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These Are the Most Hated Banks in Every U.S. State


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People have to put a lot of trust in their bank. After all, a mistake made by a bank could mean serious financial ramifications for a person. And sadly, complaints against major banks are on the rise. 

A report by ConsumerProtect.com found that for a good portion of the last decade, complaints against banks and financial institutions increased yearly. People had problems with their accounts, the service they received, loans, credit cards, credit reporting, mortgages, and other bank services. In 2016 alone, more than 700,000 complaints were made about financial institutions that ConsumerProtect.com was able to track.

Choosing a bank where you feel comfortable and like your money will be protected is extremely important. That’s why we set out to see which bank was the most hated in every U.S. state. Do you bank at the most-hated institution in your state? Read on to find out.

Methodology

At FairShake, we have loads of frustrated people telling us that theirs is the worst bank, but we wanted to know what the data said.. We discovered the most hated bank in each state by researching, analyzing, and combining data from a few different sources.

Some of this comes from an analysis of proprietary FairShake data, including web traffic and inquiries about how to fight back against banks when their customer service departments fall short.

We also analyzed one-star reviews left for banks on Consumer Affairs.

From those two data sources, we were able to get a pretty good idea of which bank customers in each state had the most complaints about.

These Are the Most Hated Banks In Every State

While the complaints against these banks are varied, we could see some definite trends. Some of the most common problems customers tend to have with their banks are bad customer service, hidden fees, deceptive advertising, and errors.

However, each of these banks is different, with different reasons for making the list. Let’s take a look at each one.

Check out our rankings of the most hated Internet Service Providers in the U.S.

Wells Fargo

Most hated in 9 states: Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia

Total one-star Consumer Affairs reviews nationwide: 2,019

Think Wells Fargo is the worst bank? If so, you’ve got plenty of company.

Coming in at No. 1 in a whopping 9 different states, Wells Fargo definitely seems to be one of the most hated banks in the country. The many people who have left one-star reviews for Wells Fargo have netted the company just over a one-star rating at Consumer Affairs. If you have an issue with your Wells Fargo bank service, you’re far from alone.

Looking for help settling a complaint against Wells Fargo? You do have options. To learn more, check out our Wells Fargo guides here

Bank of America

Most hated in 9 states: California, Connecticut, Florida, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, Texas, and Washington

Total one-star Consumer Affairs reviews nationwide: 2,256

Before Wells Fargo gets too comfortable though in the “top” spot, some customers will plead their case that Bank of America is the real worst bank. As the most hated bank in 9 different states, Bank of America ties with Wells Fargo for the overall most hated bank on our list.

Consumer Affairs customers have left more than 2,000 one-star reviews, resulting in the bank’s one-star overall rating. Reviewers point to poor customer service, long wait times to speak to representatives, and long holding times for deposits as some of the most common reasons for Bank of America’s one-star reviews.

Having your own problems with Bank of America? We can help! Check out our guides here.

Chase Bank

Most hated in 5 states: Arizona, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, and New York

Total one-star Consumer Affairs reviews nationwide: 1,627

Chase Bank’s myriad one-star reviews have earned it just a one-star overall rating on Consumer Affairs. One alarming trend we saw in the reviews was customers complaining about Chase Bank policies that left their accounts suspended and prevented them from accessing their money for days or even weeks. Definitely not something you ever want to go through with your bank.

If you have a complaint against Chase Bank and are looking for legal help, our guide can help you get started toward reaching a resolution. 

Credit One Bank

Most hated in 5 states: Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, North Dakota, and Wyoming

Total one-star Consumer Affairs reviews nationwide: 2,168

Most hated in five different states, Credit One Bank has amassed one-star reviews from customers who claim the bank charges hidden and excessive fees, and that it specifically targets people with no credit, or who are rebuilding their credit. 2,168 one-star reviews have left Credit One with an overall one-star rating.

Need help resolving your own complaint against Credit One Bank? If the bank’s customer service has let you down, we can help. Check out our Credit One resources here

US Bank

Most hated in 5 states: Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, Oregon, and Utah

Total one-star Consumer Affairs reviews nationwide: 1,113

In five U.S. states, we found the most hated bank was US Bank, which has racked up 1,113 one-star reviews on Consumer Affairs, giving it a one-star rating overall. Customers take issue with a lot of US Bank’s offerings, but some trends we saw in the negative reviews were high requirements for free checking accounts, and high fees applied when customers overdrafted their accounts or transferred money.

If you need help resolving your own complaint against US Bank, check out our resource page

Regions Bank

Most hated in 4 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee

Total one-star Consumer Affairs reviews nationwide: 454

Regions Bank fell right in the middle of the pack for most hated banks nationwide, nabbing the most-hated spot in four different states. Regions Bank reviewers pointed to poor customer service and hidden fees as common reasons for one-star reviews. There were also a number of reviewers who got hit with overdraft fees because they said deposits took much longer to hit their accounts than Regions Bank said they would.

If you have a problem with Regions Bank that needs to be settled in small claims court, we can help! Check out our guide here.

Citizens Bank

Most hated in 2 states: New Hampshire and Rhode Island

Total one-star Consumer Affairs reviews nationwide: 300

Customers in New Hampshire and Rhode Island have something in common: Their most hated bank is Citizens Bank, which has 300 one-star reviews on Consumer Affairs nationwide. Those reviews run the gamut of common complaints people tend to have against banks, but the common thread that seems to come up over and over is the poor customer service people say they receive from Citizens Bank.

If customer service is failing to help your resolve your own complaint, you might want to consider consumer arbitration as your next step toward getting justice. And if you don’t know how, we can help.

