Citi Bank customers attempt to close accounts, locked inside bank, arrested

[appleannie1]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TH3kiaJ1-c8&feature=colike

How can it be illegal to close your own bank account?

[lonestarnot]

1. WTF!

:wtf:

[Fire Walk With Me]

2. People with offices and their friends with guns think they can do whatever they want.

[appleannie1]

3. More on the arrests

More ridiculous arrests coming out of New York today, as Citibank proves it's just as bad, or even worse than Bank of America in how it treats its customers. Earlier today, about two dozen people formed a queue inside the Citibank building in order to close their accounts as a part of the Occupy Wall Street protests. Instead of allowing them to take their money elsewhere, the genius managers and security people in charge locked them inside and had them arrested.

It's not clear why the people were arrested, but speculation is that when the bank would not allow customers to close their accounts, the customers began to protest. When this happened, that's when the genius managers decided to lock them all in and call the police. Nice work, police, protecting your corporate masters.

The arrests were so contrived that you can't help but laugh in bemusement. One woman who was talking angrily with police outside the building was manhandled by what appears to be a plain clothes officer and dragged inside by about five other officers.

Reports from around the internet are saying that two people who succeeded in closing their account left the bank but were forced back inside by police and security officials. In the video posted online, you can see how one woman was practically carried into the bank by a plain clothes officer, where she and the rest of the bank's customers were subsequently arrested. So, if you were just in the neighborhood, and arrived before these people and closed your account, you'd have been arrested for disorderly conduct, whether you were a part of this protest or not. What the hell is this country coming to when you get arrested for simply asserting your right to do what you want with your own money?

http://politics.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474980587518

[aquart]

4. I keep saying Citi is a criminal organization

And you all keep being surprised when they prove it.

[appleannie1]

5. My money is in a credit union, what little there is of it.

[aquart]

12. Mine, too.

And I'm eternally grateful I got the chance to join one. Their rates have gone up, but still nothing like commercial banks.

[glinda]

21. We just moved ours starting the 1st of next month. Yikes!

[Uber DUer]

8. Corporations are now using NYPD to do their bidding...

Which is totally wrong, and should be charged 1000x the usual charges for "police protection" since they can afford it.

What's wrong with their own friggin rent-a-cop?

20 people attempting to close their account of their own accord, and part of the #OWS protest does not make it a run on the bank.

It's probably a very tiny chip of their extremely large gold rock.

The bank managers should be arrested, charged for illegal use of government property (or misuse of government property), fined $15 million, and sentenced to 10 years in prison.

NYPD should be ashamed of themselves - big time.

My money is with a credit union, and has been for about 7 years now.

No more banks - they blew their chances with me a long time ago.

[cyglet]

11. They pay extra, donchaknow?

See Chase's "charitable donations" to same.

[Uber DUer]

13. I don't care if Chase donated 15 million to the FOP

or whatever.

They still needs to be charged 1000x the usual rate for "protection".

And billed the same day and net zero days.

If it ain't paid, then interest is 10,000%.

[Lizzie Poppet]

19. That woman should sue Citibank and the NYPD.

In fact, I'll be surprised if she doesn't sue. Of course, I'll also be surprised if Shitibank and the NYPD don't game the system and get away with this, too.

So glad I wasn't there (I carry...).

[leveymg]

20. The charges will likely be dropped, but Citi and cops made their point - if you

Protestn even in a legal manner against a bank will get you arrested. They thinkthey can makethe rules while ignoring the law with impunity. We should show them how wrong they are about that.

[Starry Messenger]

6. k&r

[Bjorn Against]

7. Sue the hell out of both CitiBank and the NYPD

I hope a group a hundred times the size makes a run on CitiBank on Monday, if they are arrested hire the best attorney they can find and push a major class action suit.

[RainDog]

9. ..and this is why people are out in the streets

I hope everyone will move their money to local credit unions. put your money where it can benefit your community.

[appleannie1]

10. Here is the bank's take on it

Two dozen people were arrested on charges of criminal trespass Saturday morning when demonstrators entered a Citibank bank branch near Washington Square Park and refused to leave, police said. One protester also was arrested on a charge of resisting arrest.

Citibank said in a statement that police asked the branch to close until the protesters could be taken away. "One person asked to close an account and was accommodated," Citibank said.

[Hepburn]

14. Hi, Annie....

...I am just sure that is what happened...:sarcasm:

[appleannie1]

15. Especially since the video shows them dragging people that managed to leave back in. LOL

[Hepburn]

23. They were just offering...

...personalized customer service, right?

:evilgrin:

[w0nderer]

16. hmmmm

number one
there was never a discussion putting my money IN
*plunk* here's 1k cash, i'd like to open an account
drivers licence? ok...
no i don't want credit card
thanks
done

but if i was to go in and attempt to close...
and they refused
could i call the police on grand theft 250, 500 and 950 dollars plus?

i mean i have paper trail of deposit
i have statements of what the bank says i have
if they won't let me have my money, there is a name for that

just wondering on the legal implications of that
call the cops on the bank standing right there with the statement in hand and filing charges of grand theft

could be a nice turn about on an attempted arrest
if it's possible

[Beartracks]

17. Funny, 'cause Teapartiers always say it's OUR money!

This kind of bank action should give conservatives pause, 'cause maybe it's not the government they need to be wary of after all.

=================

[texanwitch]

18. CitiBank is awful.

When my neighbor's husband died they closed their credit card account.

My neighbor had a card in her name, same account number.

The account was sold to a scum collection company called Phillips and Cohen.

This company made my neighbor's life hell, until her kids stopped it.

This was Sears credit card from CitiBank, they had the account from 1950.

I hate CitiBank.

[Amonester]

22. I hope that woman will sue their a$$e$ out.

$hiti fa$ci$t bank.