Occupy the Board Room!

Yooohooo | 4  

Hey, Brian,
I was thinking about you today, so I thought I would send a little note. Last week it was reported in the news that you were quite angry at the complaints being vocalized against you and BofA. I'm sorry you got upset. Well, maybe not that sorry. In truth, your anger means that you heard us. Us, Brian... We are the 99%. So I think thats a good thing.. your anger, I mean. 
Yesterday, I read that the Association of Credit Unions reported that in the month of October alone there were 650,000 new accounts opened up. And that's just the credit unions figures, they don't include the smaller banks that others have gone to. Shoot. That is a lot of angry ex-customers. I have to hand it to you, Brian, when you piss off customers you do it in a really big way. And we haven't even gotten to the date, Nov. 5th, which is the day to move one's money. I wonder just how many have saved their closing of accounts for that day? 
I don't want to sound mean, or vengeful, Brian, but I am tickled at this development. Oh, not because it hurts you, but rather because our country is up to its eye brows in a mess, largely created by those on Wall Street. You may not be as aware of the mess, Brian, but that is because the 99% are always the first to feel and see and recognize such messes. We have an enormous amount of work to do, if we are to REALLY clean up this mess, rather than sweep it under some rug. And we need you, Brian, with all the gifts, talents, and knowledge you can contribute to this effort at change. We need you to wake up, Brian. So, with all these withdrawals and closing of accounts, I ask, "Can you hear us now, Brian?" because the first stirrings of waking up is the ability to hear us. Can you hear us, Brian? Its time to wake up. 
I wish only the very best of grace and blessings to you, as you awaken. Its hard, I know. Each of us in the 99% had to wake up too. So we understand just how hard it is. But we also want you to wake up. And we will keep calling, as we are doing with the move your money day, until you do wake up. 

Signed,
The 99%

Barbara Soutar
30188

We don't exist to make you rich | 3  

Society exists to enrich all people, not to make a special few rich.  You use the system to enrich yourself at the expense of the many.  We will change this lopsided situation.  Hopefully you will not be too inconvenienced when we do.....

Fenella Tigner
08848

Way to go guys!! | 2  

I'm part of the 53% - 
I have a job - 
I put myself through college - 
3 years ago I didn't have a job - 
I didn't complain about how unfair life was - 
I had no job for 5 months - 
I found a job - 
Now I make good money - 
You people are a joke and with the newest headlines about Acorn involvement in the protest, you sorry assholes are finished. 
Your president is done - 
Your liberal/democrat party will suffer 100 times worse than the republicans and Bush -
I was an independent in 2008 - I'll be one in 2012.  
Because of people like you and your times to one party (democrats), Obama will not be gaining my vote in 2012 - I teach over 100 students - rest assuered - they will all know about this in the next 24 hours.

You reap what you sow. 

Wes Gosnell

 29651

Hi John, AA here. | 4  

John, for your edification, I give you the whispered words of two ghosts from the past...

"It was not accidental. It was a carefully contrived occurrence ... The international bankers sought to bring about a condition of despair here so that they might emerge as rulers of us all."
Republican Congressman, Louis T. McFadden, Chairman of the House Banking & Currency Committee, from 1920 to 1931, a staunch critic of the bankers and the Federal Reserve explains who was responsible for the stock exchange crash.

"A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within. An enemy at the gates is less formidable, for he is known and carries his banner openly. But the traitor moves amongst those within the gate freely, his sly whispers rustling through...all the alleys, heard in the very halls of government itself. For the traitor appears not a traitor; he speaks in accents familiar to his victims, and he wears their face and their arguments, he appeals to the baseness that lies deep in the hearts of all men. He rots the soul of a nation, he works secretly and unknown in the night to undermine the pillars of the city, he infects the body politic so that it can no longer resist. A murderer is less to fear. The traitor is the plague." - Marcus Tullius Cicero

Food for thought, John, don't you think?

Keep the coffee-pot warmed! I'm heading for New York soon and hope to bump into you while I'm there. It's nice for pen-pals to meet face-to-face, don't you think?
  

archander

I am retaking control of my finances | 5  

I have paid you 45% of every check I have received, I don't make much but I honor my debts. Yesterday I gave you the last penny I owed you, and very gratefully I will never be enslaved by you again. Today you sent me a letter offering to let me use more of your created money. I respectfully decline, and have returned your letter with all the scraps of paper I could fit. You controlled my life, you directed my path and squashed my dreams in your financial enslavement. Today I take control back and promise to never again be enslaved, to control my own destiny, to be my own free person. I vow that from this day forward I will aid to free any Americans you have enslaved, I will fight to detach the parasitic relationship you have created with our government. You can not have my people, we will fight, we will win, This is the beginning of our financial revolution.
We are the 99% and we will not be slaves.

