I am a former customer of Bank of the West ( FDIC # XXXX ), who spent much of XXXX and XXXX attempting to close my personal checking account. I initiated phone communication with Bank of the West on XXXX XXXX, when my bank was in good balance, and was immediately thrust into a bureaucratic nightmare. When I called the XXXX number, I was informed that I had to speak with the branch at which I opened the account. As I have moved away from XXXX XXXX, where the account was opened, I found myself with no recourse but telephonic communication. 

I attempted to call the branch at which I opened the account, and was put off, despite multiple tries, by the manager 's unavailability. Each time, I was promised a return phone call. No call was ever forthcoming. 

The account was in good balance until XXXX XXXX, at which it became overdrawn. I promptly deposited {$30.00} into the account, with the intent of establishing a positive balance, but was immediately swamped with overdraft charges. Simultaneously, a previously scheduled XXXX charge XXXX XXXX/XXXX/15 XXXX went through on the account, despite my attempts to get XXXX to remove the charge. Still, I believed this would be fine, as I had deposited enough money in the account to cover the charge. What I did not realize is that Bank of the West 's egregious grift had all ready eaten in the money that I had deposited. 

While this was happening, I was still making attempts to contact Bank of the West at their XXXX number and at the branch where I had opened the account. There was no traction with the XXXX number, as they insisted I need to speak with the branch as the balance was negative. I found myself caught in a XXXX -- I could n't close the account because the account had a negative balance, to which bank of the west was adding incurred fees each day. The local branch, meanwhile, did not return any attempts at communication. The manager was always " out to lunch. " With XXXX exception, ( a {$0.00} XXXX charge on XXXX/XXXX/15, again unexpected ), the account underwent no use, yet it continued to accrue daily overdraft charges until the XXXX of XXXX, when Bank of the West closed the account and referred it to a collections agency. 

It is my fear that my experience has become a standard business practice of Bank of the West, whereby both the unexpressed and expressed desire of the institution is to refuse the closure of accounts for financial gain, with the threat of ruin to any customer unwilling to participate in its usurious scheme. 

This unscrupulous practice of exploitation and abuse of Bank of the West 's customers must neither be tolerated nor sanctioned by its governing bodies and insurers. 
