Job Story: when it was “The Bank”.....Bank of America employee

[Unregistered]

As a customer who has their personal and business accounts with Bank of America, and who was in the process of refinancing my business loans to Bank of America, I appreciate your candid assessment. I have decided to move all my business to another institution. I cannot support an institution that treats its own in an unethical and completely wrong manner.

[Muse]

I didn't see that post but I absolutely DESPISE Bank of America. I opened three accounts there and was appauled at the fees they charge and that they wouldn't transfer funds from one of the accounts to cover the other and kept charging me $30 overdraft fees because I forgot to transfer to cover my checks from my business to checking account. I went back to my credit union which is out of state. I'd rather have to mail my deposits to another state than deal with Bank of America ever again. I went into the lobby to ask to talk to someone when I was having problems and waited an hour and finally just left and withdrew the rest of the money I had there figuring they'd get the picture.

[Unregistered]

i was accepted to bank of america as a customer service consultant but now due to your article i will not be taking the job

[Unregistered]

I'm going through a similar situation, being laid off after being out on disability. It seems when you are out with a terminal illness they say it impacts your work so now I'm a poor performer. I would not use them as your bank of choice!

[Unregistered]

I recently left "the bank" after 15 years. Unfortunately, I too, have experienced some of the same situations as the writer. I was once proud to be an employee of this company, but my experience with management and personnel has left me disheartened.

[Unregistered]

When reading your article I felt as though I was reading a story about myself. Although my employment with this corporation was about half of the time you were employed there. All of my performance evaluations exceeded expections. The bank was always good to me and I loyal to them. I was promoted and only wanted to continue growing with this company. Then, the managers that one thinks are true human beings, know your work ethics, know you on a personal level (after several years) end up back stabbing you. I've always been a strong person and always separated my personal life from business. All of the years I worked there, I gave my 110%. Well, I had a baby, got back from maternity leave, my performance still exceeded/met expectations. Management then asks how I've been feeling. I let them know I've still been feeling depressed and stressed. In a matter of 3 weeks, they had me under a microscope and terminated me for some "thing" that several associates conducted and for some "thing" that has been accepted practice for the several years I was in this particular department. The last three weeks made my life an emotional living hell for my well being and my family's. I sat at my cubicle watching all of my peers get away with things that I know that I was being singled out on. In addition to that, we were under the wings of a new team manager that I initially interviewed & hired about a year ago. This person was a fresh computer science graduate that had the drive to move up yet was slow in learning basic computer skills that he/she should have already known. This person even told me one time that he/she didn't care who liked her/him or disliked him/her, she/he was going to get ahead in life. Sure enough... this person got the promotion to team manager days prior to my last performance review and 4 weeks prior to my termination..yet no one respected this person... and no one respects this person even more so, now that this person was the primary one that got me terminated. The most dissappointing thing is the manager above this person backed this person up and the manager was the one that I felt closest too. On the day I was terminated, the manager looked at me as though I were a criminal... and said "YOU DID NOT DO YOUR JOB!".. Now, this manager knew my work ethics, knew the kind of person I am and knew everything that I was going through. Post Partum depression is NO JOKE! Try Post partum plus people riding your tail at work.. I was ready to just die! Like you, this corporation was my life. While BOA promotes 360 degree feedback, the managers there are not mature enough to know how to take constructive criticism. They had it in for me and I want my credibility back!

There's my story on how the thought of corporate america makes me sick to my stomach. BOA really put a bad taste in my mouth for everything they stand for. How can they even have "America" in their name when 1) they outsource all of their tech support to India 2) they DON'T accept freedom of speech/360degree feedback with poise. 3) even their own help desk is in Canada..??


Just curious,... if you don't mind.. to know the state you're in as the laws vary from state to state. Also, any other words of advise... It doesn't sound like you received much monetary funds..?? Are you able to explain why? I would think you should have been awarded past and future wages...??

Right now, I'm a better person to my family. If I chose to go back to corporate america it will be much later. Right now, I'm taking Medical Transcriptioning courses online and hope to start working from home.

[Unregistered]

I wonder what this "thing" is that you guys are talking about. My husband works there now and he's constantly worried about doing something wrong even though he always has super performance reviews.

[Unregistered]

I have had a almost exact situation with Bank of America where they don't listen to your words but make up their own words and form a story on what they want to believe happened. Not one person was curtious or supportive with the situation but instead at my throat at what they believed was the truth. I also was forced to resign from the company after being with them for three years and it took a while before I was back on my feet. I am glad that you wrote this because I know feel as though I was not the only one this happened to, and that there are other people out there on my same side. Bank of America is a company that takes advantage of both it's employees and customers.

[Unregistered]

The thing is playing with your [Deleted by Managment] in the bathroom. Thatis a big No-No at BOA.

