Complaints

This profile includes complaints for Beneficial State Bank's headquarters and its corporate-owned locations. To view all corporate locations, see Find Local Branches.

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  Beneficial State Bank

  268 N Main St Porterville, CA 93257-3728

• 

  Beneficial State Bank

  170 W Shaw Ave Fresno, CA 93704-2817

• 

  Beneficial State Bank

  PO Box 2900 Porterville, CA 93258-2900

• 

  Beneficial State Bank

  4025 W Caldwell Ave Ste E Visalia, CA 93277-9224

• 

  Beneficial State Bank

  3401 Pacheco Rd Ste A Bakersfield, CA 93313-3107

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:03/27/2025

  Type:Product Issues
  Status:

  UnansweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  Owed a refund after settlement, instead I am being charged interest and negative report on credit file

• Initial Complaint

  Date:02/08/2025

  Type:Order Issues
  Status:

  UnansweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  i am not liable for this debt with beneficial state bank. i do not have a contract with them. They did not provide me with the original contract as i requested.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:01/10/2025

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  UnansweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  Since I refinanced through Beneficial state bank. They have made it nearly impossible to pay my auto loan, first through 3rd party applications and now I'm literally unable to pay it at all. When I click to pay my auto loan it directs me to a page with no continue button that tells me starting SEPTEMBER 30TH I will have to pay a different way. Okay cool but I already made my account and there is NO WAY TO PAY MY BILL. there is literally not a single way, I've tried on a computer a tablet and a phone. I abhor beneficial state bank.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:12/11/2024

  Type:Order Issues
  Status:

  UnansweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  Company has spent the last 6 months updating their technology. This has made online bill pay nearly impossible because they closed out all of the online accounts without warning. My payment for November was late as I had been trying to contact them for a month with no luck. Calling their support leads to hour long wait or the call being disconnected automatically. The latter being the most common experience. I contacted them on Monday 12/09/2024 to make a payment arrangement of the amount due. Around 350 dollars. The person took my information and reassured I could complete the payment by Friday 12/13/2024. Car was repossessed on 12/10/2024 without warning.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:07/15/2024

  Type:Customer Service Issues
  Status:

  ResolvedMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I am not liable for this debt with charter communications, I do not have a contract with BENEFICIAL STATE BANK, they did not provide me with the original contract as i requested

  Business Response

  Date: 07/21/2024

  I apologize for the delay, I have attached the response to the *********************** complaint.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:05/25/2024

  Type:Customer Service Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I received an 8% interest loan from Beneficial State Bank as part of the $7500 Clean Vehicle Assistance Program ***** for low-income individuals to purchase an EV. Despite being pre-screened financially, I faced discrimination and resistance from both the dealership and the loan funder. This prolonged the process to the full three-month timeframe, and 3 out of 4 of my loan applications were denied without clear explanations. Ultimately, I had limited choices and ended up purchasing a hydrogen fuel car, which depreciated by 80% due to a failing fuel infrastructure. The bank dictated the contract terms with minimal explanation and no transparency.My first loan payment was due on November 13, 2023, and I made the first two payments on time. However, during this period, I had a severe adverse reaction to a new medication treatment, which set me back significantly. The banks online system did not alert me to any issues, and the second payment was returned unpaid. Due to delayed mail and my reliance on written communication, I was unaware that I was in default. On January 24, my car was repossessed without prior notification. I immediately paid the outstanding payments and continued making subsequent payments.Despite my efforts to catch up, the bank repossessed my car again on May 8, without proper notification or an opportunity to rectify the situation. The repossession was conducted improperly, causing potential damage to the vehicle and risk of breaking the warranty. The towing method used was unsafe and not in accordance with the vehicles manual. I have been charged $440 by the repo company and an additional $1200 by the bank for paperwork, despite my objections and attempts to resolve the situation.Throughout this process, I have faced significant obstacles and delays due to the banks confusing written vs phone communication and predatory practices. This has severely impacted my ability to work and has caused undue financial and emotional stress.

  Business Response

  Date: 05/31/2024

  Response to the complaint from *********************** is attached.  We are sending a detailed complaint response to *********************** directly, because of the confidential nature of the information provided in the complaint. 

