I just sent a comment to her post or the bank man who ignored her. THe problem is instead of closing "his" account, they added "her" to "his" account.  He is still the primary (the first one) and she is the "secondary" or the second in line.  By just adding her to his account, it is still his account, he is liable for it,  and he gives her permission to access the account.  They need to close that account out and get a "joint" account.  Legally, it is still his (only) account, so the bank man said to him 'here, sign to let your wife use the account."  It is like if you took your child in to let them use your account or credit card.  They didn't change the account into a joint account with equal rights for both of them, the "primary (her husband) just authorized her to use it.  And her husband can go back into the bank and take her off any time he wants to.  THey need to close out that one and open a "joint" account.  The bank man should have explained the differences to them, as they wanted a joint account, with shared money and shared access and shared responsibility.  I seemed to understand that they didn't want the hassle of closing and opening a new account, so they just wanted to add her to his.  That is not a joint account.  That is why he didn't talk to her, she isn't the account holder, he st ill is the sole account holder.  Legally, she can use it as long as he gives her permission to use "his" account.  I am sure they didn't want this type of account, so again, close it out and open a "joint" account.  Rita

Wow- thanks for featuring my blog!!!

I’ve been following your blogs and articles on MSN and I’m so excited that you saw my blog and decided to write about it in your blog!

Thanks for shining a little light on a fledgling blogger, and keep up your good work!

OK- now that I’ve breathed into a bag a little bit- I’d like to say I see Rita’s point. However, I still don’t think it gives him an excuse to treat me in such a manner. It’s not good customer service.

Ms. Nelson,  WOW.  SoCal Savvy is correct, the banker was being sexist.  If she gets added to the account she is a signer and has FULL access to the account.  Let's say she goes into the bank and asks to withdrawal the entire amount and close it; this will be done and there is nothing her husband can do about it.  When you become a signer on the account you have full responsibility and full access, it is no longer "his" account, it is now "their" account and considered Joint.  I would also say do not assume that the husband can go in and remove her from the account because some banks will not do so, so as to not get involved in any legal altercations this may cause.  When I add a spouse to an account I speak to both people.  I'm not giving out information about the account, all we are talking about are demographics, tax reporting info and security FOR THE NEW SIGNER.  The banker is ignorant and needs to realize the world has changed in the last Oh 60 years or so...

We still have a grocery store here in town where the clerks are instructed to ask, when taking a female customer's personal check for approval, "Where does your husband work?" Considering the checkers are themselves all working women, this is more than ludicrous. I don't shop there any more but when I did, I always ignored the question and gave my own place of employment.

I agree with the Anonymous poster's comment directed toward Rita.  Everything said is true as I know it as a banker.  And at least in this state, we can't remove a joint spouse from any account without a the notarized signature of both spouses.  It is still no excuse for the way she was treated though!  Go to a different bank immediately!

Rita missed the point. The banker was rude to SoCalSavvy.....that's the bottom line.