[Unregistered]

My bank was Bank of Boston, then it was purchased by Bank of Boston.
As soon as that took place, I had several errors in my checking account. I had a thousand dollar overdraft protection, but kept getting charged for "insufficient funds". That happened a few times.
Next, as I was looking at my monthly statement, I saw that someone's check had been cashed from MY account. It did not even resemble my cashed checks. This was on those copies where they show you all of your cashed checks in miniature, but you can read the numbers on them, and to whom you made out the check, etc..
I saw this on a Sat. afternoon. I live in Massachusetts, and only did business locally. This picture of a cashed check from my account came from the Bronx, NY....hmmmm..I could make out the name of the person and the company, so I looked up the person on the Internet, and gave them a call. It was a recording, but I left the info, that THEIR check had been cashed from MY checking account, and it was in the hundreds...causing me to have "insufficient funds" on my end! (Can you believ it?
I notified the bank also on line, and they investigated. Of course, they ended up reimbursing my account for their mistake, and sent me a letter of apology. I had already decided to go elsewhere. I have a saving acct. at a credit union, and truthfully, only send out about 5 or 6 checks a month. So I found that I can buy money orders at the local Tedeschi store for .89
NOW my company just switched to BANK OF AMERICA! Oh no..now I go there to cash my pay check only. To save a trip, last week, I asked the clerk for 2 money orders. She said "You do know that they are TEN DOLLARS each, if you don't have an account here. I said "WHAT???FORGET IT!" I actually said that out loud at the bank, without meaning to....simply went back to the convenience store and paid .89 for the money orders.
All I can say is Bank of Boston must have balls the size of Texas to try to charge TEN DOLLARS for each money order. I find this impossible to believe! I will continue to buy my .89 money orders to pay my bills each month. No bank fees, no mistakes from them, and it all gets done for $4 to $5 per month. Bank of America--you've got to be kidding. Can't wait to see who will buy them out ...shouldn't take too long...at the rate that they are offending customers!

[Unregistered]

Sorry, I could not access to edit my last post.
I meant to say Bank of America in my above post, but by mistake said Bank of Boston. That was my former bank...then it became Bank of America.
The bank which tries to charge ten dollars for a money order is Bank of AMERICA.
Sorry for the confusion.

[Unregistered]

I too am a Bank of America employee and am glad to see that there are others feeling the same way. All I can say is that it is a cult!! They say they want 360 degree feedback, but if you dare give it, beware, you will be an outcast.

They tell you that it's important to take vacation and have a balance of work and home life. As a result, if you don't use your vacation by the end of the year, you lose it. For those of us who went through a systems conversion this year, the entire summer was blocked from taking vacation. (We didn't find this out until the spring) This left the branches in turmoil because vacations were postponed until the Fall. Imagine all these people trying to take vacation from September -December. Yet, there was no extra coverage to take care of customers.

We are tired from standing up all day in the lobby!! What's up with that? We are physically exhausted. Not to mention the angry customers that can't understand why you can't sit at a desk to help them!! ( We can't sit at the desk until someone else can relieve our post in the lobby!) They send in mystery shoppers to make sure someone is standing in the lobby at all times. If not, then the branch gets a ZERO. (Even if you are standing behind the customer service counter trying to help someone)

Bank of America is not the bank we expected it to be.

[Unregistered]

Bank of America is truly the devil. The statement about 360 degree coaching is right on. They dont REALLY want to hear what your thinking. I too was just terminated for not doing anything wrong. I had received a write up for not following the call in procedure when sick. I fixed my call in procedure to find that they had wrote me up for having 6 sick absences in 7 months
(did not exceed sick time.) when they wrote me up (november) they said I can not be sick again due to not having any sick time left) I came in for a week straight sick (december)because I knew I was not supposed to take another sick day or i would get terminated. So I get back to work and I become ill due to a horrible flu that hit my area hard. But get this. I took a sick day in mid january. They terminated me for this. My sick time had reset, but they proceeded to say because its excessive, I was still fired. Im sorry but I had 80 hours of sick time and I got sick, I came in the next day sick still and they terminated me. - and thats not the whole story but thats the summary-

[Unregiste258]

I just put in my 2 weeks at bank of america. If the economy where I am wasn't so horrible, I'd have done it long ago. This company sucks SO much that I'm moving ACROSS THE COUNTRY to get another job to get away from them.

Their entire way of dealing with people can be summed up by one word: Bullshit. And their policy towards customers and associates can be summed up by 2 words: UTTER bullshit.

This is one of the most cult-like, dehumanizing, soul sucking organizations I have ever worked for. I am not usually one to get real worked up over things, but working for this place has fried my nerves and left me reallllllll sour on their bank.

I would advise NO ONE to deposit money with this bank or take loans out with them. As a customer service rep with them, I have seen how they treat people.

It is awful. They charge a fee for oxygen, and when you ask to a supervisor, they actually have people they pay, who are not supervisors, who actually ACT as if they are!! I couldn't believe it. That's their style though.

