Generally speaking, opening a bank account is pretty easy. Most of the time, one can simply walk into a bank, provide all of the relevant documents, and have a bank account opened for them the same day. There are even multiple banks that allow one to open an account online in minutes.
That said, actually using your bank account in the manner you want isn’t always the easiest. For example, one internet user went viral after calling out banks for low balance and maintenance fees, effectively accusing the bank of charging customers for not having money. Another claimed that his bank closed his account for making too many cash deposits.
Still, the actual act of opening an account is relatively easy. Unless, it seems, you’re TikToker Adrianna (@iismama).
In a video with over 114,000 views, Adrianna shows part of a dispute she had with a worker at a Waldwick, New Jersey, Chase Bank location.
What Went Wrong With This Chase Bank Account Opening?
In her video, the TikToker shows an argument she is having with a Chase Bank employee. It’s unclear what exactly happened from the video. However, in the caption and a follow-up video, she provides further explanation as to what led to this encounter.
According to Adrianna, she went to a Chase Bank located at 53 Franklin Turnpike in Waldwick, New Jersey, in order to open up an account. She passed several employees hanging out outside along the way.
When she got inside, an employee told her they would be right with her. Then, one of the other employees outside entered the building and allegedly told her something to the effect of, “You don’t live over here. You’re not from here. You cannot open an account.” She recounted this in her follow-up video.
Adrianna says all of this occurred before she provided any identifying information, such as a full name and address.
In the caption of the original video, Adrianna notes that she is actually from the area while alleging that the employee followed the encounter by trailing her out the door, saying, “This just sounds fishy.”
She confronts them
The TikToker says she originally accepted the employee’s statement. It was only when she returned to her car that she realized something was amiss and decided to return—and record.
As one can see in the video, the confrontation goes back and forth for a while without really getting anywhere. When the question of whether race played a role in the denial of an account—the TikToker says she is Black and Mexican—the man in the video announces repeatedly that he’s Puerto Rican.
“Like that excuses it,” Adrianna writes in the caption of the original video. “I came to bank, not get profiled. No one should be made to feel like they don’t belong for just walking into a branch.”
“Tell me I’m not crazy,” she continues. “That’s profiling, right?”
Can Banks Really Deny You For Being From a Different Area?
Many commenters believed that Adrianna was, in fact, experiencing profiling. This aligns with her claim that she had not provided any personal information before the bank told her she could not open an account.
However, some in the comments questioned whether one could really be denied an account opening just because they’re not from the area.
In short, the answer is yes, though that doesn’t mean it’s common. Fraud experts note that financial institutions may view an applicant located outside their geographical region as a red flag. That said, this alone would likely not be enough to cause a rejection, especially at a bank with many branches like Chase.
As far as other details that could have set the employee off are concerned, there don’t seem to be many. The TikToker did not appear to have made it far enough into the account-opening process to trigger any of the other red flags commonly used by banks to detect fraud.
The TikToker Responds
In an email to the Mary Sue, Adrianna said Chase has not reached out to her since posting her video.
“I emailed them and also made a complaint over the phone, but I haven’t heard anything back,” she wrote. “I ultimately decided not to open the account—honestly, I just didn’t feel comfortable moving forward with a bank where I was treated that way.”
Regarding the idea that the employee was genuinely suspicious of fraud, she says that doesn’t excuse his behavior.
“I understand that fraud is a real issue, but I don’t think it’s fair to make assumptions about someone or turn a situation into something it’s not, especially when there was no prior interaction or issue,” she detailed. “My main reason for going to Chase was to open an account and eventually get a credit card. I already have several credit cards and wanted to continue building my credit — not just with the bank I currently use, but also with Chase, since they offer multiple programs to help build credit that seemed like a good fit for me.”
“At the end of the day, I went in with good intentions and was met with unnecessary suspicion, and that really changed how I saw Chase as a potential banking partner,” she concluded.
Commenters Say Chase Bank Was Profiling
Users under the video seemed to believe that the TikToker had been profiled. However, some said that denials like these weren’t uncommon.
“Their intuition told them something was off and it’s EXTREMELY common for scammers to go out of area to open fraudulent accounts, sounds like the banker smelt something fishy and declined to open the account. 13 years in banking,” wrote a user.
@iismama @chasebank count your days. I went to the Chase branch at 53 Franklin Turnpike in Waldwick, NJ, just to open an account. A rep said he’d be right with me, so I sat down all good. Then another employee walks in, shakes my hand, and says, “You don’t live or work around here you can not open a account here.” Mind yall I never even told him where I’m from, an why would I go to a different branch when I live IN THIS AREA. I asked, “What does that matter?” and he starts following me outside saying, “This just sounds fishy.” So I started recording. When I asked if it was because of my skin color, he hit me with, “I’m Puerto Rican,” like that excuses it. I came to bank, not get profiled. No one should be made to feel like they don’t belong for just walking into a branch. Tell me I’m not crazy that’s profiling, right? #ChaseBank #RacialProfiling #BankingWhileBlack #WaldwickNJ #StoryTime ♬ original sound – iismama
“I’ve never in my LIFE heard from a BIG BANK that you can’t open an account if you don’t live in the area, that’s INSANE. they definitely profiled you,” countered another. “I know so many people that use big banks and don’t even live in the same state that a branch is in! what tf.”
“Nope- u should have asked for his business card and the business card of the bank manager and then the number/address to Executive Complaints,” advised a third. “Do not contact customer service – go over their heads cause this is an example of profiling.”
The Mary Sue reached out to Chase via email and @iismama via email, TikTok direct message, and Instagram direct message.
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