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First Citizens Bank Fraud Deceit & Apathy Raleigh, North Carolina
We have had several unresolved "problems" with this bank.
First, through Authorize.net, our merchant account's backbone, funds were withdrawn from the "web" that ran our account into the ground. No explanation was given, nothing they could do, except charge us for checks, overdrafts, etc.... to set up a "new" account. Still the same credit processor, but a different account number. Somehow that leads me to believe the fraud came from within, as the "virtual" account with authorize.net had not changed, just my business account numbers with First Citizens.
Whatever, closed all merchant services, figured the internet was just to slimy to have my account up on.
Next year, we get a call from Visa Consumer Protection, asking about a ton of purchases that were obvious fraud (simultaneous purchases from France, to Dallas). I responded by reporting the fraud to the bank, tried the FBI (no mechanism for reporting fraud with them, just circular web links), and Visa.
What was crazy was the card number that Visa was calling about was not my card. I had it in my hand, and the numbers were not the same. I argued that this was not my card, and how could money get sucked out of my account with a card that is NOT mine.
The next day in the mail, was a brand new shinny visa debit card, that I had NOT requested. The numbers on this new card matched what the Visa contact had given me.
I immediately called First Citizens to find out how, who, or why a card was issued to me. Let alone, how could the card be sent out ACTIVATED? I never even had possession of the card to call the 800 number to activate it.
The bank of course, had no idea about anything. I visited my local branch here in Murphy NC. Also, no clue about anything. Our account had been emptied and run $1500 into the red, and all I got from them was "This happens every day..."
I asked what I was supposed to do about this, and their response, wait and see if the money will be credited back into your account by their "fraud" department.
When I suggested that this "every day" problem must be coming from either the bank's card services, or the vendor who supplies the cards, all communication with the bank was stopped.
I eventually got the money replaced, however our accounts were frozen, and bust for a week.
No reason or explanation was offered by anyone from First Citizens who I contacted (or tried to contact, as they seem to insulate themselves from their marks, er, "customers" very well).
Then the latest scam, just this month.
A good customer, no make that our BEST customer sent us a check for $4000. The local branch told me a hold would be put on the check, because it was so large. Whatever, sounded like typical usury BS. At the end of the "hold" period, the local branch calls me to tell me the check bounced!
So I call the client, she assures me the money is in the account.
This goes back and forth for 2 weeks, until finally, the money mysteriously appears in my account. The client has provided me with proof the money was withdrawn from her account 2 days after I deposited the check, so where did this money go for 2 weeks? Not to mention they froze MY business account over it!!
This is absolute indisputable FRAUD on First Citizens part.
The local branch can only tell me that their "deposits" department did not like the check for some reason. I asked for contact information for this department, and of course, they cant give that information out.
I have no idea who to report any of this to, not sure any of it will do any good, as the banking industry seems to just do whatever they want. They appoint our politicians, so there is not going to be any relief from any government agency (FBI). Just do NOT bank with these crooks. Either they are deliberately fleecing their "customers" with any means they can, OR they are just incompetent beyond all reason.
I rather doubt the incompetence defense, as their rich share holders would not tolerate it.
Don't let the "Family Owned" rhetoric fool you. The Gotti "family" owned the Gambino mob you know.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Hickory Handyman
Hickory,North Carolina,
USA
Business Owner Upset with Hickory (Bethlehem), NC First Citizens Bank today
#2Consumer Comment
Wed, April 12, 2017
I read your article after I did some researching and many, many complaints are found against First Citizens Bank the last several years; especially after the merger then wonderful computer system overhaul debacle... I wish I knew this before opening personal & business accounts with them.
First to answer yours and other posters questions of "What to do?". I suggest you file complaint with the FDIC, as we had to do this before with another local Hickory, NC area bank after tiring of their runaround and deceitful practices we encountered a long time costing our account monies in fees, etc which we knew were not true; ie- playing with deposits/debits to make balances seem less than actual so they can assess NSF fees at random, holding up known deposits from regular customers, etc.. In the end, FDIC investigated the other bank and we received a check for like over $800.00 one day in the mail, and a beautiful apology letter from its CEO asking us to please stay with them as they really wanted our business and valued us as customers- NO! I left, but I left for First Citizens Bank...
Now today, after being with FCB about 8 years, and having multiple accounts with them, we are suspecting problems we encountered years ago with another local Hickory, NC area bank then, are now what FCB is doing sadly. The local branch people and managers are useless- pawns for corporate at best and function as they are told. We have also grown very tired of the daily false "hello, how are you" from Tellers until you question them about some concern and they all go numb and quiet...
I am responding here to your post because I am contemplating filing charges/complaint against FCB with the FDIC- NO Bank wants FDIC investigation (hurts their ratings/standing), but what is a consumer to do these days? I am a well respected local small business, very bleased with work and repeat business we can never keep up with, constant revenues, yet these bank people they employ today act like robots and really do not care about small business at all as they say they do. But a letter I receved from FCB recently stated one of my Lines was about to mature in May, and stop in to talk to someone to keep that going. OK, That Line is our Business Line of Credit, which we have had several years in good standing, and it always automatically renewed before. In fact, the last 2 year cycle, it was increased and we went about our business.
Now after I met VP of Finance at Viewmont branch, she told me I'd hear the next day as she only asked me how much I expected to earn, what my mtge payment was and what was balance of mortage. That's all. The next day, I receive call from another person at that branch saying "bank decided not to renew your Line"!!. What I said? That is my Business LOC ! He then said, what the bank is willing to do, is your existing LOC balance they will convert into a 36 month fixed % rate loan at 2.5% higher rate than my Line was at. AND I am supposed to be happy hearing this? And I found they pulled my credit WITHOUT any authorization by me whatsoever which is supposed to be against the Law. I DO NOT want any loan. I DID NOT apply for any loan. Simply wanted my Line to continue onward as it always had before. They know me well locally too and some of their personnel are even our customers. I had Lines setup to suppposedly support my business operations, not want to see them cutoff and turned into loans now... What good is that except crippling to my business. The banks are making various interest money off us monthly as it is.
I feel like I was played in some sort of "Bait & Switch" tactic now for the bank to justify more costs off my back doing this and makes no sense. I have read elsewhere on consumer complaint sites similar is/has been going on to other small business owners as well as others since the merger in 2015 and the October 2016 computer online system overhaul...