Statesman Journal February 8, 2003 BEAVERTON â?? Federal authorities have revoked lending authority for a Beaverton-based bank that processes credit cards for clothing and household goods retailers Eddie Bauer, Newport News and the Spiegel Catalog. Under a cease-and-desist order, First Consumer National Bank must dissolve itself as a bank, losing its lending authority, after an audit of its parent company found risky levels of debt. The 14-year-old company founded in Beaverton will be forced to shutter a big chunk of its headquarters and an Albany call center if it cannot find a buyer. The bank employs about 1,200 people in Oregon. Auditor KPMG filed a letter Tuesday with the Securities and Exchange Commission, saying parent company Spiegel Group, based in Downers Grove, Ill., had failed to comply with its debt agreements or re-negotiate its debt. Spiegelâ??s chief financial officer resigned Wednesday. First Consumers National Bank manages MasterCard and Visa accounts nationwide, and retail credit cards for Spiegel Group holdings, which includes Eddie Bauer and the others. At the end of 2001, the bankâ??s credit card customers had $1.3 billion in outstanding balances and its retail credit card holders had $2.3 billion. ________________
I think the lessons learned from Next Card would apply here too... Wheile we're at it, I'd be looking for Direct Merchant's to be going south real soon too....
The Oregonian article stated they would either sell their Visa/MC business or the accounts would be closed and the company could continue to collect on them. Apparently it will not affect their dept store cards.
By any chance would this be the same as a USNB OF OREGON??? This is showing up on DH and we can not figure out who this is!!! Also do not want to hijack But MEDCLR INC ?? shows up on my CR's have disputed 2x- verified I have never heard of these folks the Claim is open Acct placed 3-99 past due *collection Account* Factoring Company? Should I go ahead and keep disputing or Validate and wake up the the sleepy slime???
Funny you mention that. I went into Eddie Bauer the other day and noticed that there were no credit card applications anywhere. Even their website has no mention of the card. Maybe they're not issuing new accounts?
That would be US National Bank. They were bought up by another large bank out of Minnesota(?) who decided to keep the US Bank name for the merged company. I think that same bank had bought up quite a few banks so it is hard saying what the original creditor name was.
Re: First Consumers NB being shut d I just called to their automated system to check my Eddie Bauer MC and the account is still open. By the way, my Eddie Baure is about to expire this month and I haven't received any card from the mail. Ron.
Re: Re: First Consumers NB being shut d Apparently they have 3 months to either find a buyer for the Visa/MC side or close the accounts. I would think a buyer would be pretty easy to find.
Here's another article. http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1044622637221160.xml
Thank you for this post. You saved me several hours of work! Some of my clients recently received letters from FCNB reducing their credit limit due to derogatory information on their credit reports, however I could find no such inquiries. None of these people had used the account recently and they all had 0 balances with no "lates" at all. I was all set to BLAST FCNB for this, however, I will just advise them to close their accounts.
Re: Re: First Consumers NB being shut down. Many card issuers are feeling the pinch of the bad economy. Look at Metris (Direct Merchant's Bank). Their stock has gone from $47.00 to $1.80 over the past few years. And, in an ironic twist, their credit rating (from Standard and Poors) was lowered and their outlook changed to negative. In my opinion, Metris will be history sometime soon. There's a long list of card issuers on shaky ground right now. If you notice credit limits getting slashed, no more balance transfers, etc, it's a sure sign that trouble is brewing.
Re: Re: First Consumers NB being shut down. I would be surprised if CompuCredit (the servicer of Emerge Mastercard) is not looking at FCNB's Credit-card portfolio for a possible purchase.
Re: Re: First Consumers NB being shut down. This is music to my ears! I hope they are as miserable now as they have made me in years gone by.
Re: Re: First Consumers NB being shut down. I just sent them a validation letter on February 4. According to the USPS track & confirm it hasn't been delivered yet. Maybe they'll just delete the TL this time. (Crossed fingers).
Re: Re: First Consumers NB being shut down. In re the above matter: I am with Ameridebt paying this off. It's a charge a family member opened in my name and I never knew about until I began getting dunned. Do I still continue to pay this thru Ameridebt if they are going under or what? Thanks. Kismet
Re: Re: First Consumers NB being shut down. I read somewhere that the parent company is somehow affiliated with CAP 1. I can't remember whaere I saw it...but I do know that cap1 is in a bit of trouble with the feds.
Re: Re: First Consumers NB being shut down. I have a Secured and More Card with them and received a letter last month stating that my deposit was being transferred to an account with another bank at the same rates. Wonder of this was the begining of the changes?
Re: Re: First Consumers NB being shut down. I just received a change in terms to your FCNB account today in the mail. Late payments charges are now $35 over the limit charges are now $35 bah bah bah. Nothing about closing your account. Best part: Special Customers, Exclusive Savings: 15% off your next order USING your FCNB card. This is for my Newport News card. They just raised my limit before Christmas $500 from $3600 to $4100.
Re: Re: First Consumers NB being shut down. I am with Consumer Conseling. Have you asked any one if credit counseling is good or bad towards your credit? I asked once and one person responded and said cc is as bad as bankruptcy. Have you heard anything like that? I am new to this website and want to get the most out of it.