Mike
72204

The Destruction of New York City. | 3  

I grew up in Greenwich Village through the 60s,70s, and 80s. I loved it, so I especially mourn it's passing. The current economic collapse has put the nail in New York City's coffin as a place to live for anyone unless they are either:
1- Economically able to take part in whatever culture is left (small group- 10%)
OR
2- Resigned to a bare bones life that is almost leisure free (Majority of people-90%)

As a non profit volunteer, just one tale of how citi has affected everyday people is that Mayor Mike Bloomberg made a SPECIAL trip to see Govern. Patterson on his last day in office. That day, he was suppose to sign the 30%rent cap for people living with AIDS on disability. Many have to pay as much as 90% of their income JUST for rent. Bloomberg decided to "keep" the money in the city budget as to have it for "other" needs". After all the hard work of many people for two years, and getting it passed by BOTH houses, the bankers friend, Michael Bloomberg harassed (the albeit weak) Gov. Patterson to VETO the bill.

Now those people with AIDS still contribute by paying the 1100 hundred dollars and up amounts of rent that are throughout NY, but have less than 200 dollars per month remaining for anything else. 

There lives are spent alone, sometimes in the dark because they can not afford electricity, and sick, because they can not buy the medications they need. THEY do however, pay their rent and contribute to the (real estate)economy.

Your bank with others directly affected these people by taking the money they so desperately needed. The  banks were bailed out, and we have left our sick and needy to be sucked dry by landlords, and without help they SHOULD have gotten. I have too MANY stories, of all different types showing that this is the New York I live in now. Shame on you.

C. Klebanoff
11218

Thank you | 3  

Just wanted to thank you for repealing the $5.00 fee idea.  That a great start.  It feels so good to help others.

I have another great idea.  Why don't you take some of that huge bonus money you guys seem to get every year and give a nice $5,000 dollar Christmas bonus to all of your employees, especially your tellers and clerks.  John, Trust me, you will feel so good about it.  Imagine, allowing all of your employees, even the lowest, to enjoy a nice Christmas and getting a little ahead for the new year.

Sorry I haven't been in touch for awhile, but it's been pretty stressful at work.  I gotta have a serious talk with you about the Alzheimer's epidemic that is fastly coming to us.  Maybe I get a chance this weekend.

Hope you give consideration to my ideas.  Your employees work very hard and have saved what little reputation you have with the community at large.  How bout a thank you that rocks them off their heels this year?
As ever,

Terry Walby

terry walby
07701

Bank of America Bait and Switch Yesterday! | 3  

Dear Sir,
  Yesterday I called BOA customer service. After explaining my financial plight and wishing to find some way to resolve credit card debt with your company, I was assisted by a wonderful woman named Stephanie. 
  Stephanie was in the middle of working out a way I could pay the cards off in five years instead of in 31 years when unfortunately we were disconnected. 
  I called customer service once again and the phone was answered by a man named Greg. When I asked for Stephanie I was told by Greg that he could assist me. And assist me he did! He told me I did not qualify for the lower interest rate which Stephanie had already approved. I insisted on speaking with Stephanie and was told by Greg, that he would email her and let her know I wanted to speak with her.
  I never heard back from Stephanie and can only assume that Greg disallowed everything Stephanie had worked out with me.
  I would really appreciate your looking into this. As it stands now, with my exorbitantly high interest rate, I will be almost 90 years old or dead before this is settled.
  Very Sincerely,
   Susan 

susan
04664

Were all one big family | 2  

Dear Thomas,

I´m writing to you because we have the same surname - May! Even if I´m German and on the other side of the world. Seems like were all one big family. Members of familys tell each other bedtime stories in germany so heres one I´d like to tell you, its about a world without interest.

Once upon a time, there was a hotel, in the middle of a little quiet village. A stranger came by, looking for a place to sleep for the night. He talks to the hotel manager, puts 100 Dollars for the room on the table and says: If I like the room, I´ll pay you the 100. If I don´t I´ll come back downstairs, take my money and continue searching. So he goes upstairs and inspects the room. In the meanwhile the manager, who has debts with the baker, takes the 100 and pays his debts. The baker in turn has a lot of children, as we know, children need meat, so the baker has debts with the butcher. The baker takes the money and pays his debts with the butcher. The butcher loves good life,  has debts with the prostitute, which he in turn can now pay. The prostitute logically, has debts with the hotel, from time to time she needs a room there. With the 100 the butcher gave her, she can now pay her debts with the hotel manager who puts the hundred back on the table just in time for the stranger to come downstairs and take it back (he didnt like the room, a lot of lice).

