Consumer complaint received 2022-10-30
Company: BANK OF AMERICA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
State: CA
Product: Checking or savings account
Sub-product: Checking account
Issue: Closing an account
Sub-issue: Company closed your account

Complaint:
I moved to the US 2 months ago as a permanent resident after I won a diversity lottery and have had a Bank of America account since then. My mother transferred money from my home country to my BofA account via XXXX ; I didn't have a problem with that. 

On XX/XX/28, I tried to log in to the mobile app using my credentials, but it said there was no match. I went to the XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX, TX XXXX Bank of America branch ( appointment for XX/XX/28 at XXXX XXXX, Confirmation # XXXX ), where the bank teller said my card had been blocked and gave me the number to call. I called XXXX and was told that Bank of America made a business decision to close all my accounts and ban me for life from being their customer. 

I have been a US permanent resident for only two months and having all my bank accounts closed and banned from Bank of America is unlawful and unfair. I am especially being a XXXX XXXX  with no prior banking/credit history in the US. I used my bank accounts only for my basic needs, such as food, housing, plane tickets, and cellular communication. 

Please, assist me in reverting this unlawful decision. I'm sure that Bank of America 's decision to ban me for life is cruel and illegal, it's my basic need, and I can't pay for food and housing. 

I also can't get the mail, because I was traveling the country and now staying in Texas unable to purchase a plane ticket. 

I came to the US legally as an immigrant about two months ago, and now I am looking for work and permanent housing. Currently, I have to live in a hotel. 

I put all my savings in my bank accounts, and my mother also transferred almost all of her money to me - about {$40000.00}. She did this because in XXXX, against sanctions imposed for military actions, the possibility of transferring money abroad may disappear at any moment. I don't have any other money right now. 

Since I treated the Bank of America as the most reliable bank, I kept all my money in my account. Therefore I have lost the ability to pay for housing, buy food and pay for transport, and pay for any other basic needs of my life since I have no more money. I also have no relatives and acquaintances in the United States and I have no one to turn to for help, currently, I am in a hopeless situation. 

I am ready to provide proof of the legality of all the money in my bank accounts, and immigration status in the United States and answer all questions that the bank may have for me. 

I'm asking you to help the bank to reconsider its decision as soon as possible as erroneous and not to close my bank accounts. 

It's especially very sad because I think the bank treats me this way because of my nationality and immigration status ( only 2 months in the US ), not giving me opportunities other members of society have, with a life ban from banking services ( I'm afraid that other banks will deny me in future because of this unlawful decision ).

Company public response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
Company response to consumer: Closed with monetary relief