DISQUS

Los Angeles Blog: LA Snark: Live in California but have a Washington Mutual account from another state?

  • ChaiG · 5 months ago
    Not Bank of America! When I opened a BofA account in California and then later moved to Nevada (just a few miles away on the "other" side of Lake Tahoe mind you), I couldn't use my Bankcard inside the Nevada branch.

    Wait, I thought you were Bank of AMERICA, like the whole thing.

    They told me I had to close my original account and open a new account at their branch, which I did. I also changed all of my auto-bill pays over to the new account. But guess what? They didn't actually close my old account, and when one of my auto-bills didn't get switched over to the new account, they charged me an overdraft on the old account. and took the money out of the new account without my authorization!

    my advice? Find a credit union!
  • Jesse · 5 months ago
    I think it's great actually. As one of the many transplants, I wasn't willing to move my checking account to an unfamiliar, and in this recession, unstable, bank just because I moved to California. Thanks to the quick changeover, I have ATMs I can use without fees and a bank I already know.

    If I was in your shoes, I'd talk to a banker about the switch and ask when you can expect deposits to go more smoothly or what you could do in the meantime.
  • Jon · 5 months ago
    Hey Jesse, the answer to that question is apparently "October."
  • Daryll · 5 months ago
    No, I've had no such problems.

    All the branches in CA now seem to be labelled chase, and I continue to use my normal branch with no problem.

    I can login in at wamu.com just as I normally do.

    I did have a deposit get delayed in my business account, but that's unfortunately standard policy for large checks. The expedited funds availability act http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expedited_Funds_Av... explains the rules.

    In the past you complained about delays when you deposited money via the ATM, and I suggested you go in to the branch, because they will clear more quickly. That's part of EFAA as well. The banks have discretion as does your local branch manager. Once I got to know my branch manager and explained the situation (infrequent large deposits) they were much more helpful about clearing checks quickly. Now my branch manager moved to a new branch and I'm breaking in a new one.

    In any case, I don't think you should be having as much trouble with WAMU/Chase as you are. The transition has been relatively smooth for me so far.
  • Jon · 5 months ago
    I can't speak too accurately on this because I didn't write the above post, but I know that the frustration began when Ryan was told that because he set up his account in Washington State, checks would take longer (up to 6 days) to clear due to the Chase takeover. They said this issue would be resolved by October.

    I'm a BOA guy. I have my own issues.
  • Daryll · 5 months ago
    Ah, I didn't notice the fact that you opened the account in Washington State. That probably explains the difference.

    Have you considered going in to the local branch, asking for the branch manager, and seeing if they can transfer your account to be local?

    I know "Tellers have laser eyes" was your response to going in to a branch, :) but I suspect it would help.
  • Jon · 5 months ago
    Yeah, again that was me. Maybe Chase has nicer tellers..
  • robert dean · 5 months ago
    I've been using Wells Fargo for 20+ years and would recommend checking them out. The only trouble I had was when they integrated 1st Interstate but that was 10+ years ago.

    lots of locations in western states, quick clearance of checks, good website and tech on the ATMS (I love the envelope free deposits - not sure if other banks already do that). I know my ex had a lot of trouble with putting holds on everything if you had one of their all free checking accounts. WFB has their shit together. BofA is generally consider good for business account and horrible for personal.

    credit unions are good but I love having the network of WFB. My banking is pretty straightforward and I never have to go inside so your mileage might vary.
  • Ryan · 5 months ago
    No, Chase just has more incompetent tellers.
  • Zaq · 5 months ago
    I am just the opposite of you. Lived in CA my whole life and opened a WAMU account there. I moved to Washington state and now can not even access CASH I deposit because it has to be converted to a cashiers check at the branch and mailed to Kentucky to be deposited. Very strange.
  • jeffry a wood · 5 months ago
    We've just had a on-line experience with Chase here in Calif (Salinas) and it's also left us in search of a new bank.....Chase actually took the bills we pay electronically, and took them out TWICE!!!!! It emptied our account, leaving with about 50 bucks for the month. When we called for help, of course, we found ourselves in India where English, our language, didn't seem to work well then, and we were left to deal with our payees individually (good luck with that). Ask us, Chase totally suxs
  • M.S.Y. · 5 months ago
    I'm in the same boat as Zaq - opened account in CA, but have since moved to WA, and I am experiencing the same things. I do have a question for anyone out there who might know the answer... So, I blew it - wasn't paying attention and my account was about to be overdrawn by about $2. I run over to the branch (before having been notified about all this transition stuff) with cash in hand to deposit, in order to avoid the overdraft fee. I deposit the cash before I'm overdrawn, and lo and behold, the next day I'm dinged $33 for the overdraft fee (even though I deposited cash at a branch, not ATM, before my account was in the red). So I called and wrote to them hoping to get a refund, or at the very least, some kind of explanation. Basically they're telling me I have to eat the fee as there was no "bank error". Am I screwed, or can they really do this (especially without letting people know beforehand so they can prepare accordingly)?
  • MDS · 5 months ago
    These banks, CHASE / JP Morgan < a commercial bank, are floating your bank dollars - to invest daily - in 24 hour trading markets, to make up for the life style they once had. In the interim, they hold your money longer on 'big' checks: LOL, over a $1k? and on small deposits as well - up to five plus days, before you get your money. Also they are shipping the checks out of the country via FedEx to be process for pennies on the dollar wages that were once paid here to do same.

