Consumer complaint received 2023-11-09
Company: FIFTH THIRD FINANCIAL CORPORATION
State: CA
Product: Checking or savings account
Sub-product: Checking account
Issue: Managing an account
Sub-issue: Deposits and withdrawals

Complaint:
- I am power of attorney for a checking account in XXXX  that belongs to my mother and I live in a different state, I provided the bank the Power of Attorney documentation and have had access to her account for several months up to now. 
- I made a large deposit into my mothers checking account on XX/XX/2023 - I have a legal Personal Service Agreement set up to help manage the large amount of funds that were deposited that requires the funds to be placed in a separate checking account per advisement of the lawyer that set up the Personal Service Agreement. 
- I corresponded with my mothers checking account bank branch representative regarding how to transfer this large amount of funds into a new checking account with a different institution to help manage the funds separately for the Personal Service Agreement since I am in different state and can not visit a branch to facilitate a cashiers check or wire transfer. 
- The branch representative for my mothers bank suggested that since I am power of attorney and can sign for her account that I write a personal check to myself to facilitate transfer of funds for the Personal Service Agreement at which time, the bank representative mailed checks to me as power of attorney for the said account. 
- Upon receipt of checks, I wrote a check to myself and deposited into the new checking account under my name so I can manage the funds within the parameters of the Personal Service Agreement.

- Per the language within the Personal Service Agreement, I wrote the a check for the amount listed in the agreement which happened to be for over the amount that was actually available in my mothers account, this was an administrative error due to lack of oversight by me and the check was returned. 
- I then wrote a second check for a lesser amount leaving funds in the account at which time, my mothers bank from which the check was written put a STOP pay on this check due to suspected FRAUD by me and did not attempt to contact me regarding the situation. 
- This action triggered my personal banking institution to cut me off from access to my bank account and my funds causing detrimental personal financial repercussions and intense stress. 
- Additionally my mother is currently in hospice care and anticipated to pass away therefore I am under extreme personal duress in addition to this financial complication. 
- I contacted the fraud department for my mothers bank, I explained the situation and sent them a copy of the Personal Service Contract that has been drafted by my lawyer. 
- I explained to my mothers bank that my personal banking account has been blocked and additionally that my mother was in XXXX XXXX  and would be passing away eminently and I needed a resolution quickly to help facilitate proceeding with the Personal Service agreement on her behalf and upcoming funeral costs. 
-The representative from the Fraud Protection department at my mothers bank informed me that the account is under investigation and I would receive a call within XXXX  days and they would not provide any further information. 
-Despite explaining the urgency of my situation my mothers bank is unwilling to assist me in finding a resolution quickly while holding the funds XXXX and perpetuating adverse consequences in relation to the hold placed on my personal bank account of which I have been a member for XXXX  years, causing extreme distress and inconvenience to manage my life affairs. My bank advised me to file this complaint due to the lack of attention to this individual situation and the unreasonable length of time it is taking to prove a resolution on my behalf.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation