your car. Since it is a necessity to get you to school, you buy the 50 tire. You figure that you have 10 in your account, and it is the day after you made the gas purchase and you can handle one over draft fee as your loan is coming in in a few days. The tire brings you down to a negative balance of 40. The tire company places your 50 bucks on hold as the gas company still has your 35 on hold as well.

In the real world where an apple plus and apple makes two apples, you have just drawn your account into over draft one time for those new tires you needed. But in the eyes of a greedy banker, such as BOTW CEO Michael S. you owe 70 bucks on top of your 40. That's right, instead of using that money to feed yourself for the next three weeks, your money is now going to feed some fat old greedy bankers appetite for a 70 plate of calamari.

Since your ATM transactions are on hold at the same time, the bank considers them a lump sum and creates an over draft flag on your account thereby sending ALL transactions, regardless of common chronological sense, through as over drafts. And this is how they make money. Shall we call them human? They are animals, using the legal system to rape us of our hard earned money. And they lecture us about being responsible as if they are better than us?

Shelly of Independence, MO June 16, 2009

I called to ask for a deferment on my auto loan because of a hardship my fiance and I are going through. I have received applications for deferments before. Some I have used just for convenience, some I havent. I really need this right now and asked for help so my account wouldn't default.

They said I didn't qualify at this time and that I may qualify next month if their is a promotion. I don't need it next month when it's convenient for them, I need it now when its necessary for me.

I was completely baffled because I haven't been late on one payment since I was transferred over to them 3 and a half yrs ago. Not one! I am still in shock that someone who actually makes their payments on time gets turned down when they need it most. I'm not asking to skip it, I know I will have to pay it at the end of my term anyway.

On their website it states that they place customers interests foremost. I don't beleive that.

jim of fresno, CA May 5, 2009

bank of the west security towed my car while I was conducting business at their bank. I was ejected from the bank and spent three weeks homeless in san jose on business

Heidi of Cotati, CA April 28, 2009

I had account with Bank Of The West, customer service was nice in branch and I was happy with the bank. Problem with Bank Of The West is main office customer service. I was victim of scam and now months later Bank Of The West have not help me to get my money back but they have closed my account!!!

When I found out about the scam I immediately contacted Bank Of The West. They did not care!

Allways different story why they have not done it yet. Now I was told that they have closed my account but won't even give the information why it is closed. What a customer service! I will keep on complaining about this because want other to know how they take care of their customer when they need to do something.

It is not right that bank can treat their customers like that, they supposed to be serving their customers or how it is....

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