Consumer complaint received 2022-09-26
Company: BANK OF AMERICA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
State: IN
Product: Checking or savings account
Sub-product: Checking account
Issue: Closing an account
Sub-issue: Funds not received from closed account

Complaint:
On XX/XX/XXXX, I deposited a check for {$11000.00}. Bank of America said it would hold the check funds until XX/XX/30. On the XXXX my XXXX deposited and on the XXXX my XXXX deposited, totaling about {$3000.00}. I electronically paid some bills on Saturday, then went to the pharmacy to have my debit card declined. I called BOA and they said my account was set to be closed and they would mail me a check on the XXXX. On the XXXX, no check yet so I called. They said it wasn't yet cleared, they needed to confirm the money was mine, but they should finish on the XXXX or XXXX. On the XXXX it still wasn't closed and they told me it would be the XXXX. Then it was the XXXX, then the XXXX, then the XXXX, and now it's set for the XXXX. They have been holding my money for a whole month! How do they expect me to eat? I can't pay for my medications, bills, insurance, nothing. My bad credit score has gone even lower for unpaid bills. Note that the {$11000.00} check originated from my XXXX and was earmarked to pay for some home repairs. I presented the check stubs to show they had come from another bank in my name to show it was my money. BOA moved {$1000.00} to my Merrill Lynch account which caused overdrafts to happen, but they didn't charge me, just sent the electronic transfer back as an overdraft. There are several account movements after I was able to do anything in the account. The other strange thing is I am unable to get an account statement from Merrill Lynch, just get that my account is locked. I called them several times and all they could do is read off my transactions to me, they would not email or mail the statement to me. I tried to open a new bank account but they advised me that as long as BOA keeps my account frozen and in limbo, I won't be able to open an account anywhere. I had another bank account with XXXX, but they closed it as soon as I tried to use it, presumably due the the issues with BOA. I have reported this to the OCC, but the guy investigating it, XXXX at BOA, phone number XXXX ext XXXX will not return my calls. The closest branch manager at BOA XXXX XXXX, XXXX, XXXX XXXX, is not returning my calls either. I have been in that branch twice and the XXXX, XXXX branch. I have called and called, the only number that will take my calls will not forward my calls to the proper department. They will only advise me of new closing dates. I have demanded that my account be closed, but with it " under investigation '' they will not close it. How hard is it to call the check issuing bank and ask if the money was actually mine? Does it take a full month? I don't think so. Please help me. My friends have helped to the best of their ability, but they can't support me for much longer. A few XXXX dollars gets me basic groceries and a bit of gas. Please help!

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