Bank Concerns about Employee

[Ava]

We had a similar situation at my former work place (not a bank but a government office) and the employee was brought into the bosses office and presented with a report of all the files she had accessed in the last few months and was asked for her reasons for peeking at these files. The situation ended with her being escorted off the property with her personal belongings in a box.

I once experienced the power of corporate "big brother" first hand - I got busted for surfing the internet at work! I didn't get fired because my boss really did like me - I was a fast worker, which is how I had time to surf - but I got pulled into a really embarrassing meeting with my boss & HIS boss during which I was presented with a print-out of every single site I'd visited in the last week. Even things like, when you are on a page and an ad refreshes itself, the URLs of each different ad showed up on the list from IT as a new site hit.

Most large companies (and probably a lot of smaller ones too) can view every single keystroke an employee makes on their work computer. The bank should have no problem at all verifying that this person was viewing OP's account information outside of performing a legitimate transaction.

 

[SandrA9810]

Do you know for sure she looked at your account....is there a way she knew about you shopping from something else or are you sure...I am just trying to think on the other side if..

and for you guys that work at banks..if the OP goes to the MGR and tells them this......what if the worker just denies it?

to you OP

Most the time, the banker has to log into their computer, and then their entries are logged. For various reasons, they need to keep track of the accounts pulled by an employee.

It just makes me wonder how she pulled up your account in the first place. Did she memorize your account number or social security number?

And no matter how many times I've gone into a branch location, I've never been questioned about any of my transactions.
I think my aunt would be mortified if a teller ever started asking about a transaction. She's pretty much on a first name basis with every one that works at the branch she visits. And you better believe she'd be telling that lady to go get her manager right then and there, and have her repeat what she just said to the manager.

 

[dixonismydog]

Could you talk to the manager, about her having restricted access to your banking information? Probably, just the easiest way to handle this. She will probably get herself fired before long anyway......and this way you won't have to be responsible for it. (Which would be uncomfortable for both of you, if you run into her all the time.)

Serious lapse of judgement on her part. And don't kid yourself, there are MANY bank employees that look up personal information, that is really none of their business. Happens ALL the time......most are just smart enough to shut their mouth about it.

 

[Mom2Ben02]

You could bet I would be fired immediately for what she did. I actually go probably too far in the other direction - if anyone I know outside of work comes in, I do not take care of them. Period. The "rule" is no family members - I don't take anyone. I don't WANT to know that my neighbor has $27 in their checking account, or that they owe $50,000 on their credit cards.

I would most certainly bring this up to your employer, and to the bank manager. I am sorry this happened to you.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I would start off with discussing this situation with the manager/owner of the daycare center. Basically what this woman has done is grounds for termination at any financial institution. You want your management to be aware that the woman may (1) pull her child from the center, and/or (2) say that you are doing things that you should not, to make you look bad.

From the standpoint of the bank, rather than going to the Branch Manager, where the woman can see you having this discussion, contact the Internal Audit or Internal Security office of the bank. They will have means to see what account this person is accessing; she may be doing this to other people she knows and not just you.

But I definitely would not want someone like that in a position where she has access. And you are the victim; you should not have to move your account to a different branch or a different bank.

I want to add to this.

1. She is not your friend. And definitely should not be considered your friend.

2. She has breached a position of trust.

3. And, again, discuss this with the owner/manager of the day care center.

 

[willowsnn3]

Did the other teller hear what she said to you??? If so that teller should speak up to her or management. I would try to handle it privately with bank management, if they have a complaint they may 'watch' her then proceed with their policy either by warning, terminating or prosecution if they find out it is even more serious. I would think if she has looked at your account she surely has looked at others.

 

[garydeb]

I have worked in the finance dept. It is illegal to access anyone account except for official business. Even when you access a aacount what you see is private and you are not allow if discuss that information with anyone!!! Sorry want she did is illegal. Go immediately to the bank manager. If she is looking at your account she is probably accessing accounts of everyone she knows.
-Debbie

 

[mrsklamc]

Well I could start with the huge complaint that your credit union is not paying any taxes. .

Which means they aren't passing them on to me.

