Consumer complaint received 2023-01-30
Company: FIFTH THIRD FINANCIAL CORPORATION
State: OH
Product: Checking or savings account
Sub-product: Checking account
Issue: Managing an account
Sub-issue: Funds not handled or disbursed as instructed

Complaint:
My mother died early XXXX XXXX As XXXX, I began initiated attempts to access her checking and savings accountsat 5/3 XXXX  Bank in XXXX I provided the XXXX XXXX XXXX  and a letter with instructions for the institution written by mother 's XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  of the 5/3 office on XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. He told me that I " would have to go to court '' for the money. I was frankly, dumbfounded. He refused to give me any alternatives or offer an explanation. 

Over the next weeks in conversations with my mother 's home branch in XXXX XXXX XXXX I was told that the account was in my brother 's name, " we can't talk to you '' ; then, 'Oh, a mistake was made, they're working on it, I'll get back to you by the end of the week. '' Calls did not come, and it was I that reached out again, to be told, " Oh, a mistake was made, we're working on it. At no time was I given access to those " working on it, '' or frankly, what it was they were working on. At no time was I sent documents that anything was being " worked on. '' A After a month, I was told by a receptive manager at the XXXX XXXX XXXX was ready, and that my local branch on XXXX XXXX XXXX would be prepared when I arrive. I should arrive with the documents. 

I arrived mid-XXXX  on XX/XX/XXXX, roughly a month following my initial visit, with the same documents. The manager wasn't prepared for me, in any sense of the word ; in fact, he was disinterested, in virtually every sense of the word.I was told : " Oh, I've been busy with my XXXX XXXX all day ; '' that I would " need an appointment ; '' that he had never done " this kind of paperwork before. '' So I sat while he contacted the XXXX XXXX office manager and she walked him through working with the same documents that I had brought to his office a month prior, and been told, " You'll need to go to court. '' The transfer of my XXXX XXXX XXXX  was accomplished. The manager then asked, " Is there anything else we can do for you? '' in the most disinterested manner possible. And I replied, " Yes. The next time so you're presented with a task unfamiliar to you, simply say, 'This is new to me. Let me call someone who might know more. ' Telling a person they'll have to 'go to court, ' that is not acceptable. '' The manager apparently did not appreciate my message, or my attitude, because he jumped up, yelled, " Leave my office, now! '' and then yelled for the guard, claiming that, " This man is throwing furniture! '' XXXX XXXX  were called, whom I frankly welcomed. In the meantime, the manager is shouting in the background, " You'll never come back here again! '' I walked outside to await the officer 's arrival. Following that conversation, I left the property. 

Needless to say, I have no desire to have anything to do with 5/3 Bank again, other than filing this complaint and obtaining possession of the belongings stored in that office 's lock boxes. I have never been so frustrated, so angry, and so humiliated in my life. 

And I would like to hear from 5/3, which does not seem the least curious about why a customer would be irate over being told, " If you want your money, sue for it. ''

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation