March 2019 by Barbara B.
Do not do business with the West America Bank in Clearlake, California. This is what happened to me.... I am retired and I got a part time job. I am not happy with my credit union since it changed from Mendo Lake to its current credit union, but I have my car payment and bills coming out of that account, so i dont plan on changing it until the car is paid off. I opened an account at West America Bank to use as my account for my new part time job. Jaime Dewalt asked me a few times to change my direct deposit from my retirement to West America,and each time I told her No. that I was not interested in doing that until my loan was paid off in 2 years, and then I would consider it. I did follow through with direct deposit on my new part time job, and she called me a couple of times to get information for my IHSS job direct deposit, which i did follow through with. I was so angry when I received a notice from my retirement that my direct deposit was changed to West America Bank, I called my retirement and the snotty condecending man, Chris at CalPeers told me that the Bank had submitted a request I signed to transfer my retirement direct deposit to West America. I explained to Chris several times that I signed no such form, and he basically called me a liar, but cancelled the change, and now I will get a check delivered to my home, which is irritating, but that is only half of the story. I then called West America Bank main number not in Clearlake, because In no longer trust them and will never go to that location again, but i want to file a complaint, so that this doesnt happen to anyone else, i was told that it was not possible for the bank to have done that. When I asked to speak to a supervisor, I was transferred to the Clearlake Branch, which I no longer trust. The Supervisor apologized and said that she would turn in a report to the district supervisor, and I would be contacted. That was 3 weeks ago. I havent heard from them yet. I feel like I should file a police report, because they committed fraud or identity theft in forging my signature on the form. I had a couple of other complaints, especially since I deposited my initial paycheck on the day the account was opened the account on February 6th and they held that complete deposit until with no funds available from that initial deposit until February 24th.