Fifth Third Bank

Most hated in 2 states: Kentucky and Ohio

Total one-star Consumer Affairs reviews nationwide: 665

Fifth Third Bank may only be most hated in two states, but its 665 one-star reviews on Consumer Affairs reveal customers’ complaints about deceptive advertising, hidden fees, long holds on deposits, poor customer service, and other issues.

If you’re struggling to resolve your own complaint against Fifth Third Bank, help is out there. Our resources can help you understand your options, and begin the process of contacting Fifth Third Bank, filing a small claims case, or exploring consumer arbitration.

PNC Bank

Most hated in 2 states: Delaware and Pennsylvania

Total one-star Consumer Affairs reviews nationwide: 842

If you live in Delaware or Pennsylvania, the most hated bank in your state is PNC, which has racked up 842 one-star reviews on Consumer Affairs, resulting in a one-star overall rating on the site. One common theme among the one-star reviews is customers getting hit with overdraft fees because they say their deposits get stuck on hold.

If you’re having troubles of your own with PNC Bank, you do have some options. Check out our PNC guide to learn more.

TD Bank

Most hated in 2 states: New Jersey and Vermont

Total one-star Consumer Affairs reviews nationwide: 667

With nearly a 1.25 overall star rating on Consumer Affairs, TD Bank is actually one of the highest rated on our list. But that doesn’t stop it from being the most hated bank in both New Jersey and Vermont, and with 667 one-star reviews nationwide, there are customers in plenty more places who have had problems with TD Bank.

If you have your own problem with TD Bank that you’re struggling to get resolved, you have options. Our guide to TD Bank can help you understand your options for getting justice, and take the first steps toward filing a claim or a lawsuit, or preparing for consumer arbitration.

Ally Bank

Most hated in 1 state: South Dakota

Total one-star Consumer Affairs reviews nationwide: 942

Ally Bank has a solid two-star rating on Consumer Affairs, which, as of press time, makes it the highest-rated bank on this list. But customers in South Dakota are unlikely to agree, since Ally is the most hated bank in that state. A quick scroll through the one-star reviews customers have left shows an alarming trend: Many people say Ally makes mistakes in credit reporting that have had seriously negative effects on their credit scores.

Have you had a problem with Ally Bank that you’re still seeking justice for? Click here to see how we’ve helped other bank customers, and how we might be able to help you reach resolution in your complaint against Ally Bank.

Associated Bank

Most hated in 1 state: Wisconsin

Total one-star Consumer Affairs reviews nationwide: 39

Associated Bank is based in Green Bay, Wisconsin, but despite being a local bank with mainly local customers, Associated Bank was No. 1 most hated in Wisconsin thanks to 39 one-star reviews on Consumer Affairs — many of them from Wisconsin customers. Particularly concerning is a number of customers who claimed in their reviews that Associated Bank wouldn’t or couldn’t reverse fraudulent charges to their accounts.

If you’re a customer at Associated Bank and struggling to resolve a complaint, you might consider consumer arbitration as a possible avenue to do so. Learn more about the process here.

BB&T Bank

Most hated in 1 state: West Virginia

Total one-star Consumer Affairs reviews nationwide: 619

BB&T has earned its spot as the most hated bank in West Virginia with more than 600 one-star reviews on Consumer Affairs, resulting in a one-star rating overall. Repeatedly, customers have complained in their reviews about hidden fees, excessive overdraft fees, and long times for holding and processing deposits and transfers.

If you’re a BB&T customer, your contract likely states that you can only file suit against the company in small claims, which limits your options if you have a problem you’re struggling to get resolved. What many customers don’t know is that consumer arbitration may also be an option. Learn more about that here

Citibank

Most hated in 1 state: Washington, D.C.

Total one-star Consumer Affairs reviews nationwide: 943

Citibank is the most hated in just one state: Washington, D.C. But 943 one-star reviews is certainly significant, and it’s clear that if you struggle with Citibank, you’re not alone. In particular, it seems like customers have problems with the bank’s “Know Your Customer” program, which requests personal information from customers — often aggressively, according to many reviews — and drops customers who don’t share enough of their information with Citibank.

Are you trying to settle a dispute with Citibank? If their customer service isn’t getting the job done, try our guide for getting justice against Citibank.

SunTrust

Most hated in 1 state: Georgia

Total one-star Consumer Affairs reviews nationwide: 659

According to our data, customers in Georgia hate SunTrust more than any other bank. And with 659 one-star Consumer Affairs reviews nationwide, it’s clear that SunTrust isn’t particularly well-loved anywhere else, either. Customers point to excessive and hidden fees as a common reason for their one-star reviews.

If you’re having your own problems with SunTrust Bank, you’re not alone, and we can help. Learn more by checking out our SunTrust guide here

TCF Bank

Most hated in 1 state: Minnesota

Total one-star Consumer Affairs reviews nationwide: 224

Minnesotans agree — their most hated bank is TCF Bank, which has racked up 224 one-star reviews on Consumer Affairs. Many of those reviews mention the same issue: That if you have a problem, it feels impossible to reach an actual customer support representative amid a sea of online scrolling and automated phone systems.

If you have a problem with TCF Bank and you’re struggling to get it resolved, you might want to consider consumer arbitration. If you’re not sure how to begin that process, we can help.

Which are the most liked banks?

With all this talk on the most hated banks, you might wonder which banks customers actually approve of. While we at FairShake haven’t run that study yet, our friends at SuperMoney have their own ranking of the best checking accounts.








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