Consumer complaint received 2018-01-16
Company: PEOPLE'S UNITED BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
State: CT
Product: Checking or savings account
Sub-product: Other banking product or service
Issue: Opening an account
Sub-issue: Unable to open an account

Complaint:
On X/XX/17, I went to Peoples Bank in XXXX CT to cash a personal check from one of my business investors, XXXX XXXX. I showed th branch manager, XXXX XXXX, the loan agreement sent and executed by XXXX that morning. I am opening a XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX We had just submitted the business proposal to XXXX on Thursday. I asked if I could cash the check as my financial institution, XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX, stated it would take until XXXX to clear the funds. The attorney for the real estate transaction required a {$2500.00} retainer check that day and the real estate agent requested a $ XXXX check made out to the seller to show we were serious about lease purchasing the property. The branch manager proceeded to take my info and tell me that they did not have enough cash in the drawer and the female teller with brown hair stated that an alternative would be to try another branch. They had another large check being cashed and would not have the funds to cover. The branch manager than stated he was waiting on XXXX to verify funds. He stated they could not write a cashiers check unless I opened an account. 

I then proceeded to give him my license and XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX debit card. He then went in the back room for a long period of time. He proceeded to tell me he could not help me and that he would not open an account. I asked him what the policy was and asked if his corporate offices would be interested to hear that he was refusing to take my business. In retaliation XXXX called the fraud department and lied stating that I stole the check. XXXX at the fraud department then proceeded to tell my investor, XXXX XXXX, that this business was a fraud and I was stealing their money. The only reason I entered a business arrangement is to provide structure for their XXXX year old daughter. Whose only job has been working with horses. I have been planning this business for 10 years, looking at property for 4 years, taking to XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX as a mortgage broker, lining up a barn manager, trainer and assistant, getting insurance, legal, an appraisal and title search, and writing up a proposal with financial projections for the next three years. I have a XXXX  degree from the University XXXX XXXX and have been working in XXXX XXXX XXXX and XXXX for the last ten years, most recently XXXX XXXX XXXX and leading the XXXXXXXX XXXX for XXXX. In addition I am the XXXX of the XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. I was XXXX at XXXX months from XXXX to a white CT family. I had no say or choice in the matter and have only known how to build American roots. XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX I have NEVER been so disrespected especially by a financial institution. They NEVER even apologized. The investor and I went the next day and got certified checks for the seller and attorney fees. The branch manager in XXXX XXXX then proceeded to tell me that theres an override code for a cashiers check. There are numerous clear violations of my civil liberties in addition to unfair and deceptive business practices. I am trying to bring commerce to CT and have faced every unnecessary handicap because of insecure, white washed supremacy delusions. What happened to this country being built on the American dream?!?! Small businesses are how the big businesses became great! Let us not forget that!

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation