I closed out my accounts at Charter One today due to being charged a $25.00 inactivity fee which was deducted from my account because I had not deposited or withdrawn any funds for 60 days. First, I stood in line to have a teller inform me that they don't close accounts and that I would need to sign in at the welcome sign and wait to be called by a banking associate. I waited about 40 minutes before being summoned. I asked what warranted this fee. She needed to call to get the details. I explained that I wanted to close my account due to this fee and due to another earlier fee. The other (so called maintainance) fee was for my account dropping below $1,000 (which it did not even come close to.) She asked me if I checked my account everyday. I said no! She informed me that she always does so and I said because she's a banker and I'm not. She said they'd waive the $25.00 fee if I did not close my account but she couldn't waive the earlier (maintanance) fee because it was too old (2 months.) She told me that if I was a new customer they would not charge those fees due to promotional incentives; but they would not waive the fee if I closed my account since they'd lose my business anyway. I have been banking at this branch (under other bank names) for about 24 years and have never been notified or charged such fees. She said all banks charge them now. I told her to just close my accounts (and get me out of here for good.)

Regretfully, I did not do this sooner. Last spring I needed to make a bank transfer. I waited for at least an hour before I could get any help. And I was the only one waiting! By then I asked to use the rest room and was told there wasn't any. (Funny they used to have one.) The transfer took so long and then was done incorrectly. I needed to network with another bank to walk Charter One through correcting their mistakes! Also, in Oct. I wrote my first overdraft in over 35 years, by writing my check against the wrong account. Charter One sent a letter 4 weeks later informing me of the bad check. By then I had accrued late fees from the company I thought I had paid. (The other company graciously waived them because they know I have a history of prompt payments.)

My feeling is that the customer service is horrible at Charter One. I also feel they have robbed me of money via odd fees and access to my account. Bank accounts aren't truly inactive if the bank has use of or claim to your money. Should have left them sooner.

Don't bank at Charter One!

Charter One Bank Countryside, IL branch.