 

[bigmama67]

Do you work for a credit union??? I HATE them, because they make it so very difficult to conduct business. NO debit cards. I can only us THEIR ATM, or come in to make a withdrawl, and most in our area have ONE location, sometimes 2. They are a complete inconvinence and waste of time, for little to no benefit! My first bank account was with a credit union, and as soon as I was on my own I switched. Mom and Dad did in on purpose so that I would really have to work to get to any money in that account. I don't think I could run a household from it.

Apologies if this has been said before as I haven't read all the responses...we have been with our Credit Union for years and love them. The nearest branch is not close to us, but they are affiliated with other CUs (including one in the next town) where we can make deposits and withdrawals with no problem. Also we have ALWAYS had a debit card from them (and for a long time we have also had a VISA card), and there are no fees when you do cashback (unlike with my other bank card). We have a car loan with them and the money for that and for our VISA can be deducted or transferred over from our Savings or Checking account with no problem. We have found it very easy to work with and are considering joining a second CU in our town to refi our car loan at a lower rate. I'm all for it!

Forgot to mention that when we were working on our mortgage application, they were very helpful in getting me canceled checks, etc., even though the mortgage was not through them (only because they don't do FHA loans).

 

[torinsmom]

Do you work for a credit union??? I HATE them, because they make it so very difficult to conduct business. NO debit cards. I can only us THEIR ATM, or come in to make a withdrawl, and most in our area have ONE location, sometimes 2. They are a complete inconvinence and waste of time, for little to no benefit! My first bank account was with a credit union, and as soon as I was on my own I switched. Mom and Dad did in on purpose so that I would really have to work to get to any money in that account. I don't think I could run a household from it.

My credit union is definitely not like that. I only use my credit union Visa check card, and I use it for EVERYTHING. I can use any ATM(fees for ones who are not the CU's, but that is normal). They have great rates and lots of other benefits. If you qualify to be a member, most CU's are very good choices.

 

[Swimalie]

I would start with your day care manager. Let him or her know about what happened and what you plan to do about it.

Then I would go to the branch manager. This teller should not be interacting with anyone's information, period. What she did was illegal and I wouldn't want her not only working where she could access your information, but mine as well, even if she didn't know me (unless she had a legitimate reason but she has proven that she can't be trusted).

Then I would ask the manager for a personal banker to over see your account to make sure this didn't happen again by another employee.

Good luck.

 

[eroilersgal]

I haven't read through the entire thread to see if anyone pointed this out but I would think that with everything computerized she could access your account at any branch. In our daycare world of 'guilty until proven innocent' when it comes to alleged violations I would suggest changing banks. More personal hassle but at least you don't put your center and you own job at risk and you get to keep your privacy. Just my $0.02

 

[Disneychix]

I work at a bank and there are instances where a back office worker would have access to somebodies accounts. And no, at our bank you don't need a SS# or acct # to find someone's info. I agree that the teller SHOULD NOT have said anything or been looking at the account. I'm really thinking there has to be some other way for her to have known about the shopping trips. If other tellers overheard the conversation that is a huge tip-off to management right there that she is breaking privacy rules.
Do you know for a fact that the worker is a teller and not in another position at the bank? Doesn't excuse her for what she said but would make more sense why she would have access to your acct.
Also, I would probably switch banks. If she said this openly on the branch floor and no coworkers had a problem with the comment I would bet they are all breaking the rules! Not a good place to do business in general with.

 

[minnie1928]

I work at a bank and there are instances where a back office worker would have access to somebodies accounts. And no, at our bank you don't need a SS# or acct # to find someone's info. I agree that the teller SHOULD NOT have said anything or been looking at the account.

Also, I would probably switch banks. If she said this openly on the branch floor and no coworkers had a problem with the comment I would bet they are all breaking the rules! Not a good place to do business in general with.

Totally agree, the bank I worked for had no limits on how you could access account holder information. If I only had an address, I could find the accounts. If I only had a last name, I could find the accounts. If I had any single piece of information (social fragment, birthday, first name, etc), I could eventually find the account.

I also agree that the floor staff should have been shocked by the behavior, but they obviously weren't. That's not a good sign.

As for the whole "switch to a Credit Union" debate, I got bad news for you...this could just as easily happen at a credit union. I personally prefer larger banks where I actually am "just a number" for this reason.

