Consumer complaint received 2020-02-04
Company: SUNTRUST BANKS, INC.
State: AZ
Product: Checking or savings account
Sub-product: Checking account
Issue: Closing an account
Sub-issue: Funds not received from closed account

Complaint:
On XXXX XXXX 2019, my sister wrote me a check for XXXX US dollars, this money was from our father who was XXXX. I called SunTrust bank and asked them if i made the deposit would my account stay active. I asked them this because the account had a XXXX balance of a couple weeks and was pending closed. The banker at SunTrust told me " yes, your account will stay active if you make a deposit '' so i mailed in the check. 
Immediately after SunTrust received the check within an hour the closed my account completely blocking me from online banking. 
SunTrust placed the money i got from my sister on hold and i found out not being able to pay my bill at a restaurant. 
For the entire months of XXXX and XXXX i couldn't get any data on why they closed my account OR why they would not give me my money. They have told me continuously that " we are waiting for the money to be recalled ''. So me and my sister tried to recall it and she couldn't, her bank XXXX XXXX can not recall it. 
The check had cleared her account and is currently being held by SunTrust. 
I filed multiple complaints with the FDIC and they have done nothing. 
I have been lied to by SunTrust over and over again, they have hung up on me several times and have been treating me like a criminal. 
Finally in early XXXX SunTrust told me i needed the check issuer to send them a letter stating that the check was intended for me. 
I did this and they claimed to have never gotten it. 
I have a fax receipt saying they did. 
Then SunTrust told me i needed to have a notarized affidavit stating that the funds were meant for me. 
My sister has been having trouble getting the fax through to SunTrust, but SunTrust has stated faxing is the only way. 
The affidavit should go through today on XX/XX/XXXX the day i file this complaint. 
SunTrust seems to believe the check is fraud yet refuses to return it to the issuing bank or release it to me, they seem to be playing some sort of law department. 
SunTrust lied to me stating " it was XXXX XXXX that originally flagged the check '' after check my sisters bank with her they absolutely did not as the check was good and the money was taken out of her account by SunTrust. 
The only way we are able to do anything is if we send them a legal Affidavit which i fear they plan to use against me for someone unspoken reason. 
I checked everywhere i can think and i am NOT being sued and i do NOT. have a judgement order on me. 
However the money i was receiving part of it was going to make the payments on my XXXX. 
I hav n't been able to get my money since XXXX and my XXXX  bill went to collections in XXXX so i lost my lifetime coverage on my XXXX  and i am expecting more problems with that in the future which i could have easily avoided given SunTrust didn't steal this money. 
I am asking you in complete desperation that you help me make SunTrust return my money as fast as possible so i can buy food, i have been boring money from people i know in order to stay alive. 
Recently i had a XXXX  XXXX and receiving this money was going to give me time to rest and recover so i don't have a XXXX  XXXX  XXXX. 
I just need help getting my money back as fast as possible. 
The check was good. 
It cleared. 
SunTrust took the money. 
Closed my account. 
And have been violating federal law that they must return money once they close an account. 
If i were to sue them it would be successful, i just have no way to afford that, i just want my money back. 
Thankyou

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