    Since the inception of the current global financial bubble as they call it, crisis to us, these financial institutions have been self-regulating. Meaning they make up the rules for their benefit as they go along - to make themselves money to offset for screwing everyone one in the housing/mortgage market where they frauded homeowners/lenders via their bank's overinflated home appraisals and contracts with adhesion clauses, etc. This is a deficit of what some econ pros say is in the tune of ~=USD52,000,000,000,000.00 or $52 trillion.

    Chase has no incentive to get software fully connected so you can bank seemlessly online, at all the branches or at the ATMs. Because they earn
    more fees from you! So maybe in October the Chase bank tellers may have access to your account to help you concerns.
  • Duchess Diane · 5 months ago
    A post for your June 5th
    Live in California but have a Washington Mutual account from another state?

    These banks, CHASE / JP Morgan < a commercial bank, are floating your bank dollars - to invest daily - in 24 hour trading markets, to make up for the life style they once had. In the interim, they hold your money longer on 'big' checks: LOL, over a $1k? and on small deposits as well - up to five plus days, before you get your money. Also they are shipping the checks out of the country via FedEx to be process for pennies on the dollar wages that were once paid here to do same.

    Since the inception of the current global financial bubble as they call it, crisis to us, these financial institutions have been self-regulating. Meaning they make up the rules for their benefit as they go along - to make themselves money to offset for screwing everyone one in the housing/mortgage market where they frauded homeowners/lenders via their bank's REITs, overinflated home appraisals and contracts with adhesion clauses, etc. This is a deficit of what some econ pros say is in the tune of ~=USD52,000,000,000,000.00 or $52 trillion.

    Someone has to pay for the $52 trillion, and it is the little depositor. You and I. Chase has no incentive to get software fully connected so you can bank seemlessly online, at all the branches or at the ATMs. Because they earn
    more fees from you! So maybe in October the Chase bank tellers may have access to your account to help you concerns.
  • T.K. · 5 months ago
    SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO pissed off at Chase. I have a CA account, and live in WA too. Last time I deposited a check into my account was written on my reciept that it was being mailed to Louisville Kentucky at my request. Hubby who works at Chase in downtown Seattle said it's better to put cash, because they don't need to verify nothing. So today had hubby put cash in at the now newly named Chase Center where he works, and he thought it was ok and dandy because the teller didn't say anything. He gave me the receipt now and bam! I got the same damn notice that it is going to be mailed to Kentucky. WTF!?!?!?! Hubby said that in a board meeting the question came up with what to do with CA accounts since they're the last to transition, basically what he told me is Chase doesn't give a F***! We're just little peons to them. Well....come Monday morning I am marching to Wells Fargo to open a new account. CHASE can kiss my booty for all I care!!!! F U Chase!!!!! Burn!
  • JJ · 5 months ago
    This is just plain WRONG. So far I have been lied to twice, by both my original bank and the local CA branch. I was told AFTER I deposited money into my account that, "...it would be 4-5 days for the deposit." When I asked them about NSF charges that WOULD happen since I had automatic payments coming out of the account, I was told, they would all be reversed when they see the date the deposit was really made on. This is not true. I had to fax a copy of the deposit slip, then wait for someone from Kentucy to call me. They never called me. I ended up calling them and after several supervisors was able to get most but not all the NSF fee reversed. Then I was told they were not liable for all the fees I was being charged by the people who I wrote the checks too. Then I had no choice but to open another Chase Account to cash my paychecks to deposit money into my other Chase account, and now I find out this could happen again. I'm done with them. I think Californian's need to think about a Class Action Lawsuit.
  • TK · 5 months ago
    JJ- (AMEN) I think a lawsuit from us CA customers might be a good idea. I am so sorry about what you went through. I think I am about to do the same today too. The girl at Corporate in Seattle told me that if I get overdraft fees, I have to call the branch that my account is located at and they will reverse the charge. (Since I "did" the responsible thing and deposited money into my account with cash, mind you, no verification needed). Though from what you just described, I guess getting my $33 back is going to be a bit of a hassle. I will report what happened to me later today. I am so pissed off too! I hate Chase. I am going to Wells Fargo today to open an account, October is much too far away. Oh and my friends in CA...hubby told me they pushed back the transition for us customers to like the end of October.
  • TK · 5 months ago
    Update-
    No overdraft fee, either the caught it or the deposit went through and covered it before. I did not open a Wells Fargo account. I instead decided to go to a Credit Union. Big banks can kiss my booty! I share the pain with all you CA Chase customers though! I still have an account with them, deciding where or what to do with it.
  • Jason · 5 months ago
    I **JUST** wrote a blog entry about my recent Chase frustrations as well.

