The Notorious Banker

Today's podcast is a US Tour for how Bank of America and Zelle screw over so many clients. First up, An amazing story out of the state capital of Kansas, Topeka. Bank of America announced in May that it was closing the 3 branches there effective August 27th. Bank of America's propaganda press release stated that one of the reasons they were closing was that people were doing so many more mobile de...

I learned all I needed to know about being a teller at Bank of America by reading a 20 year old binder of procedures and watching a tape that discussed Bank Robbery Protocol on a 19" TV/VCR Combo. Actually I learned nothing. In today's podcast, learn about my experiences training for my jobs at Bank of America and learn how I was thrown on the teller line, expecting to know everything after three...

After reading an older article about how it's nearly impossible for Wells Fargo to hire a CEO because of the issues it faces, coupled with the thought that whoever they pick, it would not be a long-lasting tenure because of said struggles, I came up with a plan. I DECIDED I WANT TO APPLY FOR CEO AT WELLS FARGO!!! I never want to work in banking again, but maybe, just maybe I can mold the bank in t...

  @flitteronfraud on Twitter - Emily Flitter of the New York Times came out with an amazing Wells Fargo piece about supposed "Closed accounts" that were still getting fees charged to them, and it shook up Wells Fargo Twitter for a weekend. So much resentment came back, and for good reason.  I recommend you set up a free NYT Account, and please read this article and listen to this podcast...

Why Your Bank Sucks has rescued $81,600 since April 1st from Bank of America and Wells Fargo. Unethical fees, extended holds and fraud claims are what we go after. Today's podcast was probably my proudest moment so far. I recovered $4000+ from Bank of America to help Brian from Chicago, a victim of fraud who was being screwed by BofA. Identity stolen, his name, ss number and account were used in a...

 I have been off a week, thinking about the tragedies in my home area of El Paso and of course Dayton, OH But I come back with 2 great stories! Learn about how my anniversary trip to Ruidoso, NM (Pop. 7700) showed me that despite what banks say about the world going cashless and digital, cash is king in a small town. From casino slot machines to food trucks, and even campgrounds, paper curren...

 Our minds are with the city of El Paso, TX after this weekend's tragic events. I know the town is resilient, and we will be thinking about them often. To begin, I discuss how I was feet from that Walmart last week, and I discuss another unfortunate mass murder I was within a mile of a few years back. This podcast mainly is more about citizens understanding how to effectively contribute. So many p...

Yours truly worked for 2 Branches in 13 years at Bank of America, and he's seen his bank leave his hometown three times! (Huh?) Bank of America announces the closure of the machines that were so popular and successful according to them in my hometown of Las Cruces, NM.  Learn how I predicted that my clients would be fed the lies of "alternative ways of banking" taking over. How about a discus...

I worked in two college towns in my tenure at Bank of America, and one of my greatest joys was meeting all the new international students each semester. Students from all over the world would attend school in my hometowns and new friends were made. Iranian students were always regulars in my banks. Helping them as a teller all the way up to manager, I noticed Bank of America started treating this...

Brian Moynihan, the CEO/Scarecrow of Bank of America showed up on CNBC's Mad Money with Jim Cramer to discuss BofA's record qtr. What I got was a 10 1/2 min interview that I was able to do an hour podcast on. This is part 1 of 2 media interview podcasts I will do on Moynihan. Among Interview Topics: How Bank of America is a leading "Technology" company (What?!?) and how only 1/2 of their clients h...

  Bank of America made $7.3 Billion, Wells Fargo made $6.2 Billion, and JP Morgan Chase made $9.7 Billion in the last three months. Cause to celebrate? Sure why not? It's America and they are doing the America thing: Making Money. On today's podcast, I decide not to talk the technical aspects of the earnings report, I just reminisce with a few stories about how goddamn cheap Bank of Amer...

Growing up poor and in a single parent household, I saw the financial struggles of how it's hard to make it in this world. In this podcast, I share my experiences growing up, and how single parenthood and divorce really impacted my mom's finances. This includes a home loan that my mother got from.. Countrywide Home Loans, which became a subsidiary of Bank of America a dozen years ago. Learn how su...