So dear Thomas, how would this story work with this little invention named interest?
Wouldn´t you rather have become a baker than making wholes in the financial system, which will never be filled?


Love from your imaginary sister

sisterannunziata
1090

Retirement | 3  

I'm writing to ask you to change your policies regarding Wells Fargo retirement accounts. I would like to access funds in my account with Wells Fargo to get me through a hardship brought on by several different things in my life. By using emergency withdrawals from my Wells Fargo retirement fund, I am trying to AVOID going into foreclosure or have my credit ruined for the next several years. But, according to your policy, before I can have access to MY money, I have to actually be in the foreclosure process, which will screw up my credit scores for the next several years. I am completely aware of any penalties I will pay. Please change this policy. As it stands, I have stopped any contributions to this retirement fund. I will no longer put money into an account that will not allow me to withdraw. You're basically holding my money hostage until I either quit my current job or retire. 

Thank you.

Tina Trettin
60616

Retirement account | 2  

I'm writing to ask you to change your policies regarding Wells Fargo retirement accounts. I would like to access funds in my account with Wells Fargo to get me through a hardship brought on by several different things in my life. By using emergency withdrawals from my Wells Fargo retirement fund, I am trying to AVOID going into foreclosure or have my credit ruined for the next several years. But, according to your policy, before I can have access to MY money, I have to actually be in the foreclosure process, which will screw up my credit scores for the next several years. I am completely aware of any penalties I will pay. Please change this policy. As it stands, I have stopped any contributions to this retirement fund. I will no longer put money into an account that will not allow me to withdraw. You're basically holding my money hostage until I either quit my current job or retire. 

Thank you.

Tina Trettin
60616

My 401(K) | 2  

I'm writing to ask you to change your policies regarding Wells Fargo 401(K) accounts. I would like to access funds in my account with Wells Fargo to get me through a hardship brought on by several different things in my life. By using emergency withdrawals from my Wells Fargo 401(K), I am trying to AVOID going into foreclosure or have my credit ruined for the next several years. But, according to your policy, before I can have access to MY money, I have to actually be in the foreclosure process, which will screw up my credit scores for the next several years. I am completely aware of any penalties I will pay. Please change this policy. As it stands, I have stopped any contributions to this 401(K). I will no longer put money into an account that will not allow me to withdraw. You're basically holding my money hostage until I either quit my current job or retire. 

Thank you.

Tina Trettin
60616

You need (terribly need) to listen to the other 99% | 2  

You top dogs at Goldman Sachs earned plenty.  You earn more, much more, in a year than I could ever even imagine.  I married a Steelworker who made a decent wage at J & L Steel.  I worked as well.  In 1973 I decided to finish my degree so I could earn more money.  That cost a bunch to me but not to you.  You could have purchased Bradley University.  Now both my kids were in school and I taught so we had the same hours.  My husband worked all three shifts usually one shift per week.  J & L Steel became LTV Steel.  After 30 years of that work my husband retired.  He lived another almost 4 years.  He had received only five social security checks before he died.  I was a 58 yr. old widow.  Not even six months later LTV went bankrupt and I lost Everything.  I couldn't even afford insurance and I have fibromyalgia.  Imagine the worst flu you ever had and that's what I feel like ALL the time.  I didn't have insurance until I was 65.  I received medicare and I have rather expensive co-pay insurance.  I have applied for help with my rent since I lost my home to a cheatin' lyin' court trustee.  So I moved because after so many awful health scares I had to live close to my sister.  I am also applying for food stamps and help with my medical bills.  This financial crisis made the small business we owned go belly up last year.  I lost it all.  I would love to have you live a week of my life.  Or perhaps a month so you can run out of food.  I lived well and played fair all my life but what I had coming to me was all shit away by the wall streeters who were so damned greedy.

Ann Downey
52577

It's unfortunate I had to e-mail you... | 2  

Hi David,

Really sorry to hear about that quarterly loss. That's got to sting. Maybe now you'll start to feel some of the people on the other side of Goldman's "shitty deals" feel like. Your comment: "it's unfortunate that that was on e-mail" related to those "shitty" CDOs your firm helped to put together and then bet against really struck me as the attitude many in Wall Street have toward 99% of the country. You're content to screw us over, but you also assume people won't find out or can't do anything about it. You're wrong. People and not Capital actually have the power in this world. Perhaps you're starting to realize this, but I bet it will take a lot more. The financial district is no longer your sanctuary. Your boardroom is no longer safe. You can hide behind security, but you are no longer free to profit with impunity.

