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Fifth Third Bank Consumer Reviews

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Major Security Problem With Their Online Banking Website
StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarBy -
Rating: 1/51

LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY -- To describe such security problem, one must understand how the website works. Fifth Third bank allows customers to use their card number, SSN, and a custom user id as login ID, plus allowing password change via a 2 factor security (i.e. 6 digit PIN via SMS message/voice over landline). Hacker can easily drain your account if he/she has your SSN and phone number. This was what happened to me. The hacker attempted to log in with my stolen SSN. Because the site had a link that said "Forgot User ID or password", the hacker then clicked the link and requested to change password.

The website would then dutifully ask for a login ID. Since Fifth Third bank's website allowed for SSN as login ID, the hacker was then entered my SSN and got sent to a confirmation page and asked to send a 6 digit private PIN to my designated phone number. Next, my phone buzzed with a private PIN to me that was initiated by the hacker. Since the hacker also had my phone number, he called me using "Fifth Third Bank ATM" caller ID immediately after I received the PIN. He told me that he was from Fifth Third bank fraud department and he detected illegal activity. He said that I had to read back the PIN he just sent me so they could verify my contact information.

At first I thought he was legit for a moment and I almost fell for it. He had the caller ID, he had my name and my SSN, and he had my phone number, and he knew who I bank with. But then I realized that the PIN was mine to know and someone must have been sitting in front of a computer somewhere trying to enter it in. Then I hung up on him. The hacker continued to try with the same tactic the next few weeks. He only tired during late at night. Probably tried to catch people just waking up from sleep. The point is that many people can easily fall for this kind of scheme.

Fifth Third bank should never have allowed using SSN as customers' login ID. SSN is for social security benefit and never can be used as login ID. Fifth Third bank is subjecting its customers for such scheme and must be stopped immediately! There is no security expert on earth will agree to such type of PII (Personal Identification Information) to be misused knowing that SSN can be stolen easily. I tried and protested about this and the bank would not patch this security hole on its website citing that older customers are accustom to using their SSN to log in. This is totally BS and forced me to have no choice but ditch them immediately.

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DO NOT EVER USE THEM
StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarBy -
Rating: 1/51

NEW HAMPSHIRE -- ***ATTENTION: DO NOT EVER DO BUSINESS WITH Fifth Third Bank!!!!***

This is a long one, but PLEASE heed my advice, repost if you care to. I DO NOT want anyone I know or care about to deal with this if I can prevent it. I've attached several pictures of screen shots of peoples' ratings dealing with my EXACT issues!

Ben and I went out early this afternoon to get lunch and run some errands, only to find my car missing from the parking lot. Immediately I get a terrible sinking feeling in my stomach (as anyone would with a missing vehicle) and started to panic that someone stole my car.

We frantically started calling around, beginning with Hooksett Police Department to see if they had any record of my car being towed. They did not. So we asked them to have an officer come over immediately so that we could report it stolen. About 15 minutes later, the woman that Ben had spoken with at Hooksett PD was nice enough to call us back and let us know she did some further investigation into their system and could see that THE CAR HAD BEEN REPO'D at 4 am on Saturday!! But they didn't know why or where it was/how to get it out.

I immediately called 5th 3rd (where my auto loan is through) to see what was going on, only to find that that department ISN'T OPEN UNTIL MONDAY!! The woman on the phone (speaking broken English of course 🙄🙄) told me that she couldn't see my account and that it was blocked from her because she didn't work in that department. This is when I became irate.

Now, I will say that as someone who spent the better part of 2.5 years working in a call center and knowing how difficult that job is, I ALWAYS try to be so understanding and kind to the people that work there and have NEVER lost my shit on them regardless of what's going on. That changed yesterday. EVERY TIME I've called them in the past to get an answer to the SIMPLEST of questions I get the run around, hung up on, sent to voicemails, transferred MULTIPLE TIMES, AND I NEVER get the same answer from 2 reps. So I demanded to speak with a supervisor. She put me on hold for TEN MINUTES and STILL refused to come back with a supervisor and tried to rush me off the phone saying there was nothing they could do and to call back Monday.