I have have debit cards since they have been called "Check Cards". They were my first conduit to banking, and now all these years later, the bane of my existence. Though I love my debit card, it has brought so much undue stress over the years. I recently had to get my card replaced after 8 years of having the same number because of a BS charge (don't buy magazines), and it gave me flashbacks to 20...

 Bank of America ticked off so many people on the conservative side when they were the last major bank to take a stand against Private Prisons that have been in the news lately with the immigration debate (No politics on this podcast) They promised not to loan any money.....one week after they loaned $90 million that will essentially make them $1.7 Million in interest a year.  James Baca...

Today's Podcast discusses something I practiced against my wishes at Bank of America, and which is going on at branches across the land. The denial of a simple free service, notary public service, because it "diminishes sales opportunity". Learn how I, along with the bank as a whole found reasons to blow off those in need of a simple stamp, citing "things wrong with the document" and refusing to d...

Brian Moynihan was channeling his inner Dr. Cocteau last week when he announced at a conference that eventually he would like a "cashless society". What happened after those comments were made was simply astounding. Crypto advocates saw it as BofA coming to their side, and other news sources mentioned that cash is still king in a lot of places.  But did he really mean what he said? I think so...

Opening mentions the rescue of another $3000 with Vigilante Customer Service!!! We take on Evil Zelle and Bank of America and win for Jessica and Aaron!! Facebook gets into crypto! The app known for sharing memes is about to embark on a journey to take on Big Banks. With Partners like Visa, MC, Uber, and Paypal, Facebook looks to be more than a time suck. They want to be your financial institution...

 Today's Topic: "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss" ZELLE! We talk about an NBC Nightly News Segment outlining fraud and Zelle... Things I have told you about for weeks and months! I play clips of the report, and give my honest feedback of it. Note: They missed one GLARING thing about Zelle's sucky-ness! You will hear me yell(e)!!! Before that, in honor of Flag Day this week, I discuss...

 Less than a year ago, Chase decided to try to CON....(Cough)... convince millennials that they were cool by setting up a mobile app only bank account called Finn. Finn sounded like the kid with the drugs at a party. It was cool for a while. Access to a lot of ATM's. Emoji (WTF?!?) used to help manage your money. Sounds neat-o, cool kids.... Then they realized only 47,000 people signed up for...

Part of my Podcast and Twitter Project has a goal: To get Zelle eliminated as a service option at all banks. It's a scary, scammy way that banks concocted to have people transfer money person to person. Today's podcast will mainly discuss the lack of support that Banks have for fraudulent activity that happens to their clients using Zelle, citing their non-association (omg) to the third party appl...

I discuss National "I hate my gym" day, which was this past June 1st as people from all over the country paid an annual fee that they were never told about for a gym membership at Planet Fitness. Learn how banks treat these "Recurring Payments" and how, as an avid gym-goer myself, always saw the negative experience that both gyms and banks provided when an issue occured. Plus we have two voicemail...

Today's podcast is simple. 3 listeners emailed me with some questions, and I answer them about my project, Why Your Bank Sucks! Emails include a question about what I have dubbed "Vigilante Bank Customer Service". I detail how I am rescuing money from big banks for my listeners. I also announce the launch of my PATREON Page! For as little as $1, you can help James Baca in his fight against big ban...

Bank of America celebrates it's virtual assistant, "Erica's" one year anniversary by giving a bunch of stats to the general public. Although the stats show that it isn't a success at all Learn in this podcast that only 10% of the customers at BofA use the tool that will eventually replace customer service. You will also learn that a lot of people over 40 are not adopting it, which causes the long...

Warning: This podcast has a lot to do with death and planning for death as it pertains to finances. Very sensitive subject. Today's podcast was brought on by some personal loss. I lost my Grandmother 3 days ago, and a Great Uncle a couple weeks ago. I discuss how an observation in my grandmother's house the final time I saw her brought on memories of how my former company, Bank of America handled...

Today we touch upon the interesting subject of being introduced to credit cards. I discuss how my grandma overspending in the last 1980s was my first introduction to credit cards, and how her use shaped my life going forward.  Then, I discuss the most interesting Bank of America story I read in a long time. Did you know that Bank of America invented the credit card? Did you know that Bank of...