| 5 star: | (0) | |
| 4 star: | (0) | |
| 3 star: | (0) | |
| 2 star: | (0) | |
| 1 star: | (9) |
If you value integrity, professionalism, or even basic banking competence, stay far away from Sunflower Bank. Our experience was riddled with negligence, mismanagement, and outright deception, all raising serious compliance concerns.
We’re a locally owned business and have been a loyal banking partner for 10+ years. That trust was shattered when Sunflower took over Pioneer, a local institution we had trusted for over a decade. What followed was a complete unraveling of service, ethics, and operational competence. Here’s a rundown of some of the most egregious interactions keeping in mind it only skims the surface of our experience.
Unauthorized Credit Inquiries: Clear FCRA Violation: Despite explicit written instructions not to pull credit, the bank fraudulently ran hard inquiries on both business partners. When confronted, the banker falsely claimed we had “verbally” authorized them. This is a blatant violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and a textbook case of unethical banking.
Mishandling of Sensitive Customer Data: GLBA Concerns: Our Social Security numbers and financial documents were sent via unsecured email, completely disregarding federal data protection laws (GLBA). Furthermore, the bank was unable to produce origination documents for either of our loans when requested. If this is how they handle confidential information, imagine what’s happening behind the scenes.
Obstruction and Stalling Tactics: From the start, Sunflower engaged in stonewalling, repeated document requests, and misinformation. They “lost” critical entity documents (after physically accepting them), failed to provide required loan paperwork, and moved the goalposts on lending requirements with zero transparency.
Total Systems Failure & Customer Service Breakdown
• Six weeks after signing account authorization forms, we still didn’t have online banking access.
• Six weeks after that, one of our partners still didn’t have the ability to administer any of our accounts (transfers, ACH payments and the like). At the end of our relationship audaciously charged us overdraft fees to finalize the closing of our accounts due to ACH payments we had no way to control.
• Local bank reps have no idea how their own online system works and phone support was similar.
• A business banker provided a non-functional phone number for contact. Enough said.
Evasive and Dishonest Leadership
Rather than addressing concerns professionally or even answering simple questions, the bank avoided written responses (likely to dodge a paper trail), resorted to gaslighting, and eventually went silent only to pop up again either after business hours or during the holidays. If you enjoy chasing your banker for weeks only to get vague, misleading, or false answers Sunflower is the place for you.
From clear FCRA and GLBA violations to total operational dysfunction, this institution feels more like a vengeful, bureaucratic black hole than a trusted financial partner. My guess is their internal SOP is to buy up local banks, scour the register for small businesses, string the accounts along until there is no time to act and call the loans due. They have the lawyers to back them up so why not go for the money grab, never mind your payroll!
DO NOT TRUST THEM with your business or personal banking. If you’ve experienced similar issues, I strongly recommend filing complaints with the CFPB, FDIC, and FTC.
IM CLOSING MY ACCOUNTS WITH THEM AS SOON AS I CAN! THEY ARE HORRIBLE! THEY MISINFORM THEIR CUSTOMERS JUST TO GET OVERDRAFT FEES! THEY HAD TO WAIVE SOME FRES BECAUSE OF THEIR MISTAKE! NOW IM GETTING OVERDRAFT FEES EVEN AFTER I MAKE A DEPOSIT! THEY HAVE HORRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE NOW! EVEN AT THE BANK IN LAWRENCE! I DON'T FEEL VALUED LIKE I USED TO AT ALL! IM CLOSING BOTH ACCOUNTS! IM HAVING MY HUSBAND CLOSE HIS AND MY DAUGHTER CLOSED HERS! I. TIRED OF BEING LIED TO! I TALKED TO A GIRL NAME EMILY TODAY AND SHE TALKED TO ME LIKE I WAS STUPID! IVE HAD THIS BANK FOR NEARLY 10 YEARS! THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE!
One of the worst banks there can be how can you take money out of someone's bank that links to another bank account that's not responsible for that person's account yes they are on each other bank account just in case of an emergency but they are not allowed to take money to add to each other or responsible to pay someone else bill. they are only allowed to add money and yall took a large amount of money from an account that is not responsible for that person's bank account yall are frauds!!!! if there was a zero-star button I would push it several times!!!