So my car is currently sitting in an unknown location, I'm sure racking up all sorts of fees with limited time to rectify the issue before they take it to auction and I am left vehicle-less due to THEIR incompetence!!! I've made all of my payments on time or within the given grace period with no delinquency. I have ZERO written documentation from them whatsoever and no literature in my account threatening to repossess or that there was anything negative on my account at all. They have tried to call a couple times leaving terribly vague voicemails, and when I call back and talk to the reps they have no record of it and tell me everything is fine. Looking at my online account (the WORST platform I've ever dealt with by the way) I see my car payment has suddenly gone up $30 (even though my coupon book says the same payment over the life of the loan) with ZERO explanation as to why. There are late fees of $11.63 on my account for the last several months FOR NO DISCERNIBLE REASON, since all my payments have been on time every month and YOU CAN SEE IN THE ACCOUNT THAT IS THE CASE!!! AND even though you can see I've made all my payments, it says in red that my next payment due is December's payment.

This is UNACCEPTABLE and I will be posting this anywhere and everywhere I can as well as verbally complaining to each and every person I come into contact with. I plan to report them to the BBB (although I'm sure they won't be of any help) AND I'll be contacting my lawyer if they don't rectify this within one week. I now have to jump through all these hoops to get my vehicle back for THEIR mistake, and will most likely have to come up with an OBSCENE amount of money I DONT HAVE, all the while attempting to find reliable transportation to get to work, PRAYING my car isn't taken to auction in the interim. To say that I'm DISGUSTED is the understatement of the century. They WILL be footing the bill for this as well as paying damages for the undue stress this has caused.

God help the people I talk to at that company when I call on Monday. I will absolutely be coming down on them with the fury of every circle of hell. I have NEVER been this angry.

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Disabled Veteran And Family Treated Like Criminals
StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarBy -
Rating: 1/51

NORTH CAROLINA -- This is a formal complaint lodged by a disabled veteran and non-curable cancer patient against Fifth Third Bank. We have done nothing illegal but have been treated and spoken to like criminals. I served 10 years in the Army and was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer in January of 2016. I would like to speak to the media about how Fifth Third treats cancer patients and disabled veterans. I am not sure if it was prejudice, incompetence, or negligence but I would like my case investigated and I would like my sister and I interviewed if possible. This whole situation could have been avoided by additional courtesy, effort, and communication.

Was awarded a large settlement. Initially deposited at Charlotte Metro CU. Wired a large amount to sister account. Wired additional to my account. Accelerated Death Benefit for metastatic breast cancer. Sister and agreed she should open account at same bank as me to allow better access to funds as well as easier to move when needed. We opened it online since there is no Fifth Third in Alabama. My previous benefit of award (initially deposited at Charlotte Metro CU) had me bringing checks and cash from Charlotte Metro CU and it became very inconvenient to move money. This was an effort to avoid that.

Personal banker called phone that we use for main line and when I said my sister wasn't available, she hung up. Fifth Third initiated an email that seemed like a solicitation. We declined any services they were offering until the family can figure out what we wanted to do with the money. Fifth Third did not inform anyone it was a fraud verification or security check and when my sister responded, she was reported for fraud. A simple email saying they needed to verify who she is, where funds came from, etc. would have been very easy. All my sister did was respond to an email INITIATED by Fifth Third, and was flagged.

Referred to fraud department and when sister attempted to clarify account status and funds. Was accused of hiding money from social security when she informed the account was to help manage any medical bills I would incur, was from a life insurance settlement, to be disbursed as I direct her (i.e., nephew (he is 13), sister, niece, etc.), start a business. P.S. I am not on social security. She was treated like a criminal when she spoke to the representative and every statement she made the representative turned it into an accusation of a crime.

