The Hartford metro area ranks 11th in the nation for the highest number of banking complaints over the past 12 months, according to NerdWallet, an online finance website.
NerdWallet examined Consumer Financial Protection Bureau complaint data, comprising almost 64,200 complaints, from July 1, 2012, to Sept. 30, 2016. The analysis found that the opening, closing or management of accounts was the most widespread issue, representing 44.1 percent of all banking complaints during the four-year period.
“In their complaints, which encompassed more than 400 financial institutions, consumers described banks that opened, blocked or closed accounts without notice or explanation; imposed high service fees on inactive accounts; provided misleading information about new accounts; added new charges without warning; and failed to close existing accounts upon request,” NerdWallet reports.
Trenton, N.J., recorded the highest number of complaints at 22.89 per 100,000 residents.
The Hartford metro area had a total number of 11.31 complaints per 100,000 residents, compared to the national median of 3.82 complaints per 100,000 residents.
Some cities have recently seen upswings in the total number of complaints, including San Francisco, Las Vegas, and Hartford, which have seen spikes in complaints about debit or ATM cards.