    I opened my account in California, but now live in Salt Lake City.

    * A deposit I made Saturday STILL has not shown 5 days later.

    * My local branch has to call in approval for withdrawals over $100

    * A cashier's check bought at Chase, which is normally deducted immediately took over 10 days to clear.

    * EVERY WaMU in my city has changed to Chase. None of which allow ATM deposits.

    * When I call WaMu, they say its a Chase issue. When I call Chase, its WaMu.

    * Two years ago my wife was laid off. When asking to use the "protection" plan they offer in cases like this, they said we didn't qualify. $600 in late fees accrued in three months. We never used the card.

    I LOVED Washington Mutual and HATE Chase. Tomorrow, I close my Chase account.

    RIP WaMu.
  • John · 5 months ago
    Agreed with Jason... And ALL OF YOU!!!

    I remember getting my Wamu when I was 18. It was my first checking account. Since then it took me a few years to learn the banking game... like how much time it takes for a check that I wrote to clear... or how long it takes for Wamu to clear a check I deposited? Well the game has changed completely. EVERY check I deposit over $100 is held over my head for at least 5 days. They won't even let me cash a check over $2500. Even if it's a Chase check.

    Beyond that... something magical happened. When the rest of the world takes about 3-5 business days for any check to clear after being deposited... Chase clears them the SAME DAY. But wait, there's more! Say you wrote a check that was deposited March 1st. Today, March 2nd, you check your Chase account online. Balance is healthy. No checks cleared that day. You even check it close to midnight. Even the next morning on March 3rd. Nothing has cleared. Then later that evening, and sometimes even the day after that, the check has cleared. With the deposited date, March 1st, tagged along the transaction. It is March 3rd. And up til March 3rd there were no records of any checks clearing.

    Then if you want to pour more fuel on the fire, if you didn't have the balance to cover that check on March 1st, you will get an overdraft fee. Even if on the March 2nd you made a deposit that would cover that check 10 fold, and even though that check didn't clear till March 3rd.

    Oh, and let's hope that deposit consisted of multiple checks of $100. Otherwise, any checks $100.01 and up will be held against you for 5 more days.

    CHASE- CAN WE JUST HAVE OUR MONEY PLEASE!?!? AND THE MONEY YOU'VE ROBBED FROM YOUR BUILT IN LOYAL CUSTOMERS!!!
  • BK · 5 months ago
    I have also had some snags with the new Chase in California.

