Consumer complaint received 2017-02-20
Company: BANK OF HAWAII CORPORATION
Product: Bank account or service
Sub-product: Checking account
Issue: Account opening, closing, or management

Complaint:
XXXX XXXX, XXXX ; Contacted the Bank of Hawaii in order to get current account balance before writing a check but was informed my account had been escheated on XXXX XXXX, XXXX and that the money had been transferred to the Hawaiian XXXX ( XXXX Unclaimed Property ). Was told by the Bank of Hawaii that they had sent a letter stating this would happen but I never received any letter informing me of this intended action otherwise why would I have called to check my account balance. I asked for this process to be stopped immediately and for my funds to be returned to my account. Was told that this could n't be done as the money had already been sent to the Hawaiian Department XXXX ( XXXX Unclaimed Property ). I asked the Bank of Hawaii for the docket number for this escheated transaction but never received any information. I then contacted the Hawaiian Department XXXX who searched their system and told me the money was not present and that I should contact the Bank of Hawaii and demand a reversal of their action immediately. I did this but again was told by the Bank of Hawaii it was not possible as the money had already been transferred to the Hawaiian State. Contacting the Hawaiian Department XXXX again I later discovered that the money had only been transferred on XXXX XXXX, XXXX. 

XXXX XXXX, XXXX ; As I still needed my Bank of Hawaii account I was informed by the bank that if I was to complete a Bank of Hawaii " Claim for an Escheated Account '' form that the money could be returned from the State of Hawaii and back into a Bank of Hawaii account. I completed this Bank of Hawaii form and returned it to them on XXXX XXXX, XXXX. I also received confirmation of it being received and was led to believe my money would soon be returned to a Bank of Hawaii account. 

XXXX XXXX, XXXX ; Received an email from the Bank of Hawaii asking for my residential address so that a cashiers check could be sent despite the fact that I had clearly filled out Bank of Hawaii 's own form and clearly stated that I wanted the money returned to a Bank of Hawaii account. Once I corrected the Bank of Hawaii of this mistake I was then told I would need to fill out a " BOH Consumer Signature Card '' form and that all would be fine and the account would be setup immediately, even being offered a waiving of fees for delivery of new checks. After eventually receiving the bank filled out " Consumer Signature Card '' form I returned it with the addition of my signature on XXXX XXXX, XXXX. The Bank of Hawaii confirmed receiving the form and stated they would now start setting up the account. 

XXXX XXXX, XXXX ; Bank of Hawaii sends an email asking if I have a current passport as the one I had provided on XXXX XXXX, XXXX is expired. I had only included the copy of the expired passport as it showed my current residential address, as backed up by the copy of my current drivers licence ( photo ID ) which was also included in the same document and does not expire until XXXX XXXX, XXXX. As far as I am aware I only needed to provide XXXX photo ID with my residential address on it. As I am XXXX and medically unable to travel I do not have a current passport. XXXX XXXX, XXXX I am told that the only way I can have my money returned to a Bank of Hawaii account is if I renew my passport despite the fact that no forms have stated that I must use a passport as a form of identification AND the Bank of Hawaii has had the completed form and identification since XXXX XXXX, XXXX or more than 2.5 months! 

XXXX XXXX, XXXX ; I had my son call the Bank of Hawaii and leave a message for the contact person to return the call and discuss the matter but no calls are received and instead receive yet another email that ignores my wishes as made clear in the XXXX XXXX, XXXX Bank of Hawaii form.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation