Bank of America Kills Zombies

The zombie checking account is no more, says Consumer Reports. At least for Bank of America (ex-)customers.

In May, the magazine called out BofA and Chase for what it calls “zombie accounts”…

Chase and Bank of America sometimes reopen old accounts after they have been closed by customers. Chase will reopen an account if the bank receives a deposit to the account, which could happen if a direct deposit isn’t re-routed in a timely manner as planned. Bank of America’s policy is to reopen accounts if any activity – credit or debit – hits the account. These “zombie accounts” can result in customers owing hundreds of dollars in penalty fees or even a monthly maintenance fee if a deposit falls below what is needed to avoid such a fee.

And while BofA hasn’t put out a press release about it, Consumer Reports said Wednesday the bank has quietly halted the practice. But there’s no word that Chase has stopped.

And CR is calling for action.

“Consumers at Bank of America and other banks continue to face a myriad of obstacles that can make switching to a new financial institution a time-consuming mess,” said Suzanne Martindale, an attorney for the advocacy group that publishes CR. “That’s why we need Congress and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to enact reforms that make it easier for consumers to move their money.”

Want to move yours? Check out 6 Steps to Ditch Your Bank Without Fees or Hassle.