    Besides the 4-5 business days it takes to receive the funds from a deposit, they have a funky way of handling withdrawals. I went into my local Chase to get a couple rolls of quarters (for laundry) and some cash. The teller said that because I opened my account in Oregon (never mind the fact that was seven years ago and I have lived in CA for a year) I had to write a check to myself to receive the money. A bit confusing. After he processed the check, he gave me the quarters and a receipt. He said I had to enter a code from the receipt into a cash dispenser to get my cash. Arg! It used to be so simple. Now I am sitting here at home fretting over whether or not there was another receipt from the cash dispenser I forgot to grab. I don't think there was, but who knows, it's the new wacky Chase.
  • Nate · 5 months ago
    Like Jason I opened my WaMu account in California, but have since moved to Utah. Shortly after the takeover the branch I usually went to closed because there was already a Chase branch across the street. Initially, they had WaMu deposit slips and even a separate line for WaMu customers. I made several deposits at the "new" branch without issue. A recent payday I went in to make my deposit only to find the WaMu signs and slips missing. Thinking nothing of it, I filled out the Chase slip with my information and waited in line. When it was my turn, the girl standing behind the counter proceeded to pull up my account information and then called over a manager. The manager asked me to step aside so the other customers could complete their transactions. She picks up the phone and places a call without explaining to me what was happening. After about 30 minutes of just standing and watching her speak on the phone she asked me for my social security number.

    I asked her, "Why?"

    She then explains that while all of the Utah WaMu branches had made the switch to Chase, the California branches would not until October and because of that they could not access my account. Period. She didn't even offer to mail my check like others have mentioned. She then suggests I open an account at their branch.

    I ask her for my check and politely say, "No thank you."

    The flabbergasted look on her face was almost comical. She asks me why I didn't want to open a Chase account. I shook my head, laughed and said "Are you kidding me?" as I walked out the branch.

    If you can, run away as fast as you can... I liked WaMu, but Chase is an absolute joke.
  • John · 5 months ago
    So what now??

    I've recently changed my way of holding money. I opened a checking account with Union Bank of California and use it solely to cash my checks (they honor up to $5k for me) and lock up my cash in my safe. This requires me to live only on cash which actually has tightened up my everyday spending. It forces me to budget what I would spend one day at a time before I leave the house.

    I canceled all auto-payments linked to my account and whenever I have to write a check or make a payment, I'll deposit just enough money rounded up to the dollar into my account. This is the only way I can make sure the deposit is 100% available when the check clears. And I'm just sick of Chase using my checking account balance to measure up just how much they can take advantage of me every week.

    I'm no radical, but I believe if enough of us 'little' people start stashing away our cash under our mattress instead of letting the banks rob and abuse us and play this ridiculous game they are playing with an unfair advantage, this WILL send a loud and clear message to Chase and the rest of the economy that we no longer trust our faulty banks to hold the few bucks that hold our livelihood.
  • corey · 4 months ago
    This whole transition has been the worst banking experience I have ever had. Chase has the worst customer service reps. I have been a wamu customer for over 15 years and never had a late credit card payment or over draft fee. Now with chase not contacting me directly to tell me my payment due date has changed...my payment was late, I got an overdraft fee, and my interest rate went up. Chase Sucks, I am leaving them today.
  • Joe · 4 months ago
    I am also fed up with Chase. Normally with Wamu when I deposited my payroll check, they made those funds available the same day. Now Chase does not have those funds available for another 2 days. The other day I even went into the bank and deposited $100 cash into my account and when I went home several hours later and checked my account online, it said those funds were not available because they were still being processed.
    With Wamu I never once had a overdraft charge in the several years I banked with them because they credited my money the same day, but with Chase they have already charged me two of them because the way the run their deposits and such. Furthermore with Wamu I had overdraft protection and if I were ever to have an overdraft charge they were to not charge me on the first two overdrafts. I see Chase does not honor the old Wamu rules.
    Another thing that ticks me off with Chase is when you fill out one of their deposit slips they require you to fill out all this bogus info like your address and such. When I was in line at the bank making a deposit several old Wamu customers who saw this were also frustrated. Most people I know here in Oregon do not like Chase since they took over and are opting to use other banks. I heard bad news from other people I knew who used Chase before the takeover and I see why they complained about them now.
    I have several other bank accounts and think I will use them instead.
  • Joe · 4 months ago
    By the way I forgot to add on my previous post that I used to live in Southern California and moved up to Oregon a few years ago. I had a BofA account at the time and when I moved they still took the same amount of time to proccess my cheks as they did when I was in California eventhough I never switched my account over. I was also never required by them to switch my account over to an Oregon branch. So it's odd to hear the other people complaining about what they have done to them. However, I never really cared for BofA either with all their fees and such.
    But I just wanted to let you know that people up hear in Oregon are also fed up with the Chase takeover.
  • Elise · 4 months ago
    I am in a similar situation. I opened my WaMu account in Oregon, was there about a year, and now I've been living in California for about 8-9 years.

