Bank of the West

I’ve been banking here for close to 20 years, really! I banked here long before my daughter was born. I used to put her up on the counter while dealing with the teller. I can’t do that now because she’s 14 and she’d slug me!
Last few years I use the ATM as I am highly allergic to standing in lines (even lines on the sidewalk make me dizzy).
Just before I left for a week I randomly went online to look things over and found a check had been cashed for $ 300.00 and a check number that made no sense. Thanks to the «click to see image» feature, I was able to see the image of a hand written check, payable to «Cash» and signed by Betty Boop (not the real name, but it wasn’t my name, it was a female name and I just said I only use the ATM these days, didn’t I)?
The account number was written in. 1 of the 9 digits was missing and 6 of the 8 (which should have been 9) matched my account number. But why was this cashed? Because they checked the balance to see if there was enough and didn’t notice it was the wrong account?
So I called the HQ number as it was late on December 26^th Eve. Long story short, the agent (after checking with some other agent a few times) tells me «since this occurred at the branch, you will have to go to the branch on Monday to file the claim.»
Claim? Branch? Monday? «I’m flying out on Sunday night and won’t make it to the branch (totally inconvenient, and then there’s my allergy and all), and while this may no seem like a lot of money, it’s enough to cause me to go negative, incur overdraft charges and repeated declines.»
«Well, I’m sorry about that sir.» Sir? Sorry?
After expressing how sorry I was and how this was not my fault and how this has to be fixed, he checked again and assured me the «claim» could indeed be filed by HQ, and «Your money will be back in your account in 3 – 5 business days.»
Gee, the same number of days I would need the money in the account!
I knew the former manager of this branch, and, if it’s still who it was, the current manager as well, and I doubt the managers do the training, but whoever does needs to get with the program. But hey, 20+ years and they’ve only pissed me of 3 – 5 times, 4 of which I do not even remember, so. Get with the program BoW,
This was NOT cool (and I hope Betty chokes on the money. well, gags at least).

Horrible service. They have a drive-​up window that no one is assigned to. What is the purpose of having this so called convenient drive-​up window if you wait for 15 minutes and end up having to go park and walk in anyways. The way the bank is run is a joke. I would NEVER recommend anyone to this bank. As a matter of fact, I would gladly start a campaign against it. Don’t try to be something you are not… «customer friendly».