Have a great weekend! 

Chris
21218

Parting isnt such sweet sorrow.. | 3  

I've done the research.  I stopped putting money into your bank a few weeks ago and opened a credit union account last week.  I'm closing my meager checking and savings accounts with you tomorrow. IT FEELS GREAT to know I'm aligning my principles with my actions in life, and removing my tiny entities of  influence over our economy from your (probably) soft clutchy paws.


I'm not going to get into all the things you do that make me so disgusted with your company.  Suffice it to say, I am one of many who is well aware of the actions you and your ilk have taken to flush this country down the tubes to line your pockets.  I will just keep this personal.

Thanks for making your lowlies offer me credit cards they knew I wouldn't qualify for, with the full awareness that even checking to see if I would would lower my credit.  Thanks for trying to sell me something every time I come in to my local branch to deposit a check. Thanks for charging me for all the crap that my local bank never did growing up (and that my current credit union doesn't).

I'm not an Occupy protester yet, but I support them.  I would wait until tomorrow to remove my last few dollars from your corrupt institution, but I am scheduled to work.  

This could have been a beautiful relationship, if you just didn't have to always try for more profit.  If wealth were enough for you, comfort, blessings most people wouldn't dream of, the line would have been drawn a long time ago.  Good deeds don't negate bad, for any of us.  Get some therapy.  Or a lobotomy, whatever you sociopaths need to begin relating to your customers and the rest of the people on this planet (outside of your little sphere) as humans.  I don't know what will fill the void in you, but it isn't MORE.  MORE is the drug that keeps you subhuman.  Your shit stinks just like the rest of us.  And so does your bank's.

Soon to be former customer
78757

Thanks for taking the risk | 1  

Thanks for working so hard and taking risk, from being paperboy or when you were ten years old to starting your first company to where you have gotten.  Thanks for taking the risk of doing something that obviously is working, or you wouldn't have gotten to where you are.  Because of your risk, I can have a job, pay payroll taxes that creates serveices in my community, and buy all kinds of consumable stuff that creates jobs in my community.

Hard Worker

 97219

Protect your fellow bankers and win over the plebs! | 2  

Dear Edward and Esteemed Banking Colleagues

You really can have it all! Yes, you, dedicated businessman and friend of democracy: You can gently carry some of your not-so-evil loan defaulters by getting back the interest over the very long term.

You may not get back operating cash immediately, but you will definitely keep a larger part of the economy functional by allowing the less asset-rich to CONSUME the products of your friends.

In black and white: The 1% cannot buy stuff NOW if you refuse their loans or longer-term repayment contracts. Ease up, give them a little slack and we'll all benefit.

If YOUR BANK showed some flexibility, some of the 99% might even back you up! Think of the positive publicity you HAVEN'T been getting recently. Speak to your marketing people- I'm sure they'll see some merit in it.

Yours sincerely


Citizen of Australia

Kay Walker
005061

Trial by Occupy Wall Street | 2  

Dear Lloyd,

I read about the mock trial that Occupy Wall Street protesters had for you today. Good for you that many of them were arrested.

We know that YOU will never be arrested because, after all, you own several senators and congress people.

Well, let's just be glad you have a lot of money and they don't.

Susie Stulz
10025

Cash for Guns Program | 2  

While this might seem odd, since normally people turn in their guns for cash, I would like to do the opposite.

I would like you to give me a loan so that I can purchase several high powered rifles and plenty of ammunition. 

You see, since you've tanked the economy, there has been widespread unrest among the hippie community. Normally very loving and peaceful, these hippies seem to be quite angry at the current state of the economy and I am beginning to fear for the safety of the flat screen TV I bought with the last loan you gave me.

I know what you're thinking, "Hippies don't watch TV, so there's nothing to worry about." Well, I'm not worried that the hippies will watch the TV (after all, they can't afford cable where all the good shows are at), but rather, they will try to sell my TV for necessities like cliff bars or trail mix. 

You might be wondering where I received the training to handle such dangerous weapons. In addition to my TV, I also have an XBox, where I have been learning how to thwart the coming hippie-zombie apocalypse, and with Modern Warfare 3 releasing on Nov 8th, my training can only continue if my widescreen still hangs in my tiny living room. (Don't worry I stay at least 2 feet away so I don't go blind, thanks mom!)

Anyways, I hope I have made my case for another high interest loan from Citibank. I know now why the interest must be so high as you need you bonuses to afford giant TV's and also, bigger houses to stay far enough away from them that you don't get yelled at by your mom either.

Hope to hear back soon!