  Customer Answer

  Date: 07/15/2024

   I am rejecting this response because:
  The bank did not reply to my concern. They send a letter with false information that did not address anything in my complaint. 
  This has only allow the bank to continue to cause harm. Base on the a letter addressed to the **** the bank has misrepresented my loan and this would explain why the back risk management team is aggressively handling my loan and skipping step that would be less damaging like mail a letter or align with its written notices instead of not following a standard risk management procedure. The bad is treating me different and denying basic courtesy and evaluating my loan portfolio with incomplete information. The bank also fabricated a foundation claiming to be helping with a ***** targeting low-income underserved communities. The requirements were obtainable and which led back to the back who was offering this false product that didnt exist and undermined standard banking practices. 
  The bank then went against what the program guidelines regarding the contract which states all information on one contract by slipping in their own contract that dose not document the entire car purchase.
  With this information I found out the bank created a program with a hidden agenda and the requirements to receive the programs ***** werent  unobtainable so that the targeted individuals would be forced into a financial contract with the bank.  The contract could be used in predatory ways by using partial term in the back of the contract that arent  in the TILA. 
  
  

  Business Response

  Date: 07/23/2024

  Response to the second complaint from ***********************. I left a voice mail message with ***** regarding the posting of this complaint response, I did not hear back. 

  Customer Answer

  Date: 07/23/2024

   I am rejecting this response because:
  These no resolution. Is there anyone else that works for the bank. Ive provided evidence of documents from the bank. The response didnt address anything. Read the programs dealership manual. Show me where the program is on the contract? Look at the mistakes from your own transcripts. Ive  received two response letters with no resolution. I would also like to mention  that Ive been given false information from bank and my loan portfolios is being misrepresented. Can you please connect me with someone who has the authority to fix these mistakes. These problems need to be addressed. 
  
  
  1. Beneficial State Bank and its foundation  tricked me into a promissory note. I was given the impression I was participating in a program whose purpose was to assisting low-income individuals residing in underserved communities by facilitating a *****. I was also given the false impression that I had a freedom to pick the best investment that fit my budget. If you really analyze the program requirements and (3) loan applications that were denied without explanation, then youd see that I was restricted and didnt have no other finance option but Beneficial. I questioned the program about the requirements before excepting finance from this bank. The bank/ foundation/ program had so much control over (setting car price, approval of dealership, construction of contract and final agreement with the bank. The process took from 7/13/2023 ***** approval to 10/5/2023 permission to pick up the car. I sign contract in person 9/24/2023 at the dealership according to the programs dealership terms and conditions  ****** under purchase contract requirements everything was supposed to reflect on one single document. The bank made last minute change requests, although my signature from the 9/24/2023 did not change. Later I found out the dealership marked it as a cash deal and the bank requested electronic signatures 9/29/2023. No one went over the contract and the loan application shows the bank was aware of my income and credit score. I did ask the dealership why this was set up like this and I got a defensive response. The clause about the bank and the dealership not having communication is false. During this process and from the start of problems with the negative treatment Ive received from the bank important information was withheld. The bank failed to inform the underlying agenda, of experimental, negative risk factors or about the product that undermines standard banking. Recorded and transcribed conference in 2021, two bank representatives discuss a plan of providing a product 8%  interest rate auto loan for fico scores as low as 500 using this program and foundation funded and no risk to its investors. 
  
  
  
  
  2) OIG put out an audit report announcing that FDIC did not correctly handle complaints related to government guaranteed loans. The government guaranteed loans seem to have oversights, mismanagement, and bank not being compliance due the processing of these loans. Its unclear where my loan is categorized since the promissory note dose not mention dealership and has no signature from the bank on either of the contracts. The bank promissory note also does not document the purchase price or the down payment. I suspect from the description of my loan in the responses letter that the bank has reported that the purchase price was $18,720.94 and the risk management system is evaluated my loan portfolio off partial purchase information and would contribute to an unfair, disadvantages when managing my loan portfolio. This would cause disparate treatment and disparate impact. That is why from my end it felt like the bank was fraud ,predatory lending or discrimination. ***************************, SVP, *************************** and ***************************, Associate Director, Equitable Bank Standards Program, Beneficial foundation are aware of this potential risk that Ive experienced and has not mentioned any of these oversights. 
  
  
  3) I was left in the dark and considering the serious risk that seem to only put on me and the bank has no concerned about my best interest or the damage this could cause me and the damages it has already caused. Based on documentation the bank has resorted to repossession first and skipped steps that would be less of a burden on me and with little effort from the bank. The tools that the bank offer to assist with billing should be accurate. Auto app has an inflated balance, the online bank has a different billing amount and unexplained charges and there is missing payments from the loan history. The billing notices also reflect a different loan amounts and dont align with actions taken against my loan. 
  
