A California couple lost their Chase checking account because the bank’s system couldn’t read the red ink on a pair of $100 checks from one of their grandmothers.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports the couple didn’t find out their account had been closed until their paycheck direct deposits were rejected. Chase told the couple it shut their account down due to “fraud” because the bank’s black-and-white scanner read the checks as blank. The couple complained to the newspaper, which told a Chase P.R. rep, who got the account reopened.

The moral of the tale: Use black or blue pens, and encourage granny to do the same. Just to be safe.

Chase misses checks’ red ink, closes bank account [San Francisco Chronicle]
(Thanks, Jonathan!)

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