I have been a long time member of Bank of America. When my parents got me my own bank account, it was at BOA (at that time Seafirst Bank). As every teenager did, I saved up (some of) my allowances and other hard change, and every so often disposited it into my savings account.

When I started working two years ago, I went in and added a checking account to my account, along with a debit card. I was now in total control of my own finances (well, in a sense). It was a right of passage of sorts. I also signed up for online banking, which allows me to control my entire banking from a secure BOA site, including transferring funds between my checking and savings, and a detailed up-to-date account history. However, I was still receiving monthly paper statements (which are never the most updated). At the time, I didn’t mind, as I was living at home, where the paper statements were being sent.

However, that changed when I started living at college. I realized that my paper statements were still being sent to my home, while was living in Seattle. Now the easy solution would be to change my bank address, however, my residence here is only temporary, as I come home for breaks, and I won’t be living here next year. I needed to stop the paper statements for two reasons: First, and foremost, security. Having a paper statement, with sensitive and personal account info and activity presents a huge security risk, as in theory anyone could read it. Millions of people every year are victims to identity thefts, and one of the easiest way for thiefs to get a hold of your private info is going through your recycling/trash. As paranoid as I may sound, I don’t want there to be any chance of anyone other than myself reading my bank activity and information. Second, is the environment. Bank of America claims to be committed to the environment. So why can’t they stop paper statements for checking accounts in Washington and Idaho? I decided to find out.
Last week, I called the BOA customer support line, and went through the usual routine of entering my account info, and navigating through the menus, to finally be put on hold. 30 minutes later, I was finally talking to a BOA representative. I told him my dilemma, and asked him to stop the paper statements for my account. He told it was not possible. I asked him why, as other banks in Washington, such as WaMu, are able to stop paper statements for their members’ checking accounts. Bank of America is one the biggest banks in the country, let alone the state, and they can’t stop simple statements? I was shocked, and kept pressing to get some kind of solid answer. But of course I got the scripting answer he was trained to give. My account could not go paperless, and he didn’t know the deeper reason behind it. After 15 minutes, I finally gave up, and he asked me if I wanted him to file a customer support feedback. I said sure. And hung up.

So at this point, I am seriously considering switching banks if BOA doesn’t change this policy soon. This is the 21st century: if BOA can making talking ATMs, then they can surely go paperless.

-J

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