BMO Harris Bank Checking Accounts

Hello All,

I wish I have read some of the reviews here before I opened an account with BMO. Here are some info we all can use to help folks in BMO to improve their service, so customers like us won't need to deal with bad financial services like BMO in the future!

Besides writing the reviews, we should also file complaints with the regulatory agencies!

Opened my account online. Completed a few transactions inside the branch and made a few purchases online, no issues. Fast forward two weeks. I once again go into a branch to deposit a check. The teller advises that the funds would probably be available at midnight. However, because it was the Thursday before Christmas, it was possible that the check would be held until Tuesday. No problem.

About 12 hours later, I received a call from BMO Harris asking me questions about the deposit. The caller woke me from a dead sleep and was slightly abrasive. The caller inquired how someone like myself came into possession of the sum of money on the check when my initial deposit to open my account was so minuscule.

Ummm, what?

I advised him that the initial deposit for my account was $25 and I transferred 10 times that amount. He told me it looked suspicious and that he was going to place a fraud hold on the deposit until he could research it. I asked if he needed me to do anything and he said no, he would contact the establishment that issued the check as well as the bank to verify. I asked how long it would take and he said he would do it after our call ended and if all went well, he’d unfreeze my account.

I asked for clarification purposes if he meant the check. He said, no. I’m going to freeze the entire account. I pointed out that the rest of the money in the account was a bank transfer that had been in the account for weeks and that it was 2 days before Christmas and that was the only account I had access to.

His response to that was “ BMO Harris doesn’t care that it’s Christmas. They pay me very well to spot fraud and I’m not going to let you withdraw and steal thousands of dollars”.

Again, huh?

I told him I was not trying to withdrawal thousands. I just wanted access to what was already there to finish my Christmas shopping. He again proceeded to inform me of how well he gets paid to do his job and I will be honest, I kinda lost it. I asked him if he was aware of how unprofessional and insulting it was to brag about his paycheck while simultaneously informing me that he was freezing my account?

It all went downhill from there.

A few hours later, I tried to log in to see if the situation was resolved and my online and telephone banking access had been suspended. I called in to customer service and had it reinstated. I asked to be transferred to the Fraud department and spoke to someone named Ebony. She informed me that my account would be locked for 14 business days. I told her that the previous agent said he would investigate it today and asked if I could speak with him. After putting me on hold, she returned to the phone and said no. He won’t be looking at my account nor will he be speaking with me. I asked to be escalated to a Supervisor. She again declined. I informed her I would just go to a branch to see if they would contact the fraud department. She informed me that the person I spoke to was a Senior Fraud Investigator and that nobody was going to help me. So, I shouldn’t waste my time driving to a branch. You guys record your calls, correct?

Is this really how BMO Harris does business? I totally understand the need to protect your interests. Hold the check, investigate. But, must you be insulting, demeaning, childish and unprofessional?

Absolutely horrible! First, they sent me check that were linked to my savings account..not checking account AKA they didn’t work and bounced, so embarrassing. Then my debit card had fraud on it after using it ONE time. They keep sending me paper statements after I requested online only multiple times. Then my credit card with them doesn’t work at any gas stations…oh and then they sent my new credit card to the wrong address. Called then to fix this issue and they’re making me call them back in 5 business days to have it reissued. Incredibly inconvenient and terrible customer service. Would not recommend to anyone.

BMO Harris offered a bonus for opening an account and making direct deposits. I tried opening an account online, but it did not work. I called their support. They were unable to help, but I tried again while on the line and the application went through. After an exchange of emails, and no progress, I called support again. This time the hurdle was overcome and the account was opened and funded. I called support a third time to verify my eligibility for the promotion. After being handed off to 3 people, I was informed that the new account was not eligible because a promotion code was not supplied during the application process. Yet, no promotion code was provided to me either online, through email or over the phone. Support could not help me further over the phone because they could not verify my identity through the normal text, SSN, birthdate route. Instead, they tried to verify me through a database that asked questions about cars and addresses from 30 years ago, that I could not remember.

At last, I went into my local branch. There I received excellent service. The personal banker added the promotion code - no fuss, no muss. So, my advise is to open a BMO Harris account in person and not online or over the phone.

Worst Bank Ever!! Please choose a different bank. I think the only people that would benefit from a BMO account are rich people. Not a bank for the middle class common person. There overdraft fees are insanely high and you can only use your overdraft protection if they say it's ok to. What?! In a time we're a lot of people are struggling that is unacceptable. If I have to overdraft my account for gas until payday that week that should not be an issue especially because I have direct deposit. I will be closing my account ASAP.

I was very impressed with the professional way I was served by BMO in Cary. Great atmosphere and prompt courteous service. They handled my concerns with great care. My problems were handled and I was very impressed with the whole experience

I wasted 1h30min of my life over the phone trying to open an account.....and failed! I talked to some 'banker' Alan Ryan from Chicago who 'couldn't verify' me after I spent a lot of time and provided the bank with my personal info, and he was very happy about that. I called back and they told me they can start the verification process over, but after being on hold, they said no. Total mess and waste of time. Nobody is professional either.

After having my account for more than a few years, even having several things set up for direct billing, two days ago I get woke up at 7:30 am by an automated message that sounded sketchy so I hang up and call the number on my card to see what it happening. Someone on their part decided that regular things that I routinely had been paying for and authorized to be paying for were all of a sudden suspish. They put me through an item by item accounting of what I spent on what and what for like I did something wrong. Look, I'm not some kid being loose with mommy's money. I'm a grown woman. I didn't drop my account into the negative either. This was my phone bill (active for several years) they flagged. This was books I bought on Amazon. This a curler set I bought at a walgreens where I take my disabled son in law to get his prescriptions filled. This was gas at a gas station I sometimes stop at. This was subscription for $4.85 to a game I signed up for 6 mos ago. I asked why all of a sudden I need to give an accounting of my spending? They can't give me an answer. But all of a sudden, I now have to call them to tell them when I am going to be spending MY money?
WHAT IS GOING ON BMO?

Stay away from this bank!! I just opened a new checking and savings account and have had nothing but problems. First thing is that they never sent me a debit card automatically once the account was opened and funded, I had to request one which is ridiculous. Next thing is that setup a external transfer from my Chase account to my bmo account to transfer funds so I can close my chase account. Bmo put a hold on that transfer. So I called them and I was informed by Nicole from online banking that that the hold is there because I didn’t verify my phone number!! Yep that’s right!! She proceeds to tell me that a manager will remove the hold within 24 hours and guess what? It’s more than 24 hours and the hold is still not removed!! Oh and now every time that I login, I have to have a code texted to me to verify my identity. I took my business elsewhere and have already received my new debit card from u.s. bank. I opened my account with u.s bank after I opened my accounts with bmo Harris and I already have my debit card from u.s. bank. Unbelievable!! Stay away!!

Their overdraft protection program is a fraudulent program used to steal the customers money I don’t recommend or advise anybody to use the program they will take your money and tell you they can’t do nothing about it