Consumer complaint received 2022-08-05
Company: BANK OF AMERICA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
State: CA
Product: Checking or savings account
Sub-product: Checking account
Issue: Managing an account
Sub-issue: Deposits and withdrawals

Complaint:
XX/XX/2022 - I deposited a check for {$20000.00} to my checking account. Bank of America cleared this check and credited the entire amount to my checking account. 

XX/XX/2022 - BofA puts a sudden hold on this check and I transfer money from my savings to checking to clear the checks I've written. I walk into the XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX, California branch and speak with a manager and she states that with such a large amount, BofA tends to put a hold on the money. 

XX/XX/2022 - I can not use this account through online banking so I called BofA 's XXXX number and they tell me that they will be shutting down both my checking and savings accounts. When I asked why and what happened, they started reading me the fine print and stated that they do NOT have to give a reason why they are shutting down these account. 

XX/XX/2022 - I receive two letters from BofA stating that they are shutting down my savings and checking accounts. 

XX/XX/2022 - I call again and get referred to the Risk Closure Dept. and they tell me that they can not give me any answers but that I should be receiving my money via mail. 

XX/XX/2022 - I receive a check in the amount of {$13000.00} via XXXX from Bof A. This is money that was in my savings account. I still have yet to receive money from my checking account. 

XX/XX/2022 - I call again and once again Bof A tells me that I have no right to learn why all of this is happening. The agent though, tells me that the best thing to do would be to have the property management company cancel the first check and write me a new one. However, when I called the management company they stated that the check has been cashed by BofA ( see 2nd note on XX/XX/2022 ). 

XXXX XXXX, 2022 - I receive a {$790.00} check from BofA which is the amount that was in my checking account aside from the {$20000.00} along with a threatening letter stating that the rest of my funds will NOT be returned to me until they validate the source of the funds. When the check has been cashed already, why does BofA need to validate the funds? And who are they to threaten me and tell me that I will NOT receive my own money? 

XXXX XXXX, 2022 - I call Risk Closure again and they escalate the situation. A department supervisor named XXXX said he's escalating this situation and should have some sort of an answer for us in 3-4 business days. I also tweeted to Bank of America and they said they would call me. 

XXXX XXXX, 2022 - A BofA social media rep named XXXX called, listened to my story and tried to connect me to the correct team. I was not able to speak with anyone but XXXX spoke to someone on my behalf and that someone told him that the people who decide what will happen to my money are hidden somewhere. There's no way to reach these people and there's no timeframe for them. They could hold this money for the next ten years and I don't have any way of retrieving my money or contacting them. I can just keep calling the XXXX number to get updates and wait for these people to release my money. 

I will take all our money to XXXX after this is done. I will close my business checking and savings accounts as well as our merchant credit services. 

I will never bank here again.

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