  
  This is where the bank should intervene and correct the problem. But instead the 3rd party companies doing business on behalf of the bank have made this very hostile situation and without a resolutions.
  
  
  This has caused wrongful repossession and allowing the responsible parties get away with damaging my car. 
  
  
  Repossession date and error 
  
  
  1) $18823.63 was the alleged balance repossession cost and fees $****** collection cost and fees $153.00 cash paid to repossession company $200  vehicle police release $15  total 
  January 24, 2024 The contract as a whole does say one day late is default nor dose it say I can not be late. The first payment due was 11/13/2024. This is one of two date listed in clear text as scheduled payment. The transaction history incorrectly shows that that payment was returned insufficient funds. Transaction history exported from banks online portal falsely shows that 11/13/2023 transactions # ********-3 was returned insufficient fund. I can provide bank statement showing payment completed and valid.  Had I missed this payment then repossession would have been valid but it was paid on time.  
  2) ********* ****** ****** 300
  May 8, 2024 This was not only a premature repossession that did not align with the billing notice but it was not done peacefully damages caused during the recovery of vehicles 
  Correct *** policy discrepancies. (2) overlapping policies are being charged and the written statement from the bank explains that option 3 (billed at the end of the loan) is how I will be charged. I gave the *** a written affidavit and made the car available for the adjuster but that does not mean I agreed to any claim filed. I was never given any information about this policy and I was not aloud access to documents. In fact both the insurance company and the Beneficial State Bank refused to give me any paperwork or information. The bank has made it very difficult for me and there is no transparency. Kings asset recovery is the one whose insurance should be covering the damage and since the company was hired by the bank then Beneficial State Bank should be holding them accountable. 
  

  Why would I lie? 

  Customer Answer

  Date: 08/15/2024

   I am rejecting this response because:
  
  The bank ignored other complaints and this caused me to take a closer look at my account and discovered new information that questions the banks compliance and how they manage to go under the radar with so many complaint from other individuals reporting the same issues. Beneficial State Bank is handling my loan portfolio in an unsafe and unsound manner. My current balance is incorrect, Im missing payment history, the bank is reporting a in correct balance to credit agency and Im being charged fees that I cannot see, all the paperwork is outdated, the sales contract I signed 9/2023 was created in 2017 last revised 6/2021. The math is off in the activity log and the bank doesnt sends billing notices but doesnt follow what they write. It been less then a year and they have charged me (3) 6 month CPI policies, charged $414 + $660 + $660 (2) bank fees $475 each + $17.38 each (4) late fees $19.04. Bank records they provided shows $4,658.17 in payments received $1067.40 applied interest to $1538.27 towards principal. $2605.31 is unaccounted for and the bank claims Im 45 days past due and owe $1960.00 online account and app says $1896.54 due. Interested accrued since last payment daily is at $176.11 and ytd $902.92. Other fees charged $1160.28 late fee $3808. The monthly billing statement are signed a past loan officer deactivated last year. The gave me a product of a program but failed to document this so my loan was incorrectly evaluated and they may not have a policy and procedures or a risk management put in place to protect their customers especially the customer to which the bank is creating it image around. Underserved communities. Benefit to all harm to none. The bank has not even acknowledged that it harming me with repossessions and be honest with account mistakes. The math is wrong. Check it. Be transparent with policy and procedures on how loans portfolios are evaluated and are you following guidelines to protect loans that have allowances from mistakes.
  

• Initial Complaint

  Date:09/26/2023

  Type:Product Issues
  Status:

  ResolvedMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I talked with Beneficial State Bank I was informed that they had sent all the paper work to you on August 31, 2023. I just received on Thursday a letter stating that you still needed the documentation. The letter is dated August 30, 2023. so I am not sure what the delay was. In addition, Beneficial State Bank is sending people to my home I feel harassing us regarding payment. Look AAA paid ****** dollars it would be in my opinion that the least and customer friendly service that the ******************** Bank would look at that as payments made as we had to get another vehicle with another down payment and monthly payments. The delay in Beneficial not responding in addition I was told by Agent at PRCO that a check to Beneficial for ***** plus was sent 2 weeks ago and according to Beneficial they have not received anything from PRCO. It is my understanding that PRCO and Beneficial work closely together but yet we have received so many emails and letters stating that PRCO has not receieved the necessary documentation to process the claim. We are very frustrated and do not understand why this process is taking so long as it is costing us money and jeopardizing our credit. This is unacceptable and is a form of harassment when the fact is we have done nothing to cause this and both Beneficial and PRCO are causing undue stress and financial burden upon us. We were never provided any documentation regrading refunding the service agreement nor have we been provided a documented copy of all payments on the Beneficial account and when speaking with Beneficial certain reps have been treated with disrespect, discrimination based my ability to understand the process and your refusal to speak with my wife as I on several occasion gave verbal express consent instead Beneficial continued to delay any opportunity of me getting clarification of the process causing me undue stress as you can tell my wife has been the one paying the payments anyway. Therefore, it appears to be necessary that a formal complaint to the ****************** and ******* Services be filed as this process has been unjust and delayed which is affecting my mental health as well as my credit worthiness. I am formally requesting a detail account of my account with detailed description of each payment applied to my account with dates payments were received.

  Business Response

  Date: 09/28/2023

  We have prepared a separate letter with a detailed response to the customer.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:09/25/2023

  Type:Customer Service Issues
  Status:

  ResolvedMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  Hi,It has been more than a week however I have yet to hear from ***** with Beneficial State Bank. Please complete my refinance application so I can start make payment.

  Business Response

  Date: 09/29/2023

  I have attached the Bank's response tothe Gunay **********

• Initial Complaint

  Date:08/25/2023

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  ResolvedMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  Hi,The offer is acceptable to me and I have tried to contact you multiple times but I couldnt reach out to anyone. It would be grateful if you could make it happen.Thank you in advance.Respectfully submitted,*********************

  Business Response

  Date: 09/05/2023

  Good afternoon, We have contacted the customer and just recently heard back from ************  He has indicated that he wants to move ahead with the refinance of his car loan.  We will be working directly with him to close the loan. 

  Thank you,

  *********************;

• Initial Complaint

  Date:07/10/2023

  Type:Customer Service Issues
  Status:

  ResolvedMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  they don’t seem to work or like doing so. They are never available! The program is wonderful sounding C.A.R.B may have chosen the worse possible entity to disburse the funding. There is no transparency in there process and worse of all they boldly state that not everyone who qualifies and submits an appliCation gets the allocated funds and those who do will know by email not even caring to tell those who didnt make it don’t even get told!

  Business Response

  Date: 07/21/2023

  
  Dear ******, 
  This lefter is in response to the complaint you submifted to the Befter Business Bureau on July 10, 2023. In your complaint you seem to reference the Clean Vehicle Assistance Program managed by the Beneficial State Foundafion in partnership with the California Air Resources Board (C.A.R.B.). You cited that you had issues with how the funds were being disbursed and issues being able to contact someone to speak with at either CARB or the Beneficial State Foundafion. It is important to note that Beneficial State Bank is a separate enfity that is not related with the grant process for the CVAP and the content of this complaint seems to be specifically fied to issues around the grant itself and the other enfifies listed above. 
  We have reviewed our systems at the bank and can confirm that Beneficial State Bank received an applicafion on March 22, 2023 at 1:56 PM from our online applicafion. The applicafion was submifted as a preapproval request for a $6,000 loan. There were no indicafions on the applicafion that this was associated with the CVAP as our online applicafion has specific quesfions to allow for folks to answer ‘yes or no’ quesfions about being grant approved. The applicafion was reviewed and denied on March 22, 2023 and an adverse acfion nofice was sent to the address provided on the applicafion which we list below. 
  We did reach out to the Beneficial State Foundafion’s CVAP Operafions Director who confirmed that they previously provided you an email with the following informafion: 
  “Hello, applicafions are reviewed on a first come first serve basis. We review applicafions to ensure applicants live in a disadvantaged community, meet our income requirements, and has a current CA Driver’s License. Those are the only factors we review. After we determine eligibility, we send out a response via email and review the following applicafion in line. We do not have the ability to provide you with the exact locafion of your applicafion. We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your pafience.” 
  Ulfimately Beneficial State Bank is a partner and supporter of the Beneficial State Foundafion/C.A.R.B. Clean Vehicle Assistance Program but the bank is not involved or responsible for the grant approval process which appears to be what your parficular issue is related to. We hope that the context provided in our response provides some addifional clarity for you as it pertains to your applicafion for a loan with Beneficial State Bank and reaffirms the response provided by the Foundafion related to your grant applicafion. 
  Thank you, 
  
  ******* ******* ***, Consumer Lending Manager