Direct deposit- NO GOOD
Customer service- TERRIBLE
Mobile app- ABYSMAL
Atm - LESS than basic and OUT OF ORDER most of the time
DO NOT bank here UNLESS:
-you like unanswered questions about your money,
-you like terrible customer service
***also worthy of mention***
- Drive thru hours are the same as lobby hours (if u work 9-5 you’re out of luck till Saturday
-inefficient and inconvenient in every way to their customers
0/5 Stars if it were possible
1) Sunflower Bank wouldn't give me my money on the spot, upon closing my account.
2) Sunflower Bank deducted $5.03 from my balance for a "fee" which couldn't explained.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Had a CD account at Sunflower Bank that matured one week ago. Renewal rate was too low so went to withdraw my funds at Sunflower Bank on Woodway Dr. in Houston, TX. I’d found a much better rate elsewhere.
This was near 12:30pm on Tuesday, 1018/22.
I was told the manager was out to lunch, that no one else could sign the check, that I’d have to return or have the check mailed (nope!).
Asked if I could be called once that was done.
Two hours later received call saying my cashier's check was ready but when I went and got it, it was $5.03 less than what my balance was.
Was told it was a "fee" and there was no way of avoiding it as it was the cost of closing my account.
I asked for the manager but he was already gone again, so he'd made a very brief appearance, signed my check then split again.
Was told there was nothing that could be done so I asked for name and number of who to contact at Sunflower Bank as to complain.
Was given the name of Rannie Hewitt, Regional Manager. When I called, Ted Pearson, Branch Manager answered, said the Regional Manager was out of the office until Thursday, which was two days later.
Immediately typed up and sent an email to the both of them explaining how I'd been treated at the Houston branch, adding that I was told it was a good thing I didn't miss the maturity date because much more would have been taken from my funds.
Didn't add that after I'd left the bank, was on the road, received a call asking me to return to sign the closing document(s).
So, the closing wasn't even handled right. Totally unprofessional, every step of the way.
My email was sent last Tuesday so tomorrow will be a full week since my experience, my call & email. There’s been no absolutely no acknowledgement whatsoever--no phone call or reply to my email. I'm being totally ignored as there's obviously no concern on the part of Sunflower about the treatment of customers or reputation.
I've never before had a bank tell me they wouldn't give me my money as I'm standing there. Had to burn more gas, waste two hours in that area of town as I waited.
Also, $5.03 isn't a lot of money but to me it's the principle of the matter. Have never had money taken from me for no reason other than that Sunflower Bank is going to get its last bit of $ from exiting customers, just because they can.
Really glad to no longer have any more business with this shady bank and can only warn others to stay away from them.
My account was originally with Pioneer Bank at this location, which was great, but changed over to Sunflower Bank some time ago.
If I could give 0 stars I would.
Since Pioneer bank was bought out by Sunflower bank it has been a nightmare. I have not spoke to one person that banks with them that actually likes the changes. Our local branch in Hico is fantastic and helps in any way possible. However, when you call the customer service number they do not help, are snide and hateful. We have considered changing banks because of it, if it wasn’t for the fact that we love the local branch ladies, we would have pulled all 7 accounts we have there.
I was “trying” to help my husband log into our joint account and it would not work, I called the after hours number and from the beginning she was not helpful AT ALL! It’s a joint account (all of our accounts are) and they had to speak to him before….why exactly…again joint account! Anyways, she was not even able to help me and told me I needed to call the bank. I’m still not sure why my login will not work for him, it did when it was Pioneer….ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS! When I set up my account it took the customer service over 3 hours to get mine to actually work.
And if and when you can actually login to the app it’s almost impossible to navigate, y’all seriously need to make some improvements and maybe consider training your customer service people to be more accommodating.
And I would love to know why do you have to have different 2 apps if you own a business? So much for banking made easier…
I opened a no fee account. 3 months later they charged a fee. I paid it. They said if I changed to online there would be no additional fees. 3 months later, more fees and penalty. They said they changed the account parameters and I had to pay it before I could close the account. If I don't pay it, it's negative on my credit report. I consider this THEFT.
Sunflower/1870 Bank bought out our local bank - First National of Santa Fe and it's been downhill ever since - closed most of the ATMs and branch locations so whole sections of the city have no available bank location. Don't monitor the remaining ATMs and machines often run out of cash during weekends or even week days sometimes. Customer service on the phone puts you on hold for long periods. Local customer service in the few remaining branches remains OK because they kept old bank personnel, but it does not make up for the overall decline. Sunflower's President getting arrested for driving on a suspended license and past DWI arrest should have been a warning.