Consumer complaint received 2023-08-11
Company: CITIBANK, N.A.
Product: Checking or savings account
Sub-product: Checking account
Issue: Managing an account
Sub-issue: Deposits and withdrawals

Complaint:
My Account was frozen and then closed by CITIBANK without any apparent reason, explanation, and I did not have any access to a considerable amount of my money which was frozen by them during approx. 6 months! 

Below is my original complaint from XX/XX/2023. No explanation was provided by Citi following this complaint. 
After spending lot of time, efforts, transferring large amount of money based on their sweet words and promises, all my recently opened Citibank accounts ( Checking, Savings, Cards, etc. ) and my money are " blocked '', I can not use My money in the checking account, I have no idea how and when I am going to have it back, since I reside abroad. They claim that I have violated their terms without giving any details or explanation...

Before opening the account, I have explained to them multiple times that I am not a XXXX resident, that I don't have SSN, that I live abroad most of the time. 
I have shown to them my foreign passports. 
I have asked them multiple times if there could be any problem in such a situation to have a fully active Citibank account, to perform multiple wire in/out transactions ( including international ), to have a fully active brokerage account, etc. Their answer to all these questions was a BIG NO, " no problem whatsoever ''.

After I have disclosed all the possible information, they have convinced me and have encouraged me to sign for the Citigold account, to expect a call from XXXX XXXX, who as they said to me is XXXX of the stars of their investment teams, to expect a long-term cooperation and a " beautiful friendship '', etc. 

Based on their nice promises and sweet words, believing that these were true, I trusted them... I worked hard trying to transfer all available funds as soon as it was possible. This did cost me money, loss of alternative income and of course time. 

This has worked for about 45 days ... Until I have requested the execution of my first wire out of MY account of a small portion of MY money... 
Following this request, they have blocked imprisoning my total balance, my hard-earned money that I have foolishly and trustfully deposited in their hands .... there were signs that something is going very wrong even before that wire request...

I feel deeply deceived, robbed, used by Citibank system for unknown reason. I know that this is a completely wrong, unjust, unfair situation that I find myself trapped into thanks to my unjustified trust in Citibank employees, branch manager and the entire institution.

Today I am robbed of a considerable amount of money by this institution without any explanation, without any reason. It is very sad that in a country, which glorifies itself as a birthplace of a personal and financial freedom, I personally experience one of the worst possible financial imprisonments, inhuman, hostile, deceiving service and attitude, a major deception by a well-established and " well regulated '' institution... 

This institution repeatedly fails and refuse to provide me with any explanation about what is going on and why my account was first limited, then frozen/blocked, and finally closed ; with any information regarding how, when and where I can expect to get my money, that to my understanding they illegally hold for unspecified length of time, back. 

I hope that they are very happy and satisfied with this achievement of causing financial, emotional and other damages to their clients. 

I from my side deeply regret that I had this bad and undeserved luck of stepping into their branch... 

My name : XXXX XXXX XXXX Citibank, NA XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX, IL XXXX, XXXX

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