So next time you call into BofA and ask for a manager, you can ask them "are you connecting me to an actual manager, or someone who's paid to pretend to be a manager?"

The customer service rep probably won't know what to say....but since every second of their day is recorded, they'll be forced to lie to you.

I will never do business with these people, or work for them again, and I tell EVERYONE about some of the shady stuff they do. It ought to be known.

They really don't care about you......at all. Don't be a dope and buy into their dorky commericals with the friendly commericals and stupidly comical elevator music. Behind every one of those smiles you see on TV is a loaded corporate gun.

[new user]

It was very interesting to read the various comments regarding B of A and it's questionable employee practices. They really span quite a bit of time and just recently, our family was also crushed by yet another B of A employee dismissal, resulting from a manager not following Bank practices and then firing a young, dedicated and enthusiastic employee who had indeed done all that had been asked of them.

It totally benefitted the bank to let her go since she was insisting on taking the 4 days vacation that she had earned, even though the manager told her that this was "not a good idea" since they were understaffed..........asked her not to put in for it and instead just loose it..........she insisted and it was scheduled.......but she was canned before it ever came to pass.

Further they insisted she work 30-34 hours a week while attending classes full time and she had agreed to do this duirng summer break, but NOT during the semester.......but non-the-less they kept her on the schedule for an unreasonable amount of hours.........she was exhausted!

In addition, of course, this 4.0 student.........was fired before she could actually gain the advantage of tuition reimbursement, as promised......etc., etc.

This was her first real job...........what a truly terrible experience.

Needless to say, our entire family (including our extended family) are taking our banking business elsewhere and will definately warn people when ever we can.

[rustyd]

Alright I'm not pulling punches today as this took place last week.... I was a employee with bank of evil whoops I meant to say Bank of America. So here we go....
I live in California and aquired a position in the collections department through a job fair in the Brea center. My first impression was very positive I was sent a survey through email wanting to know what my experience was with the hiring process and at the time even though I was taking a large pay cut, my thoughts were that I would stay with the bank untill 65 and work my way through a well known bank that still offers a pension. No issues at all through the first two weeks of training, seemed positive just noticed a few things that seemed strange at first but still no concern. For example our trainer on the first day cracks a joke saying "I'm gay but the class will always get a straight answer" no big deal just a little unprofessional and then the second issue during training was a little more severe. The unit manager walks into the training class on our second day and announces that because he personally knows one of the girls in our training class he is going to promote her to another department but the rest of us will need to work our current position for at least 6-9 months before any consideration. I spoke with the girl that was promoted and asked her tacktfully if she has had any experience with that department in previous jobs and she said no. Just a bit of a slap in the face but nothing serious still. Then we got out of training and into what they call a nesting group. This group was led by several team leads. This is were the problems were apparent, this company manages by fear, promotes 360 coaching but instantly on the defensive if offered, and because they dont develop or invest in employees if you know your stuff you are a threat to the ones trying to get ahead. If you show you have any knowledge of call center managment at all they freak because BofA has 0 employee development and everyone learns by ossmosis. Ask a manager a question about a bank process and it's like you asked them the square root of something. Nobody knows anything about anything at BofA. So at this time I'm getting a little concerned because I took a paycut, assuming I can move up because I have a very good skill set from HSBC, and Fremont investment and Loan. However the opposit started to occur after getting employee of the month, a supervisor actually tried to take it away from me after it was announced and everything! I fought and kept the award but really what a bunch of haters it's not my fault that the bank does not develope employee growth or assist in finding a career path. Then after looking at my scoreboard (report card of your daily production) and doing daily printouts and comparing from the previous days data I could see that I was only getting credit for 60-70% of the work I did for the previous day. I approached the proper channels and after being told that it was my opinion and not a fact that they were not giving me credit for all my work after I showed proof with screenshots of all the promises taken I simply told them " I came to Bank of America because I wanted a future with the bank, however I cannot trust my future to a company that is not going to credit me with the work I am doing and would like to see resolve" Well we can all guess what happend next, they simply do not pay enough to eat that kind of bullSh!t. Bank of America is the devil. After being on the inside for a few months and seeing the processes they have in place to benefit the bank and not the customer I had to split.
(example of one of many issues: When you have a autoloan with BofA you are charged a per diem everyday the payment is late. This could be 89 cents or 8 dollers per day after the due date even in the grace period,anyway the bank forces you to be a few days late each month squeezing extra per diem each month from thousands of accounts. So here is how they do it... If you want to pay your account you can either speak with a agent and pay $15 service fee for a check by phone or pay with a online website called myeasypayment.com and no fee is applied. The catch is you cannot use the myeasypayment.com unless your account is past due so many people not knowing about the per diem on the account just choose to pay with the website a few days past due instead of paying ontime or early and being charged a $15 fee in the end these customers will owe a balloon payment in extra interest before they can get the pink slip. Evil like the fruits of the Devil evil)