Provident Bank of Maryland - Customers BEWARE!

I initiated and opened a saving account with two other individuals in mid

May of 2005 with $100 of my funds. On or about July 25th of 2005 I made a

transfer deposit from my personal checking account to this savings account.

In mid August I withdrew most of my funds, eventually leaving $500 in this

account.

I received a statement the last week in March 2006, only glancing over it

and noticing a two cent charge. I put it aside until I could get to the bank

to make an inquiry. Wednesday, April 12th I went to the bank to make a $100

withdrawal and asked a question leading up to the two cent charge. I was

given an answer to my question and was informed by Tabitha Lucas (the

teller) that I had a zero balance in this account. I told Tabitha there was

a mistake, insisted on the details and anxiously (but patiently) waited for

an explanation, only to be LOUD talked and embarrassed by Nicole L. Chadwell

(the manager) being told that someone on the account owed funds to someone

and 501.31 was taken from the account on February 21st. They did not have

any other information yet, so we agreed that Tabitha would contact me with

the details. After receiving a phone call from Tabitha stating that I was

correct and I did not owe the funds, I went back to the bank the same

evening to close the account as to not incur a $70 a month charge beginning

May 1st (why, I may never now).

They tried to explain it away by implying that they gave me a 17 page report

when I opened this account. LIES, LIES, LIES.

The paper they sent was dated May 1, 2006 and it looks like it came out of a

bank manual or like they produced it to make me go

away. NOT. On principal, I would not have opened this account if this

information had been provided to me. Provident did not give me

the 17 page report the day I came in with questions or the day I opened this

account.

They did not notify me in February after they removed the funds. They stated

in fine print on the back of my statement that they were going to start

charging me $70 a month (to add insult to injury). And they would have taken

a deposit on April 12th without notifying me of the debit situation.

Provident did everything but respond to my complaints which are:

1. The funds where taken from me without notification or explanation if

February.

2. I do NOT owe Provident anything according to Provident who still has not

given me a paper trail of the funds.

3. I have proven that the funds are mine.

4. Provident did not inform me about the “Right of Offset” until May 11,

2006.

5. How and why are they allowed to take MY money and NOT give me a written

explanation?

6. If this had gone unchecked, I would have owed then money without knowing

it?

7. It’s also my understanding that if I had gone in to make a deposit that

day instead of a withdrawal they would have continued taking the money

without a warning or explanation?

8. How and why is this bank allowed to get away with something like this

without notifying the customer when the account is opened?

9. Is something being done to keep this from happening to other innocent

customers in the future?

10. How was I supposed to know what “Debit Memo Offset” meant?

11. They will not provide proof of where the funds went. Where is the paper

trail?

12. AND they still refuse to refund me.

Comment On This

I agree! Lies, lies and more lies. When I opened my account (both savings and checking) I was advised that no minimum balance required in either account. I would have a three day hold on non-local checks and if I had direct deposit to checking no additional fees. I have been charged numerous overdraft fees for no reason. Was advised that I had to have a 1500. min balance in checking or direct deposit. I advised them I had direct deposit, still no response. My savings I was charged 5. per month since I don't have minimum balance of $300.00. In about 2 weeks I will be withdrawing all of my funds and transferring to a new bank. I am just totally fed up with Provident Bank of Maryland, serving Maryland, Washington D.C. and Virginia. They only serve themselves, and probably even don't treat their employees well either.