 

[lucyem]

I would speak privately with the branch manager. They will not fire her for what you said happened - you could be making it up. But they will check into what accounts she has been looking at. If she is looking at accounts of one of her day care workers I would imagine she has pulled up a few others too. What happens with her job is her own making.

Also if other employees heard what she said to you I would mention that as well. They should have reported her. And maybe they did. But that too needs to be brought up if need be.

Another thought it to find out who is in charge of the branch manager and bring it all up to them. That way you can stay more anonymous.

I would not necessarily tell my boss at the day care. A lot depends on what happens with the bank teller. I would wait and see. I do not like bringing outside conflict into work if there is no need. Also the whole point of making an anonymous complaint at the bank is being anonymous. You do not need the situation spread around the day care, even by accident.

If the teller is only moved to another branch or no change is made at all I would certainly switch banks.

 

[SaraJayne]

Do you work for a credit union??? I HATE them, because they make it so very difficult to conduct business. NO debit cards. I can only us THEIR ATM, or come in to make a withdrawl, and most in our area have ONE location, sometimes 2. They are a complete inconvinence and waste of time, for little to no benefit! My first bank account was with a credit union, and as soon as I was on my own I switched. Mom and Dad did in on purpose so that I would really have to work to get to any money in that account. I don't think I could run a household from it.

I'm a member of a credit union, have a debit card and credit card accounts through them.

I can also use my atm/debit card at any atm machine.

 

[Alexander]

Do you work for a credit union??? I HATE them, because they make it so very difficult to conduct business. NO debit cards. I can only us THEIR ATM, or come in to make a withdrawl, and most in our area have ONE location, sometimes 2. They are a complete inconvinence and waste of time, for little to no benefit! My first bank account was with a credit union, and as soon as I was on my own I switched. Mom and Dad did in on purpose so that I would really have to work to get to any money in that account. I don't think I could run a household from it.

Not all credit unions are the same! Ours is wonderful! When you walk in the door they know who you are, they know your family, etc. We have debit cards linked to our checking/savings accounts, we have CU issued credit cards, and a car loan from ours. Every other year they offer an interest free 1 year loan for purchasing a new computer. We have 3 branch offices in less than a 3 mile radius. We switched everything to the credit union when our small hometown banks were bought out by HSBC and Pathfinder (ugh--talk about lousy personal service!)

 

[mhsjax]

Do you work for a credit union??? I HATE them, because they make it so very difficult to conduct business. NO debit cards. I can only us THEIR ATM, or come in to make a withdrawl, and most in our area have ONE location, sometimes 2. They are a complete inconvinence and waste of time, for little to no benefit! My first bank account was with a credit union, and as soon as I was on my own I switched. Mom and Dad did in on purpose so that I would really have to work to get to any money in that account. I don't think I could run a household from it.

I think you must have gotten a bad CU. I have been with one since I was 18 I have a debit card, before that an ATM card. They have their own Credit card. They don't charge for every little thing and I was able to use almost any ATM out there. Also DH pay check was in his acct 2 full days before the actual pay day. They had branches in every area of the city. I only had to call to get a car loan and had it in 5 minutes, literally.

 

[disneygirl 17]

I would tell the daycare what is going to happen and then I would tell the bank manager. Honestly unless the bank fires her - she can still look at your account. Let's face it, if she didn't say anything to you about your spending you would never know she was in your account.

I would probably move my accounts regardless of what happens. As for anything being awkward at daycare - I look at it like you hold the upper hand - you take care of her child. Also eventually her child will move up into another classroom and you won't have to see her at all.

 

[Purseval]

Back in the 1980's I was working at a manufacturing plant for a major corporation which shall not be named. My wife was in the HR department of the same building. She told me that some of the single women, when asked out on a date or looking for a new boyfriend, would check the records of the guys to see if they made enough money to be a good "prospect". At the time we thought it was pretty creative but it would probably be considered a firing offense if someone made an issue out of it.

My point is that if you think about your friends (and even yourselves) many people are nosy busybodies and, given the chance, they would love to get a peek at your financial information, your mail, the drawers in your bedroom, etc. Not because they want to harm you, that's just the way they are. The lady the OP mentioned was just being especially stupid about it.