Nonsensical

So, tried to do my online banking this morning as I usually do.

After I entered my card number a note comes up saying that I had to answer some questions for their enhanced security system. What my favorite type of food and drink was and if the computer I was using was the usual one I use to do my banking. I answered the questions and said YES to usual computer. Then I got an error saying that I had answered the questions wrong so I went back and said the same food but NO about the computer, thinking that might work.

Still wouldn't work and then I got the following error:

Your Online Banking access has been locked out as the Challenge Responses you
provided do not match our records. For assistance, please call the appropriate
number below to speak to a Direct Banking Manager.

Personal Banking
CustomersPlease call 1 888 226-7831 and select option 2 from the automated
menu.Business Banking CustomersPlease call 1 866 551-9381 to speak to a Direct
Banking Manager.
AAN/AA/1

So, I call the hi lited number and was asked a bunch more questions like what kinds of investments I have with them and if I have automatic withdrawals from an insurance company that come out and how much for. I told her we have money that comes out automatically for our house insurance but couldn't recall how much or for what company. I don't know this cause my husband does all the banking and pays all the bills.

Then she goes on to ask more questions and then tells me I failed the security questionnaire!!!! and that I need to go into a branch and authenticate my account. I told her NO. She said well when you called if you had keyed in the correct pass code / PIN for your card, I wouldn't have had to ask you all these questions which you failed. You also entered the wrong answer about your favorite food - which she says I must have entered a long time ago. I told her that I was never asked my pass code / PIN in the first place when I dialed the number and that it went directly through to her and she didn't ask me the number either.

She said, oh well, the system must not be working and they have posted the wrong telephone number on the website. Can you believe it? And can you believe that if I entered that my favorite food in 2005 was Italian and I can't remember this now, that I locks me out?

So, now, I am locked out of on-line banking (although I can do my banking on the phone!!! Go figure!).

So, when I call the 1-800 number on the back of my bank card, different than the one above, it rings and rings and rings. I sat on hold for 8 minutes!

I understand the need for security. It's for my own protection but to me this is just stupidity.