Bank accounts...

So I have had a bank account at two different banks for the past four years. We did this because the bank of choice at Western Michigan University is whose initials start N and end with ational, and C and ends with ity. And I've been pretty happy with that bank; the tellers have always been talkative and nice.

When I signed up for work with my current employer in Dec 2007, I asked to have my checks deposited split up between these two banks: so much money in one account, and the rest in the other. I even spelled it out that way in my application with them. This, however, is apparently too much. And even more, why should -they- care? It's -my- money.

So I abandoned my NC account in March with a total of $9.09. I could have gone to a movie with that money, but you know what? I just forgot about it. I -abandoned- it.

Some people get account balances every month. I would get account balances every three months. I had no problems with charges to my account from March through September. That's 6 months of inactivity. Apparently, that's when they start charging you for holding onto your money. Three months of being charged without my knowledge and I have an account balance of negative $13.41. Hm.

So I email the company, asking them if we can just close my account, seeing as how they have stolen all (as far as they know) my money. But they can't close it because it has a negative balance. So now I'm supposed to pay them for stealing my money so that they won't steal any more. WTH.

So I went to the branch office to close my account and let them know most of this information. (I was not aware that I was only receiving quarterly statements until I got home and after they told me that I should have received other statements.) They did reverse the most recent charge to my account, so I only had to pay $5.91 to close my account.

I doubt I'll be able to show them that I only get quarterly account statements and get the other charges lifted. I don't even think I'm going to worry about it. I'll just complain for a day, to get it out of my system, and move on.

PS While I am invited to return my business to National City, I don't think I will.