My primary account was then also frozen without so much as a conversation or phone call. My sister called twice and I left two to three messages without any response. Premium check for life insurance conversion (group to whole) was sent to AETNA to continue the remaining $39,000 in life insurance. Outside of the group policies I had with work, I cannot get any life insurance. If that check bounces while account is frozen, it will cost me and my family $39,000 in life insurance. I am concerned that check will be returned.

As of February 1, 2017, I have no medical insurance outside of my Veterans coverage. If I had a critical emergency this weekend, my funds are frozen possibly costing me the inability to obtain critical healthcare. Cobra should be re-instated in the next few weeks. Right now Fifth Third has my life in their hands. Once again, some of these funds was designated to my sister to help with any critical care decisions.

Even after explaining this was a life insurance benefit, providing stub at the branch and email, providing letter from life insurance company, as well as providing medical records with my diagnosis, I did not receive any calls explain the situation, an apology, or my money was not released. When I realized my account was also frozen I went to the branch for answers and received very little. I was told I would have to wait until Monday. The doctor told me to stop working because of my prognosis and reduce any level of stress on me. I am up at 2:00am because this has bothered me so much I could not sleep.

After explaining the situation we were not given any options or resolutions. We were not even able to contact anyone directly. Fifth Third didn't even recommend a better way to manage the funds to avoid this in the future. Main question: Why was account opened with NC information? Answer: There is no Fifth Third in Tuscaloosa, AL. This account is to use while in Charlotte and Atlanta.

If we needed just a local bank we could have left all fund at CU. Why use an Alabama address when she is between both locations caring for me? At some point, I will not be able to care for myself. This account is for her use. She will be here with me when the time comes. My other account is for my day to day.

We asked customer service could we link account. They said not unless it's a joint account. We asked customer service how can we send funds between accounts. They told us we must use a Pay a Person feature. Pay a person has a financial limit. We asked customer service how can we disburse money to multiple people. They informed us we could use the 360 card. My nephew is 13. How is he going to use a 360 card? All this correspondence is in the messages in the inbox of the online account. Even if it's a better way to do this, tell us, not treat us like criminals.

My history: I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer in December of 2012. After chemo and radiation, I was put on hormone therapy to reduce the likelihood of spread or reoccurrence. Unfortunately the treatment failed and in January of 2016 I was re-diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic cancer. I was able to work up until October of 2016 when my heart began to give me issues based upon the cancer medication I was taking. My doctor recommended I stop working because the prognosis of my disease was no positive.

My sister Yolanda is a RN at the VA Medical Center in Tuscaloosa, Alabama with a Masters in Nursing. Throughout my ordeal she has been the primary person responsible for my medical decisions. When I stopped working it only made sense that she would begin to assist in my financial affairs as well.

I received my first Accelerated Death Benefit of $74,000 from my life insurance company in October of 2016. It was initially deposited into my Charlotte Metro CU account. At that time I chose to also open an account with Fifth Third Bank to get me a credit card as well as funds availability outside of Charlotte. I made random deposits from moving money from my CU to Fifth Third for months following my benefit award.

In January 2017 I received another Accelerated Death Benefit of $157,000. This award was given because my official last day of work would be February 1, 2017 and this would require I convert less life insurance, thus paying less premium since I would now be on a fixed disability income from my job. The challenges I faced moving funds from CU to Fifth Third caused me to have a conversation with my sister about her opening an account at Fifth Third so it would be easier to move funds between accounts.

