FirstMerit Bank N. A.
3 cardholder agreements · 1.2 MB
- Starting score100
- Forced arbitration (opt-out available)-12
- Class-action waiver-12
- Jury-trial waiver-8
- Change-anytime clause-8
- Fair Terms score60 · grade C
See the exact wording behind each below.
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You can opt out of this issuer's forced arbitration
FirstMerit Bank N. A.'s agreement lets you reject arbitration and keep your right to sue — usually within a short window after opening the account. You have to send it in writing. Here's the language from the filed agreement:
“…unenforceability. In the event of a conflict or inconsistency between this Arbitration Provision and the applicable arbitration rules, this Arbitration Provision shall govern. (l) Right to Reject Arbitration: If you do not want this Arbitration Provision to apply, you may reject it by mailing a written notice to us at the following address that describes your Account and states that you are rejecting this Arbitration Provision: FirstMerit Bank, Credit Card Arbitration Opt-Out, Attention: Bankcard Portfolio Manager TOW829, 106 South Main Street, Akron, Ohio 44308. A rejection notice is effective only if it is signed by you and the envelope that the rejection notice is sent in is postmarked no more than 30 calendar days after the date you received the Consumer Credit Card Agreement. If you reject this Arbitration Provision, it will not affect any other provisions of the Agreement or your o…”
Read the exact mailing address in the clause above, then use our opt-out letter template and full guide →
Contract X-Ray — what's buried in the fine print
4 red flags · 3 filed docsDetected in the CFPB-filed cardholder agreements from FirstMerit Bank N. A.. Verbatim quotes below — CardSleuth flags the language; this isn't legal advice.
You give up your right to sue in court — disputes are pushed into private arbitration.
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“…se terminated, or if you convert the checking account to a different type of deposit account for which Overdraft Protection is unavailable. NOTICE OF ARBITRATION PROVISION The documents relating to credit card accounts that FirstMerit Bank offers or provides to you, including but not limited to the Account application,…”
You can't band together with other cardholders in a class action.
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“…wed by the arbitration rules of the administrator or by this Arbitration Provision. We and you are prohibited from participating in a class action or class-wide arbitration with respect to that Claim (the Class Action Waiver ). This means that neither we nor you can be a representative or, member of any class of claimant…”
You waive your right to have a dispute heard by a jury.
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“…ights: If arbitration is chosen with respect to a Claim, all of the following apply: There will be no right to try that Claim in court. There will be no jury trial on that claim. There will be no discovery, except as allowed by the arbitration rules of the administrator or by this Arbitration Provision. We and y…”
The issuer reserves the right to change your rates, fees and terms at any time.
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“…to reject these changes. We may increase your Interest Charges for new Account transactions and your Fees after the first year of the Account. We may change any other terms of your Account at any time, after giving you any notice and waiting any period of time required by law. The Law that Applies to Your Agreement We make decisions to grant credit…”
The contract lets you reject arbitration (usually within a short deadline) and keep your right to sue.
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“…lidity or unenforceability. In the event of a conflict or inconsistency between this Arbitration Provision and the applicable arbitration rules, this Arbitration Provision shall govern. (l) Right to Reject Arbitration: If you do not want this Arbitration Provision to apply, you may reject it by mailing a written notice to us at the following address tha…”
Checked & clear: Deferred interest · Penalty APR
Cardholder agreements
Filed with the CFPB in the 2026 Q1 bulk submission. Opens the original PDF.