JP Morgan Chase is a huge bank. It recently tried to screw over military members with student loans, but quickly backtracked when it got caught by NBC News. 

Ask yourself this question. What happens to soldiers financial obligations when they head off to war? The answer is somewhat complex because it depends on the specific type of debt we are talking about. Historically, banks holding student loans for military members have allowed them to defer the payments till the return. Interest still accrues and the loans must still be paid, but the troops get a break while on the front. 

JP Morgan Chase is one of the biggest banks in the country. Despite that, it is pretty clear bank doesn’t give a [insert cussword here] about its actual customers. In the case of the military, the bank actually put an end to its deferral policy for active members in the military. Think about that for a minute. You head off to some godforsaken place like Iraq and your bank starts sending nasty letters to your spouse. Gee, thanks. 

Perhaps even more frustrating was the response of Chase to the uprising that resulted. When confronted with angry spouses, the bank’s response was basically to tell them that life’s a bitch and they needed to send in payment. Aren’t you glad we gave banks like this bailouts? Perhaps they could use some of the money on getting a clue and treating people decently. A bank doing that? I doubt it, but one could hope.

Fortunately, one military wife didn’t take the change in policy sitting down. She contacted NBC News and told Chase she was doing so. Kerri Napoli then quickly received a call from a Chase representative telling her the loan for her husband had been deferred, but it was an exception just for her. No doubt this was just because she had involved the media. Fortunately, NBC News followed up anyways and the public relations department at the bank apparently was able to get the policy changed.

You have a choice where you bank. If this story makes you angry and you put your money at Chase, then perhaps you need to make another choice.