The man police say threatened to bomb a bank faced a judge in Stamford Superior Court Wednesday.

Stephen Montalvo, 60, of Stamford, was arrested Tuesday after police say he made threats against the HSBC bank in Stamford while at another downtown bank on Saturday.

According to police, Montalvo is charged with committing an act of terrorism and first-degree threatening. He allegedly entered a local bank and told employees he would blow up the HSBC bank because he was angry over the performance of his investment accounts there.

Police say he has a history of arguing with bank employees over how his investments are handled.

However, Montalvo's lawyer says the situation is a misunderstanding and that his client never threatened to blow up the bank, but instead told employees, "You make my head explode."

His lawyer also says Montalvo came to Stamford six months ago and has been grieving both the loss of his first wife and the loss of his investments with HSBC.

According to a police spokesman, the FBI's counter-terrorism task force is involved in the case. Montalvo posted $150,000 bail following his arraignment and is due back in court Nov. 4.

Police:Stamford man threatened to bomb bank