Citizens Community Bank blamed for reporting a charge-off to credit agency

A St. Clair County bank is accused of falsely reporting credit information about one of its customers.

Glennon J. Holtmann filed a lawsuit March 4 against Citizens Community Bank in St. Clair County Circuit Court.

In 1998 Holtmann says he obtained a mortgage from Citizens Community Bank for a house in the 7000 block of Patricia Road in Germantown. In January 2007, according to the complaint, Holtmann filed for bankruptcy. Holtmann says he also filed a reaffirmation agreement with the bankruptcy court, confirming his liability to the bank for the mortgage loan.

In June 2008 Citizens Community Bank allegedly informed TransUnion, a credit reporting agency, that it had charged off more than $14,000 of debt belonging to Holtmann. He contends the charge-off information was wrong and adversely affected his credit score, causing him to be denied a refinance loan with Citizens Community Bank. Holtmann says it also caused him to be denied another loan for a property in Clinton County.

Holtmann accuses Citizens Community Bank of defamation for allegedly falsely reporting a charge-off to a credit-reporting agency at least four times. The bank is also accused of negligence, consumer fraud, breach of fiduciary duty and intentional misrepresentation.

Holtmann asks for a judgement of more than $300,000 in damages and court costs.

He is represented by attorney Stephen R. Clark of Belleville.

St. Clair County Circuit Court Case No. 13-L-122