Preview Review

Next Review

First Citizens Bank Consumer Reviews

Most Popular | Newest | More Options >
More filter options:
Getting Robbed Blind by First Citizens Bank
StarStarStarEmpty StarEmpty StarBy -
Rating: 3/51

BLACK MOUNTAIN, NORTH CAROLINA -- I have been with First Citizens Bank For 2 years and first I want to make clear that the ladies at the bank are all sweethearts and are just doing their job. However the policies they are made to enforce are downright immoral and just plain wrong... It's hard enough to run a small business these days without my bank stealing money from me every chance they can by misrepresenting account balances, not honoring incoming merchant deposits, providing misleading information on how they process checks and deposits with the goal of driving my account into the negative so to charge numerous overdraft fees or NSF fees.

About two months ago First Citizens Bank again cornered me by holding my deposits in a pending status so they could process all outgoing charges first and charged me a total of 105.00 in overdraft fees so I decided to take a different approach other than arguing with the sweet teller lady who couldn't give me an answer anyways because it would be bad business for the higher ups to educate the tellers on how they cunningly steal money from their customers. So I proceeded to invite the bank manager out for a drink and after a few started asking about the bank's policies and WOW. I was not ready for what he had to say...

He first started to explain the algorithm that the bank's computer system uses to Target account holders that fit a certain criteria. Then the system he says is designed to track Ingoing and outgoing transactions to find a pattern and then after a certain amount of time the system can predict future account activity and then use that prediction to know when to hold and how long to hold incoming merchant deposits in what he called (the cloud) or pending status.

And then through careful calculation rearrange the order of outgoing checks, debits, ACH, transactions so to drive the account into the negative relevant to the amount of the incoming deposit and then credit the pending deposit to the account. And then not offering real-time online banking for business accounts or offering details on exact timing on deposits so there is no way to pinpoint the time of crime.

And then to cover up the scam they won't inform any of their staff on how to answer any of these complicated questions and are told if asked any direct questions about the order or timing of deposits or withdrawals to literally put the customer on hold until the system disconnects the line... After hearing this I was numb to the fact that there was nothing I could do except what I am doing right now speaking up about the real criminals of this great country. I am sure the CEOs and/or shareholders will never see this nor will they care but maybe this will do someone some good sometime soon. P.S. Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and give to God what is god's.

Replies
Withholding my funds
StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarBy -
Rating: 1/51

BELLEVUE, WASHINGTON -- I have been a customer with this bank over 10 years, I recently lost my job and as a result had to sell my house. The very day the funds from the sale of my house were deposited I called the bank to verify funds even tho they showed on my phone as pending. The woman was unbelievably rude, refused to allow me to speak to a manager after she said my account was closed. She then restricted my account. I called customer service and although that woman was sympathetic she was unable to fix the account. My access is denied to my funds even tho it now shows as being available funds. The woman at the branch has denied me my money which obviously is needed to move from the house I just sold. The timing couldn't have been better for her as she did this on the Friday that happens to be a 3 day weekend. Thank you first citizens Bank for allowing your tellers to withhold my money for no reason. Thank you for employing such bright intelligent tellers that on a whim can prevent hard working people like myself from obtaining their hard earned money.

Replies
BILL PAY SCAM
By -

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA -- I have been sending online payments with First Citizens Bank for at least a year now, probably longer. They have always treated it as they have any other check, withdrawing the amount of the check when it was cashed, and even stated it in every billpay notice after I had scheduled it. The last time they didn't do that, they changed their procedure and withdrew it on the date that it was scheduled, before it was even cashed. Regardless of policies, etc., there was a pattern, without change or prior notification, until this last time. Because they did that, I ended up incurring $288 of service fees (which should also be illegal if those check cashing places are).

In each of the previous scheduled payments they withdrew the money sometimes a week or more AFTER the "scheduled" date and stated, as shown below in the info pasted from the billpay section, that they WERE NOT going to withdraw it on the date that I "scheduled", but instead the day it was cashed.

They say they have reviewed this issue and concluded that they did exactly as I requested and that it was my error. OK, if that is the case, then they committed fraud on each previously scheduled payment because they DIDN'T withdraw on the date scheduled. I never would have scheduled a payment knowing it wouldn't be covered. In fact, that payment WOULD have been covered if it had been posted the day it was cashed. This is totally unfair and I think they need to refund my service fees.

Replies
Car Loan
StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarBy -
Rating: 1/51

CHARLETTE, NORTH CAROLINA -- I made my first payment over the phone and I paid extra and wanted the extra to be applied to the principle and I stated this three times because I wanted to make sure that they were doing that and I call today to make my second payment and they state they cannot apply it to the principle over the phone and I am very upset and wish my loan was not through them.

