One of the forerunners to TD Bank in the northeast was Commerce Bank, a firm that built a reputation for excellent customer service and wide open, inviting branch locations. This week, that reputation for customer relations has been put to the test due to problems consolidating the legacy TD Banknorth and Commerce Bank backend computer systems. According to a FAQ section about the issues on TD Bank’s website, transaction processing is currently backlogged at the bank, causing clients’ balances to “temporarily be different” from what account holders might think they should be. In addition, the firm acknowledges that online banking access and connections to Quicken have been out intermittently this week as the bank has needed to do some emergency systems maintenance.

News sources are reporting that the problems for clients are far more widespread than TD Bank is acknowledging, affecting many clients in the northeast. Additionally, reports state that the system glitches are producing such discomforting results as people logging into the TD Bank private site and being greeted with a $0 balance or with the balance missing completely, as opposed to simply lagging behind where they should be. Understandably, the entire situation has rattled the bank’s customers and a link to a story from Drudge Report is fanning the flames.

In response to the problems, TD Bank has tried to reassure clients that everything will be alright, both with updated online messaging and over-the-phone assurances from customer service agents. Beyond that, the firm has promised not to charge overdraft fees to anyone effected by the processing backlog and other consolidation glitches. While this is certainly a necessary step, it will come as no surprise if the clients who encounter some balance irregularities remain worried that their money on deposit at the bank might suddenly disappear.

TD Bank’s message about the current online banking and balance issues, which is linked from a banner ad on the firm’s public site homepage, states that “all hands are on deck” trying to fix the problems, and that employees throughout the firm are dedicated to helping clients with any issues they are currently having. The bank is not currently providing a timeline for when the back side account processing issues may be solved.