    I cannot make deposits to my local wamu/chase bank (it IS chase now) via the ATM, the option does not even come up. I've had very long phone conversations with Chase, they even sent me a new chase debit card, and it still does not work. Because of my work hours I am having trouble going to the bank to discuss it with them, so I now have several weeks of undeposited checks. I suppose in a way, it is good to know I am not the only one having problems.

    Also, according to my bank's branch, you cannot close down/transfer your bank account unless you go to the state you opened it in. When I opened a savings account in California, it could not be connected to my original account, because it was opened in another state.
  • jj · 3 months ago
    They lost a deposit of mine. It literally vanished into thin air,or an employees pocket. The customer service was abusive towards me whenever I tried to resolve it. So my funds disapear and a branch manager said don't worry about it, just take the money out we will overide the false overdraft fees. Well now I'm stuck with 200 in overdrafts, and my deposit from two weeks ago hasn't cleared yet. They are knowingly violating the expidited funds availlibiliy act. Instead of reversing the fees like they said they would, they reported me for Fraud. I tried talking with that dept but they never respond. I asked them to investigate the people involved with the missing deposit and they won't do shit beyond harassing me. I switched to wamu just to leave chase and then those monsters had tobuy and destroy Wamu. Chase reminds me of a plague it's a shame we don't have more John Dillingers , as it is obviouse that no one enforces these peoples greedy ways, and they feel they are outside of the law.
  • Brad · 2 months ago
    I'd recommend Wells Fargo. Chase service is terrible compared to Wamu.
  • amy eastridge · 2 months ago
    I just moved all my money to Wachovia will shortly be Wells Fargo next year...

    yaya for another merger.. just kidding.

    wamu i loved them but chase sucks.

    so i live in florida but kept my ca account because they messed up my florida account.

    i deposited 1200 to chase and they told me that i had to wait for it to be deposited over night via next day delievery.

    they credited my account four times for 1200 and debited my account three times for 1200 and once for 1050
    they owed me 250. then like 3 weeks later they deposited 1200 again.
    i was pissed so i took my money to wachovia

    i opened up my statement today and they debited my account 2000
    i am so pissed i hate this bank

    i can't wait to give em a piece of my mind

    i can't walk into a bank becuase florida is completely converted.

    i hate them and hope that they sink.

    think everyone should close their account
  • sn98112 · 1 month ago
    I imagine you've opened a new account somewhere by now. Chase systems in California will be online with the rest of country starting October 26. You should be set to bank at any Chase location with no issues. I'd recommend holding onto your original account because when it transfers over official to Chase you still get most of the benefits of WaMu Free Checking with Chase (Chase Extra Free Checking). If you plan on switching, and want to keep with a larger bank, I would recommend Wells Fargo.

    Avoid Bank of America and Citibank. They are riddled with problems--most big banks are.

    Wells Fargo & USBank are good for National Banks--but they still have some issues surrounding ethics, subprime loans, high fees, etc. Wells Fargo has the most locations in California + they will soon absorb Wachovia into their mix making even more locations.

    If you desire to go local seek out a non-profit credit union.
    Low fees, good loan and interest rates, and overall they have sound, ethical business practices. Plus, a lot of them are part of the CO-OP Network which allows to you make withdrawals, deposits, and use ATMs for free at other credit unions for FREE.


    I live in Washington now and opened all of my accounts at credit union called BECU and couldn't be more pleased.
  • MMORRIS · 3 weeks ago
    I HATE CHASE!!!
    I was a WaMu banker and had to go through the transition to Chase. I was told I could use my Wamu checking card with no issues, then it stopped working while i still had a positive balance. I went to a branch and now say I HAVE to switch to a Chase debit card...
    The worst change from Wamu to Chase is how long it takes a check to clear. At Wamu you could go in and deposit a check and that money would be available for you to use instantly. At Chase you have to wait 4+ DAYS...WTF!>!?!? I thought there were supposed to be a minimal amount of changes and only positive ones at that!?
    Does anyone know of a bank in CA where the checks clear FAST, like Wamu used to?
  • We hate Chase · 2 weeks ago
    Chase will have a class action lawsuit coming soon - You can't have this many customers with the same fraudulent claims. We've never had Insufficient funds posted and now have 3 in one week, due to their check holding scam....

    Speak up and speak out - call your local News station, Newspaper and keeping blogging about it. The message will get out really fast...

    These are the same big banking scum bags that have helped put our economy in the garbage!

    Pass it on!!! all the best!!