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Customer Focus
StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarBy -
Rating: 1/51

CINCINNATI, OHIO -- To: Fifth Third Bank July 9, 2016
Subject: Lack of Customer Focus – Goodbye to Fifth Third
After 8 years as a Fifth Third customer I will be terminating my account by the end of 2016 at Fifth Third.
My wife and I are living in Italy for several years for my employment. We have maintained our Ohio home and bank
accounts since we expect to return once my employer (GE) relocates me back to Ohio. In preparation for the move to
Italy I needed an ability to wire funds from my USA bank to my Italian bank account. Before I left Ohio for Italy I
personally stopped in at a local Fifth Third office on March 5th and discussed my options. I was told that I could either
write a personal check and deposit that in the Italian bank or go online and transfer money from my Fifth Third accounts
to external accounts in Italy. Once I was in Italy I was told that transfer from my on line account was not possible. A
Fifth Third representative then initially told me I could sign a special form and return it to Fifth Third which would allow
me to wire finds each month with a phone call from myself to Fifth Third. After I spent two days preparing the form I
was then told “sorry” that option is not available for accounts outside USA.
That prompted me to open up a Chase Bank account and credit card account. Chase (unlike Fifth Third) does allow me
to wire finds on line from my Chase account to my Italian bank account and has a great credit card as well.
Now for the last few months I have had continual issues with transferring funds from Fifth Third to my external Chase
account. The transfers are requested on line then in a few days they are “cancelled” because of some $$ limits set
arbitrarily by Fifth Third. Despite repeated requests by me to raise the limit I am told that's not possible. On Friday (5/6)
I spent one hour on the phone with Fifth Third trying to get it sorted out. In the end I was told to delete the Chase
account transfer link and re set it up so then it would work. I again requested the transfer on line and then on Monday
(5/9) I received an email that the transfer was again cancelled. After another 1:20 minutes on the phone I was told that I
could transfer $2000 on 5/15 or maybe 5/16 (odd that a definite date can't be calculated even by Fifth Third) and it took
almost 30 minutes to get an answer to when the limits would be raised beyond $2000. If your representative can not
figure it out how do you expect a customer to sort this mess out?
On June 6 I again spent 30 minutes on the phone with an issue regarding “POPMONEY” hold.
And by the way why does it take me being handed off to three people before we even begin to discuss my question or
issue and then not even speak directly to the “Supervisor”?
Anyway now I have re directed my Employers Payroll check to the Chase account so I will stop all deposits to Fifth Third.
I have begun to transfer my funds to my Chase account as your limits let me over the next few months and when I return
to Cincinnati for a visit in the fall I will close out my fifth third account for good in person.
Fifth Third is clearly not an international bank, has poor customer service and more importantly is NOT focused on
supporting your customers at all. If you can't support me when I need you then you have no business lending my hard
earned money out for your profit.
I certainly will not recommend Fifth Third to any of my friends, family, coworkers, or acquaintances in the future.

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Horrible Auto Loan Bank
StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarBy -
Rating: 1/51

This bank is a horrible place for an auto loan. I spend almost an hour every time I call just trying to handle the business I need to handle because they're too busy transferring me to other reps In other departments. It took me 45 minutes and 4 reps just for them to tell me that they can't help me! It's sad. And then with each representative they ask all the identity questions and you have to explain your reason for calling each time! They don't document when you call so this last representative was lost and had the nerve to ask who I spoke with! I asked him how many reps he had in his department and if he'd really know the name! Smh it's horrible and I can't wait to get this car paid off. I'll never take another loan with them again. I never write reviews like this but this is terrible business.

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Setting Up Payment Nightmare
StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarBy -
Rating: 1/51

CINCINNATI, OHIO -- I spent a month trying to set up an automatic payment for a new car loan. I filled out the paperwork they sent and returned it in their envelope but apparently they lost that paperwork as I received another request for paperwork. I called the customer service department and they had me give them all the information over the phone and assured me I was all set. I received another letter and called again. Again I was assured all was ready.

On the day before the payment was due (Friday due Sunday) I received another letter saying they did not have the information. I called Monday morning and was told nothing was set up and there would be a $15 charge to take the payment over the phone. I spoke to a supervisor who was less than helpful and they took the payment which of course is now late. I am thoroughly disgusted with this institution and would never do any business with them again.