Replies
Advertisement
Customer Service
StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarBy -
Rating: 1/51

BENNETTSVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA -- I went to the Bennettsville SC branch yesterday, Oct. 22nd to cash a check and one of your tellers there was very rude to me, and acted like a smart butt. Her name tag said **, she had blonde hair. I was thinking of opening up a business account there, but I'm not to sure about that now. I still may do so. I wish someone would speak to this teller about her bad attitude. Thank you.

Replies
Daily Overdrawn Fees
By -

SOUTH CAROLINA -- I just want to let people know that the daily $5.00 fee that this bank charges begins the day you have an overdraft hit your account and continues over the weekend when the bank is closed and you don't have access to correct the problem. For example I had an overdraft from $6.70 debit card transaction. They charge $35 plus $5 on Friday the day it hit my account.

Then on Monday, which is the day I learned I was overdrawn and traveling so I could not make it to the bank until Tuesday, they charged me $15 more for Saturday, Sunday and Monday. I understand the $35 overdraft fee when the item hit my account but it would at least be somewhat human of them to give me time to learn this has happened before charging me another $20 unnecessarily for a mistake of $6.70. Whether anyone agrees or not this is my3cents. Thanks for letting me vent.

Replies
Construction Loan Fiasco
StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarBy -
Rating: 1/51

HENDERSONVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA -- First Citizens Bank in Hendersonville NC provided a construction loan for the building of our home on property we owned in Hendersonville NC. When our initial builder was bought out by another, the new builder bought a contract to the bank in the name of RAD Construction. The bank asked him for his license and he provided his friend's brother's license in the name of Boston South Investments.

When the bank asked him for insurance he provided insurance in the name of Double R Windows. The bank didn't question any of this or alert us. They proceed to pay the guy, ** money from the construction loan. The building was substandard and the bank paid for stuff which was never done. They paid without our authorization. Follow my blog at **. Our advice - stay as far away from this bank as you can.

Replies
Bank Is Allowing a Teller Leader to Have Bad Customer Service
By -

BEAUFORT, SOUTH CAROLINA -- I have mortgage loans with this institution and due to those loans, I get the best checking account free of fees. I have used the Lady's Island branch most of the times, and I usually use the same teller that I have been doing for last 10 years. But now different associates from the bank discourage me to use the branch or the teller. After my concern, one of the executive sent me an email that I could use whatever branch I choose. But then, there was no customer service. And, again, asking me to use different associate.

I have shared my concerns with the CEO and the president and requested to send me a "refusal letter to use certain teller" on their letter head, but I did not get any response yet. Any further requests have been ignored. All I want from them is genuine customer service which are to be extended to every single customer in fair way.

Replies
Advertisement
Fees on Top of Fees
By -

NORTH CHARLESTON -- I looked over my account and found that I had paid out over $1000.00 in less than 30 days in bank fees.... These were overdraft fees and NSF fees based on pending charges that dropped off... Example (rental car company hold 300 for deposit but never takes the money) I got charged for being overdraft even though my account showed a positive balance. I am seeing no returned checks, no neg. balances and this morning $105 in overdraft fees.... Something has to be done about bank fees.... $35 charge when nothing is actually happening is wrong no matter how you look at it...

Replies
Only Go With First Citizens if You Want to Get Screwed
By -

SIMPSONVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA -- Now that times are tough, keeping a plethora of extra money in the bank has become difficult. On this occasion, I swiped my check card for $1.47 more than the balance. This being a Back-up card, I did not use it more than a couple times a month. I admit, the subtraction error was my own.

I got a call from First Citizens telling me that I owed them $65. Shocked, I asked for details. They informed me that my account was overdrawn. Since I was out of town when I received the call, it took me a couple days to get back to make a deposit. Little did I know, the fees add daily. The deposit was not enough and so unknown penalties kept adding. I got a message later telling me that I owed them 127.00. I informed them that I had made a deposit to cover the overage and stop the fees. That is when they revealed to me it had not been enough.

I emailed and called to get clarification and understanding. They did not call back. The fees continued. Shortly after this, they closed my account and now have it in collections for 250.00. This all started with $1.47. They do not communicate to the customer and will not work with you. If you have extra money in this economy, respect it enough to not place it with First Citizens.

Replies
Top of Page | Next Page >

First Citizens Bank Rating:
Star Half star Empty star Empty star Empty star
1.4 out of 5, based on 5 ratings and
12 reviews & complaints.
Contact Information:
First Citizens Bank
4300 Six Forks Road
Raleigh, NC 27609
1-888-323-4732 (ph)
www.firstcitizens.com
Compare Banks