Complaint Review: BB&T Bank

If you rely on BB&T's online system you are likely to get caught by their traps. I have been documenting this with my own account. Not only does BB&T make debits first and then credits, it also is one of the few banks that delays credits by 24 hours. For example, if you make a deposit of a check drawn on a non-BB&T account on a Monday at 3pm, the amount will not be credited to your account until Wednesday morning! It will be credited after all debits are withdrawn during Tuesday nights processing, after all NSF fees are charged, after any money is transferred from any credit line protection you have.

Now, BB&T's online system does not show a running balance. it only shows a balance at the time you are logged in. However, card transactions, such as if you bought gas with a debit, may be already posted against your account but are not shown as drawn against your balance. If you make a deposit at a BB&T branch, then later taht day go online and check your balance, online it will show as credited when in fact it will not be credited until after any debits. This means that you are shown as having MORE in your account than you may think - if you go out and use your debit card - or under the new Check 21 clearing - almost any check, you can be overdrawn BB&T runs nightly processing!

By doing a number of print-outs of my account, I have managed to document how their online system does not truly refleect what action they take. I have evidence of a credit showing online that was not actually credited to my account until after debits and NSF fees were made. Which means that when you check your account online the following day, it does not reflect the same as teh previous day.

I've written letters to the NC Commissioner of Banks about this, but all they do is forward the letter to BB&T, who just deny everything. The NC Banking Commission appears to exist merely to protect the banks from consumer complaints.

I also note that i have been working in banking computer systems and especially with bank statements for over 12 years now, with several national banks. I know what is possible and what is reasonable and what BB&T does is not fair to the consumer. I have been a BB&T customer for a dozen years.

If I get the time to pull this information together, i hope to sue and i will use these Ripoff reports as corollary evidence.

I suggest you always print off your online statement screen for reference if you are making debits and credits in a narrow timeframe (24 48 hours).
Thanks.

Christopher,
it sounds to me that you spent your money before your direct deposit came in. Have you even spoken to the bank about this? they should be able to give you a printout of all of the activity and exactly what caused the overdraft fees and in what order they were processed in. it doesn't sound like a rip off here at all, it just sounds like you need to learn to be an educated consumer and know how things process instead of assuming that the money is in there to spend. i've been a bb&t account holder for several years and have not paid them a penny in any overdraft fees. hope this helps.

This is just some advice providing every transaction was recorded and documented properly.

The bank's hold system for when a purchase comes in can catch in the system. Now, provided that you were indeed responsible with documenting your tranactions, you might want to take the statements in to the bank and have them look at the account.

However, given that you had $2500 in your account in deposits doesn't mean you still can't overdraw your account. BB&T does debits first, then credits. Not the other way around. This lets them charge more NFS fees. Since this financial crisis started most banks have adopted this policy, but if you find a bank that doesn't, post it! Let us all know.

good luck.