Consumer complaint received 2020-06-11
Company: SANTANDER BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
State: MA
Product: Money transfer, virtual currency, or money service
Sub-product: International money transfer
Issue: Other transaction problem

Complaint:
I got a reply from Santander Executive offices for the {$41000.00} and the {$160000.00} wired to my active account at Santander that basically says they illegally wired my funds back. They say they traced the {$41000.00}, but my customer, the government of XXXX, has not found it, and the {$160000.00} Santander says 2 months they are still trying to trace, but can not find. The CFPB basically says they responded so the case is closed. So I guess the CFPB really is a government agency that doesn't really do anything if a bank admits wrong doing. If they said they wired my money to their Brother. I  would get the same response from you. 
I guess I need to get an attorney as you seem to have no control over a federal banks wrong doings and I can't even pay my mortgage now. Not sure what you really do!! 
This was my response to their letter : I don't believe, after talking with a banker of a large bank that Santander had the legal right to wire my funds back to the XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. I believe they could hold the funds until they reached me as this is a very active account. Santander closed my bank branch in XXXX Massachusetts at the end of XXXX. I had a close relationship with the manager of that branch so I started banking where he was transferred to, XXXX, Massachusetts. I did get one wire transfer in from XXXX in XXXX without a problem. For some reason my account was transferred to XXXX, Massachusetts, where I have never been. Tracing my calls back I got ONE call from XXXX, but no message was left to say it was Santander and there were no further calls. The Bank has my email and address, but no other attempt was made to contact me. I visited the XXXX branch to try and find this money 2-3 times and made many calls, so I assumed that XXXX had not actually wired my funds. By the time the XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX got the documentation to me proving my bank had the funds, the money was wired back the morning before. They held my money for 3 weeks  Almost {$200000.00}, and months of work, without even sending a letter. 
Santander is at fault for wiring my funds without my permission. The Ministry of Finance in XXXX can not find my funds now and said they have never had a bank return funds as they only pay vendors that are active and all contracts have been verified and signed off on and they had the central bank wire to the same account they always wire my funds too. As far as they are concerned I have been paid. 
This has put me in a grave position. I can not pay my taxes, my mortgage isn't being paid and I have only been saved by covid 19 until XXXX when my mortgage company wants the mortgage paid in full. XXXX said even if they find the $ almost XXXX it would take months to get back as it would have to be put back into the account of the Government printing office where I consult and they would have to then go through the ministry to explain why the XXXX XXXX should wire this money again. 
Santander saying gosh we tried to call once, didn't leave a message and then wire the money somewhere without taking any liability is crazy. They admit that the largest of the two wires they still can't find. 
I woulds hope a government agency would have more control to make the banks under their control take liability for the mistakes they have made, This has destroyed me and all I got as a response is sorry we screwed up. Maybe they should pay me for their mistake and I will be happy to pay them back if or when this money is returned. I am not looking for triple damages, I am looking for the bank to return my funds and I need them now,

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 explanation