Bank karma

The inescapable conclusion I’ve reached today is that I should never, never say bad things about my bank. Because then the karma department in charge of banks gets even. Imagine my surprise this morning when, as I went to pay my electric bill, my online bank account indicated that I’d bounced a whole string of charges (that I didn’t make) and I’d been soaked generous overdraft fees for each one. Man, talk about panic. Identity theft was the first thing that leaped into my mind and it scared me. The odd thing, though, was that my balance and available balance indicated that there was the appropriate amount of cash in the account. Huh?

I made a fast dash to the bank and the manager turned out to be as mystified as I was, although magnitudes less scared. He kept telling me not to worry while I sat there giving off fumes of panic. But he froze my account on the spot, just to be safe.

Here’s where I say God Bless my bank manager who, in fairly short order—in just a couple of hours—located the problem. Don’t know how or why, but someone else’s charges and overdrafts were posted to my account.  And while none of the transactions showed on their account, their balance still reflected all the charges.

By the end of the business day it was all resolved and all traces of charges and overdraft fees have disappeared from my account like magic. I’m unfrozen again and all is well. Except for feeling like a limp dishrag. It was a rattling experience. But I love my bank manager. He’s so calm and methodical. And he was so willing to drop everything else he was doing to spend the time, without a grumble, to sort it all out. I know that grumbles sometimes come with the territory, but he is the sort to pat one on the shoulder and offer the right amount of sympathy while attacking the problem like a snarly toothed bear. I hope he doesn’t plan on retiring any time soon.