Why is Bank of America closing accounts?
Not enough activity with your account
They close down checking and credit-card accounts in part to keep regulators, who are worried about money laundering and other criminal activity, out of their hair. The closures often happen without warning, and chaos ensues when people lose access to their money for weeks and can't pay their bills.
One of the reasons for the closures is the rise of online banking. In recent years, competition has increased against banks that offer only online services. There has also been a drop in transactions at physical branches amid demand for increasingly digitalized and remote banking experiences.
Bank of America's Financial Health
In recent years, Bank of America's financial performance has been relatively stable. In 2022, the bank reported a net income of $20.4 billion, a decrease from the previous year's $27.4 billion. However, its revenue increased from $91.2 billion in 2021 to $95.2 billion in 2022.
Generally, banks may close accounts, for any reason and without notice. Some reasons could include inactivity or low usage. Review your deposit account agreement for policies specific to your bank and your account.
In May 2022, the CFPB ordered Bank of America to pay a $10 million civil penalty over unlawful garnishments and, later in 2022, the CFPB and OCC fined Bank of America $225 million and required it to pay hundreds of millions of dollars in redress to consumers for botched disbursem*nt of state unemployment benefits at ...
Bank | Forbes Advisor Rating | Products |
---|---|---|
Chase Bank | 5.0 | Checking, Savings, CDs |
Bank of America | 4.2 | Checking, Savings, CDs |
Wells Fargo Bank | 4.0 | Savings, checking, money market accounts, CDs |
Citi® | 4.0 | Checking, savings, CDs |
The bank, with its headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina, has already closed 95 branches this year and plans to close 15 more by the end of 2023. Bank of America plans to close up to 134 branches by 2024, showing that the bank is looking to decrease their retail banking footprint.
Fast forward to today, BofA is thriving despite concerns over inflation and threats of a possible recession. The bank reported net income of $31.9 billion in 2021, compared with just $4 billion in 2008.
Bank of America will continue shuttering branches this year, with over a dozen already scheduled for early 2024. In 2023, Bank of America closed down more than a hundred branches and has already scheduled the closure of dozens more.
How safe is Bank of America right now?
Bank of America is the second-largest bank in America in terms of assets, and they're FDIC insured up to $250,000 per depositor. They offer fraud protection and other security features like third-party access reviews and customized reviews, so you can keep an eye on your accounts.
Deposits in checking accounts, savings accounts, money market savings accounts and Certificates of Deposit (CDs) are insured up to $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank, for each account ownership category under the FDIC's general deposit insurance rules.
- First Republic Bank (FRC) . Above average liquidity risk and high capital risk.
- Huntington Bancshares (HBAN) . Above average capital risk.
- KeyCorp (KEY) . Above average capital risk.
- Comerica (CMA) . ...
- Truist Financial (TFC) . ...
- Cullen/Frost Bankers (CFR) . ...
- Zions Bancorporation (ZION) .
While closing a bank account typically doesn't have a direct impact on your credit score (like, say, having your credit card closed on you), it could become a problem if your account has any outstanding balances, such as unpaid overdraft fees.
You'll get your money back (usually). You may receive a check in the mail for the remaining balance, unless the bank suspects terrorism or other illegal activities. You can also go to a branch and receive a cashier's check for the account balance.
Of course, the bank must return any remaining funds in your account but may hold on to them to cover any negative balance or fees. In some cases, the bank may hold the funds if your account is flagged for suspicious activities, which is increasingly common.
Bank of America, one of the largest banking and financial services brands and corporations in the United States. It was formed through NationsBank's acquisition of BankAmerica in 1998.
BofA expects to reach up to 138 branch closures in 2024, signaling that banks' push to rationalize their physical footprints is a long way from being over. The trend of consolidating branches began around 2010 and has since accelerated following ongoing challenges and labor shortages from Covid-19.
The trend of consolidating branches began around 2010 and has since accelerated following ongoing challenges and labor shortages from Covid-19. The pandemic triggered a rise in online banking, resulting in banks shedding physical locations and working to meet increased customer demand for electronic financial services.
- JP Morgan Private Bank. “J.P. Morgan Private Bank is known for its investment services, which makes them a great option for those with millionaire status,” Kullberg said. ...
- Bank of America Private Bank. ...
- Citi Private Bank. ...
- Chase Private Client.
What is the least secure bank in the US?
The worst banks are Wells Fargo and Citibank. Wells Fargo is the worst bank overall, with a high percentage of unresolved complaints and loss of Better Business Bureau accreditation. Citibank has a string of high-profile cases involving operational chaos and regulatory fines.
Key Takeaways: We rate Bank of America 4 out of 5 stars, giving it high marks for branch and ATM access but lower scores for its rates on deposit accounts. The bank has checking accounts with low or no monthly fees, a rewards debit program and relatively low overdraft fees.
In 2024, Bank of America plans to close a bunch of branches. Here is a list of the closures, with the expected closing date for each branch.
Total debt on the balance sheet as of December 2023 : $334.30 B. According to Bank of America 's latest financial reports the company's total debt is $334.30 B. A company's total debt is the sum of all current and non-current debts.
Bank of America is closing more than 100 branches in the U.S. by the end of this year, including one location in New Hampshire. The bank, with its headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina, has already closed 95 branches this year and plans to close 15 more by the end of 2023.
References
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