Will M.
90715

An Open Letter to Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein | 9  

Mr. Blankfein,

So, I've been writing these letters to bank CEOs where I gently rib them about stuff like "being abysmally terrible at their jobs" and "openly stealing from the general populace" and "having the morality of a supervillain" and stuff like that. You know. The usual. And so I was writing one to you about what a terrible businessman you are, and how you had to get your old boss to give you $64 billion because of how badly you suck at being a CEO. Haha. It was going to be funny.

So I was doing research to find more things to make fun of you about. But I kept reading more and more about what a hive of scum and villainy your company actually is, and the more I read the less I felt like being funny. Because, you know, whatever. Any jackass can illegally accept naked short sales or underwrite bonds AND encourage people to short those bonds or help Greece hide the true nature of its debt in order to make some extra cash, causing long-term damage to not just Greece but the whole Euro Zone and therefore the world economy which is at risk of going under (again!) partially because of your nefarious deeds (again! I guess you CAN fool people twice!)? Hell, I could do that. 

But really it was in finding out that your company's creation of the Goldman Sachs Commodity Index helped literally starve millions of people that I stopped feeling jokey and started actually feeling pity for you. That's the worst thing to feel for somebody, Lloyd, because it means I consider you less than me. You know what? I do!

I'm asking this honestly: How do you sleep at night? I know that sounds all melodramatic, but when I've, you know, inadvertently hurt somebody's FEELINGS I have trouble getting any rest at all. I can't imagine ever getting a bit of shuteye again if I found out I helped artificially drive up the price of wheat in the greatest year of plenty the world had ever known, pushing 250,000,000 more people to the breaking point and causing food riots in 30 countries.

You must either have a really comfortable bed or a metric boatload of ambien. Or no conscience whatsoever, and such broken morality that you don't realize what damage your little money games are causing the planet. 

No, I'm just playing, I'm sure you're a great guy. Haha.

-Dave

Dave
10039

welfare/ entitlement | 7  

if you guys actually earned a small fraction of what you make, there might be some justice in the world.  but what do you DO exactly?  how does one EARN $18 million dollars a year?  have you invented a better mousetrap?  discovered a cure for cancer?  ended poverty?  achieved peace in our times?  no, you've probably caused a bunch pf cancer with your relentless polluting for profit.  you've certainly made poverty worse and wars are great for your balance sheet.

give the money back.  step down and give someone else a chance to rule the world.  you suck at it!

carolyn kostopoulos

 10001

Enough is Enough | 4  

We're not just names on paper. We're real people with real families, lives and struggles. If we can no longer function, operate and produce, everything falls, including you. Stop suffocating us! If you don't, ultimately, you'll be suffocating yourself. Enough is enough, don't you think?

Renee Ternier

 11413

Greed and Bankers | 3  

As an American I am always saddened when I hear about banks forcloseures and families losing their homes because they have loans they can't pay back. And I don't understand why banks do this to their customers especially when they have been true and loyal customers to those banks over the years. It only goes to show that it is every person for themselves, with no regard for their fellow man, no soul or conscience for what ishappening in our country today , no taking responsibility for their actions.Remember we're the ones who bailed you out! Since then you have given yourself big bonues and big parties but haven't help get these people back their homes or created jobs. And I just wonder how you sleep at night knowing you are personally responseable for doing this.Have you really become that hardhearted that you can forget and use the people who got you started and kept you in business all these years.Take a really good look at what destruction you have caused this country and think if that were you on the other side. You still have a chance to change and stop this wholesale destruction.

Erin Kelley

 68144

Speaking at Bank of America Merrill Lynch Conference | 2  

Dear Lloyd,

I've been a bit behind on my reading. I just read how you will be speaking at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch 2011 Banking & Financial Services conference this November 15th.

I have to say, the CEO of Bank of America has one up on you right now. Did you hear? They've transferred $15 trillion of toxic derivatives from the Merrill Lynch side of the house to the FDIC-insured Bank of America balance sheet.

So once those gambles go sour (as they will), guess whose on the hook? The taxpayer!

Where's your strategy to get the taxpayer to absorb your derivative losses Lloyd?

Honestly, I'm beginning to wonder about you. Get on the ball guy! There's money to be made off of the whining taxpaying public.

Best,

Susie Stulz
10025

What's the magic number? | 3  

Dear Scank of America CEO and Friends,

How much money is enough?  What is your magic number?  C'mon, they say everyone has a price.  What is yours???  You know, you can't take it with you when you die, and everybody dies.  Even you can't buy eternal life here on earth.  Where do you think people like you go?  Will the "Creator" show you the same mercy you have shown others?  One can only hope.

Cathy
19101