01/27/2019
A longtime customer came into the Bank and presented the teller with a check. The teller asked the customer about the check and she stated that she had received the check in the mail as part of her winning the Publisher's Clearing House. The letter instructed her to cash the check and submit a portion of the funds back to them while they finalized the issuance of the "large" winning check. This sounded strange to the teller who called a supervisor and through research found the check to be fraudulent. The supervisor retained the fraudulent check refusing to return it to the customer (fearing she would take it to another bank).
Does the bank have the right to retain the fraudulent check or should it have been returned to the customer, or should the check be destroyed and documented that such action was taken?
12/16/2018
In regards to fraudulent debit card charges, the bank I work at in California requires our customers to try to get the money back (even though it's fraud) before they will file the claim. From working at other banks, it was always my understanding that when it's a fraudulent charge, we file the claim and the customers do not have to try to get any money back. Are we in violation by requiring them to contact the stores/vendors to try to get money back? We haven't come across any situations where the vendor can even bring up the charge since it's not in our customer's name and we don't have any order number or anything.
11/11/2018
What is the bank's responsibility in regards to customers with diminished capacity? I have an elderly customer with dementia who makes frequent trips to the bank (often multiple times a day) and is in an advanced state of confusion. He often requests to take all of the money from his sizable checking account. While he has every right to his money, we are concerned that he is incapable of managing his finances on his own and is an easy target for criminals. He is walking around with a significant amount of cash in his wallet. While it does not appear that he has been abused financially, he does not have family who is willing to help him out. It is obvious that he no longer needs to be in control of his finances. As his bank, what are our options as far as keeping both the customer and his assets safe?
04/29/2018
Bank A issues a cashier's check for $25,000 payable to Smith Jones Construction. Bank B accepts the check for photo deposit into Mr. Jones' personal, private account indorsed with only his single signature. The cashier's check is never endorsed in the name of the payee company. Bank A then accepts the check from Bank B. Mr. Jones quickly withdraws the money from Bank B and misappropriates the funds. The business itself never gets paid. If it matters, this is in Ohio.
What banking errors were made here and by whom? The business is asking for recourse.
01/07/2018
Are there circumstances that would prohibit an account be restricted opposed to placing a hold on the account? For example, a customer cashes a counterfeit check against their checking account and inevitably the check returns, resulting in overdrawing their account. What is the best method to protect the bank and the customer from any further losses: a hold on their account for the amount of the counterfeit check, or restricting the account? Are there any NACHA regulations, such as return reasons, that prohibit
restricting an account?
10/29/2017
When closing an account with direct deposits for fraudulent activity, is the bank required to give the customer 30 days' notice before closing?
10/29/2017
How long should a bank continue to pay valid checks on an old account that was closed due to fraud from the new account opened by the customer?
02/19/2017
In regards to Reg E, we know that we cannot make a customer fill out a police report to dispute a charge to receive provisional credit, however during the course of the investigation if there is true counterfeit card fraud can we then ask the customer to file the report in order for the bank to receive restitution in the event the fraudster is caught?
09/04/2016
Our processor says we don’t have chargeback rights since a debit card purchase was made using MasterCard SecureCode. Can we deny the claim since the cardholder’s password was used?
06/05/2016
A person came in with a check drawn on our institution and wants to convert it to a cashier’s check. Is there a BSA issue involved?