All Kristen wanted to do was make a deposit into her checking account at a Chase bank in Washington State, but she says a pushy concierge pulled her out of line and gave her the third degree about why she used ING rather than Chase as her primary bank.

She writes:

I was taking to the employees desk, where the transaction began. After having the check deposited, I was then asked if I would like a receipt. I said no, since I didn’t need the paper and thought I would be able to leave. Unfortunately for me I was then asked a series of questions about my account activity, how often do I use my accounts at Chase (not that often), what my typical balance was there etc.

After it being made clear that they were not my primary bank, they then asked me about my bank (ING). Questions ranged from the normal, “Why do you use ING over us?” to the more personal, “How much do you have in that bank and what does a typical statement look like.” Getting annoyed now that I am being forced to answer all of these questions when all I did was put money into the bank, I become rather curt with my answers (never rude). Finally the employee pulls out a list of Chase account options which she deems better for me, with me opting out. Now the big guns come out, regarding the hotly debated overdraft protection. I decline. Apparently to fully decline I need to wait for a form to print, initial and then sign. After all of that, I was then allowed to leave.

How annoying. I suppose I write this as a cautionary tale to those, on our lunch breaks, who want to simply make a deposit, to not get side swiped by another attendant. The only real reason I bank with Chase is so I can make deposits that fall outside of my direct deposits to ING, since mailing in my check doesn’t seem like the safest option (and there isn’t a brick and mortar branch in Washington State).

The ordeal sounds like an excellent advertisement for banking online exclusively. Has anything like this happened to you?

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