Industrial Bank Financial Institution doesn't understand how to handle power of attorney documents…read moreand has staff that can't execute them or explain why they can't.
Sadly, I have to give Industrial Bank a 1-star review. As a media personality who produced their radio commercials during my tenure at Radio One in the late 80s and 90s, I remember the owners' desire to do the best they could for the black community. My recent experience was a disappointing departure from that original core mission.
When I went to the bank to help my 96-year-old aunt execute a power of attorney yesterday, the assistant branch manager, DeVonna Young, displayed incompetence and ignorance of both bank policies and legal requirements. She did not understand the importance of a power of attorney document or the role of a notary in relation to it. When asked what policy or law stated that a power of attorney was invalid, she responded by threatening to have us, including my 96-year-old aunt, removed from the bank by security.
My aunt has been trying to get the bank to acknowledge her power of attorney for two years. The previous manager also failed to understand the document's importance, making my aunt go through unnecessary steps only to dismiss the notarized document as invalid. This is unacceptable for a bank claiming to serve the black community. They should at least have the curiosity to lawfully or, legally understand the code, rule or policy on the matter.
The prior branch manager, now retired, also declined my aunt's notorzed power of attorney out of ignorance, without providing any policy, code, or regulation. This type of arbitrary decision-making echoes the harmful practices of redlining that banks have historically used against the black community. Now, we're experiencing a new kind of discrimination where employees' ignorance or lack of knowledge affects lawful access to accounts.
My aunt has needed access to her husband's account since May 2022. This long-term ignorance has placed an unnecessary burden on our family and community. Their incompetence did not offer any policy, rule, regulation, or remedy to help us understand their declination. It reminds us of the historical friction our community has faced with banks and still continues to face now, from our own.
This experience is particularly shameful given the bank's historical commitment to the community. I hope someone knowledgeable and credible will contact my aunt today to resolve this issue. Ms. Young I'm sure remembers us. This situation highlights a broader issue that could affect many others who need to use power of attorney documents to manage their loved ones' accounts. Do better, Industrial Bank. Return to the days when you aimed to serve our community, not burden it with condescending attitudes and lack of professionalism. I'll keep y'all posted!
Update:
The Bank responded with a generic post. This is unacceptable. Your Ass. manager Ms. Young was to call my aunt asap and did not. This response falls short, it's flat and it's "out of touch". This is sad to see!
2nd update: They still didn't call back my aunt and they appear to be eternally confused about how to handel a notarized document. The owner's email bounced back... leaving one with the impression he's not interested in feed back. It's sad to see a one time champion in the community...fall to low level "curb side" tactics & behaviors.