Dear AFCU,
I am furious that your bank sent me a letter in 2012 saying that you were going to start taking money out of my account because I didn't have enough money in the bank.
I withdrew the rest of my money rather than let you steal it through fees.
How dare you call yourself a community development credit union when you steal from your poorest members.
How dare you call yourself a community development credit union when you charge a $20 overdraft fee for a $3.50 check.
How about you start actually working with people who are living on the margins.
I was a member for 20 years when I requested a car loan in 2010. You were only willing to lend me the amount I had in your bank.$600. Why, probably because I never went into debt before. Because I wasn't irresponsible in the past and had no history of debt. Because I was always able to live within my means you falsely thought I was a bad credit risk. You don't recognize that people without credit cards are the most responsible people.
So I withdrew most the money I had to buy the car.
And then a year later you sent me a letter saying that I don't have enough money in your bank to justify you keeping me as a member.
That's when you showed what kind of bank you are. You are a greedy capitalist bank with a really good public relations department.
I still have the car. I bought it with a no-intrest loan from Toyota. That car enabled me to get jobs I couldn't without a car and it enabled me to be a very effective stepdad for five years. I took my son to school in that car. I have toured the country in that car. When I came back to Ithaca NY in that car to visit, I withdrew all money from my account.
I told the bank teller why. He apologized for me being unhappy about the situation. But he didn't offer to fix the situation or work to change the policy. He didn't even acknowledge that the policy sucks or should be reexamined.
As a member of 25 years who at one point was promoting Alternatives, I feel like I was blindsided when you letter said that you were going to take a fee out of my account.
I now see you not as a positive influece in the community. And instead see Alternatives as a con act. A bank that operates within the liberal market niche.
Your commitment to serving the poor is fake. As a former poor person who is now a homeowner I am calling on you to genuinely help the poor by not hurting them with fees.
Sincerely
Greg Spence Wolf
7217 Yakima Ave
Tacoma WA 98408