Fifth Third Bank is dispicable in their banking practices. About four years ago I moved from the Kalamazoo Michigan area to a small town in NE Georgia. There are no branches for Fifth Third Bank anywhere near this small Georgia town, so I attempted to close my 5/3 bank account in favor of opening a new account at another bank that has branches in this small town. When I attempted to close the account, I learned that I had a debt to 5/3 to the tune of around $2, 200.00. That was a valid debt. Fortunately, I was traveling to St. Louis which has a few 5/3 branches, so I went to a branch and paid them the entire amount to bring all the debt to ZERO and asked them to close the account. Well, apparently, by the time the $2, 200 hit that account, a charge for Overdraft Protection was hit that account, so that brought that account to negative 35.00. I was not aware that this occurred and thought that my 5/3 account was resolved and closed.

Several months later, I got a call from 5/3 indicating that I owed them around $130.00 (because they kept charging that account Overdraft Protection every month from the time I "thought" I had closed the account). Of course, I was upset, but I opted to roll-over and pay the money. Fortunately, I was still traveling to St.Louis and went to the same 5/3 branch and had them pull up the account to get the current amount owed (again, around $130.00), and paid them the money and requested that they close the account again. Well, the same thing happened! Apparently, between the time I physically handed the cashier the money (and again requested they close the account), but before the 130 was applied, another Overdraft Protection fee was applied...and of course, that brought the account to a negative balance. Of course, I was not aware this had occurred until a couple of months later in June 2010, I got a call from 5/3 to say that I owed them more money ($77.00 this time). At this point, I became very upset, but tried to reason with the 5/3 representative by walking them through the sequence of events. My arguments fell upon deaf ears and the representative (as well as others in subsequent phone calls) insisted that I needed to pay the money before the account could be closed. At this point, I just kept telling the representatives that I refuse to pay any more money, they needed to waive the fees and close the account.

Eventually, the calls stopped and I forgot about the whole matter. Well, last week, I got a letter from an attorney out of Colorado called Lukehart & Associates demanding payment of $785.00 (as of the date December 27, 2010) to resolve the 5/3 matter. Incredible!!! I am not sure how the amount this attorney claims I owe went from 77.00 to 785.00 in just 6-7 months, but that is what this attorney stated in his letter. I responded to his letter with a letter of my own and sent it registered mail and walked through the entire scenario. I also demanded a full accounting of the claims and suggested that he recommend to his client (5/3 Bank), that they drop the matter. Of course, I fully expect the attorney to continue to pursue this matter, I am sure it is going to cost me more money one way or another.

Anyone who has a suggestion of how to fight back against this harrassment, I am certainly open to suggestions.

Do not bank at Fifth Third! I opened a CD and the banker told me I had to open a checking account with it so I did. I said I did not want a bank account there and specifically asked if I would be charged fees if I did not use the account. He told me no. I even told him not to issue me checks on this account as I would not be using it. It was clear to him that I was not using this account. He said that was fine. Well- suddenly I received a statement in the mail indicating I have been getting charged "dorman account" fees for the last 6 months. Yes- the last six months and this is the first they're telling me about it...after 6 months. I spoke to the branch manager at the Woodridge, IL branch. He told me that he cannot credit back the fees as "this money is not kept by the bank- it it paid to the government". He also told me that I have been getting notices in the mail each month from the bank telling me that they have been charging me this fee each month. I did some research and found out that this branch manager is either an outright liar or he doesn't have the slightest clue what he is doing- I think it's a combination of both. The fees they were hitting me with are collected by the bank and kept by the bank. (I believe if the account is dormant for a year or so the government collects some of that money but he SHOULD know the rules and NOT LIE). Also- the bank DOES NOT send out monthly notifications stating they are hitting me with a "dormant account fee" each month. No such notifications are sent out by the bank at all. So again- either he has no idea what he is talking about or he is a liar. Fifth Third clearly dropped the ball from the getgo when the banker told me there would be no fees and refuses to take any responsibility for what their employees including the branch manager say or do. The icing on the cake was the branch managers complete ignorance and failure to take any responsibility and lies he told me. Ridiculous. Really ridiculous and unethical to say the least.

"As always, Fifth Third Bank checks and cash are available to pay items clearing your account the day of the deposit." Although this funds availability statement has a nice ring to it, proceed with caution...because, it is not true!

On 11/27/2010, I walked into a Fifth Third branch and deposited $1, 000.00 CASH. The teller handed me a receipt dated 11/27/2010 that reflected an available account balance of $1, 165.96. I spend the day shopping, using my debit card for various transactions. No big deal, because according to Fifth Third's Fund availability statement, the cash was available to pay items clearing the account the day of the deposit, right? WRONG!

On 11/29/2010, I visited the branch near my home, and deposited $820.00 into my checking account, and went about my business for the week.

At the end of the week, I went to Fifth Third to deposit my paycheck. The teller informs me that my account was $670.00 overdrawn!!! How was this possible??? EASY...the cash I deposited on 11/27/2010 didn't post until 11/29/2010!!! Duh, everybody should know that banks routinely hold CASH for it to clear!

I spoke to the bank manager, he refunded $75.00 back to my account. Thanks! I wanted to speak to a Regional Manager, but the Mt Vernon, IN branch refused to provide me with a phone number!

So, as of now, I am still out $595.00 worth of overdraft fees because I spent money before my CASH deposit had a chance to clear.

I received a credit card application that offered a 0% APR on balance transfers and mailed it to 5th/3rd in the enclosed postage paid envelope on August 20, 2010. Having not heard anything from 5th/3rd, I became increasingly concerned, considering it has my social security number as well as other personal information and today is September 14, 2010.

I called today only to be treated as though I had done something wrong. The customer service person told me if the offer period expired, the application would be shredded and I would not receive any notification. I then told her I was extremely worried about my personal information being in the wrong hands and she told me, "You should have applied online if you are concerned".

I then explained that the website was down on the night before it was mailed (as it still is www.apply53.com) and I was of the impression that a postage paid preprinted envelope would make it to its destination.

She responded with "You should have called, we are open until 8PM Eastern Time". There was absolutely no concern as to the security of my personal information, contrary to what the website states. Furthermore, when I asked her advice as to what I should do next, I was told I could call back everyday until it comes in.

In twenty-five days I would think an envelope could make it to Australia and back. I am thoroughly displeased with 5th/3rd, will NEVER do business with them, and will ALWAYS recommend another financial institution over 5th/3rd.

Does anyone know of a class action suit against Fifth Third? Or should we start one? I would be in!