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Fifth Third Incompetence on Completing Their Equity Flexline in a Timely Manner
StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarBy -
Rating: 1/51

WESTLAKE, OHIO -- I started the equity on July 6, 2019 and was told by the loan officer that it would be 30 days, then was told by the loan specialist that it would be 45 days. Needless to say it took 79 days total from start to finish. We signed our papers on September 6, 2019 and with the 3 day right to cancel our equity should of been available on September 12, 2019. We were unable to use our funds until September 23, 2019 due to Fifth Third having a system error (their reason). I was given the runaround, by Fifth Third regarding fixing the issue and they do nothing for their customers as in telling the truth of what's going on or helping to fix the problem.

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Unauthorized Mortgage Debit
StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarBy -
Rating: 1/51

CINCINATTI, OHIO -- My mortgage with MB has been purchased by Fifth Third and I made my payment by phone. Talking to a mortgage representative they were having troubles processing my payment so they switched me to a manager. Went through and showed on my bank's transactions page. Next day a second debit for a slightly smaller ACH showed. This is over two thousand dollars and I'm the phone now going around and around on their phone matrix.

Twice I got a person and when they ask me the problem they say they're switching me to the right dept. I get dumped into the auto system. Even got someone in the corporate office. His help was to see if there was a branch near me. I said there wasn't but he insisted on wasting my time looking. After seeing there wasn't he dumped me back into auto system. Just got a representative and their answer was for me to go to my bank and file a dispute. Third World bank is more like it.

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2 Pay Pal Charges Posted From an ATM Card I Have Not Used Over 4 Years
StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarBy -
Rating: 1/51

OAK FOREST, ILLINOIS -- Two charges from Pay Pal were listed on my checking account on 6/14, from an ATM card I have not used in over 4 years. I only have charge cards linked to my Pal Pal account. On 6/17 when I reviewed the pending charge I emailed Pay Pal. On 6/18 I contacted 5/3rd customer service department. Got nothing but the runaround. Could not get in contact with their dispute center, even their customer service department could not connect me with a live person. I spoke with Ashley, Amber & Chelsey. Spent over a 1/2 hour on the phone driving from work to the bank to try and get this resolved, customer service representative Chelsey could not get anyone on the line from the dispute department.

Ended up speaking with Ryan ** at the bank who assured me he would checked in to this and call me back. Advised he would have his manager Dominic ** call me on 6/18 seeing he would not be in. This is now the evening of Wednesday 6/19 and never received a call back from anyone at the bank and both charges were processed. Monday when I couldn't get this resolved with the customer service area over the phone, I had to leave work 2 hours early to speak with some in person, who assured me they would help get this resolved and call me.

I've been with 5/3rd, when it was Old Kent and Evergreen Bank. It's disheartening to see the one and only time I need assistance from the bank I get the runaround and ignored. This is an internal issue with the bank, they are the ONLY ones who had access to my ATM account number, especially seeing that I only activated it but never used it.

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Terrible Service
StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarBy -
Rating: 1/51

I have gone through many companies setting up autopayment and never had any trouble. But the Fifth Third Bank is a different story. It has been TROUBLESOME with this Fifth Third Bank. Their greeting of 'making your day better' should end as they don't make your day any better and their customer service is the worst. I understand that sometimes you get an agent who probably having a bad time. But consistently, the agents of this bank dealing with autopayment/car loans treat you like crap. Have no trouble declining they have your autopayment papers.

I sent the papers signed using the addressed envelope they themselves gave. Yet they claim they don't have it. Then I faxed at the number they gave and I have proof of it. But they continue to claim they don't have it. I had to call 10 times and listen to cold agents, each telling me a different story and making you feel as if you were bothering them. After reading the reviews here, I am truly regretting my car dealer going with this bank. I will try to refinance and already dreading how long they will take to give the car title.

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Fifth Third Bank Rating:
Star Empty star Empty star Empty star Empty star
1.0 out of 5, based on 24 ratings and
70 reviews & complaints.
Contact Information:
Fifth Third Bank
5001 Kingsley Dr
Cincinnati, OH 45227
1-800-972-3030 (ph)
www.53.com
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