Consumer complaint received 2020-06-19
Company: HUNTINGTON NATIONAL BANK, THE
State: OH
Product: Checking or savings account
Sub-product: Checking account
Issue: Managing an account
Sub-issue: Deposits and withdrawals

Complaint:
For the purpose of this complaint, I will refer to my name as " XXXX XXXX  '' In XXXX, XXXX, I received two checks from the State of Ohio. The State had mistakenly put an old corporate name as the payee, instead of just my name. Unfortunately, the corporation was XXXX XXXX, XXXX  , XXXX and my name is XXXX XXXX. I deposited the checks electronically. A hold was immediately placed on my account without any contact from my bank telling me what was happening. I called the bank and requested that they simply reverse the deposit and return the original checks to me so that I could contact the State Treasury Department, the issuer of the checks. They told me that they couldn't do that because the checks had already " been processed ''. They were and have been completely steadfast about not returning the checks to me. Instead, the issued cashiers checks to me with the same payee, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. The cashiers checks were useless because I had no business account in that name. That corporate name was non-existent for well over a decade. I had changed the name of the corporation in XXXX under the same State entity number and federal tax ID number. I explained that to the bank on several different occasions, but they were unbending. They told me that I would have to create a corporation with that name and open a business account to be able to deposit the checks. Of course, I couldn't go to another bank because I had no account in that name. So, I created a corporation in that name. When I tried to open the business account, they told me that I would need a federal tax ID number as well. I made several attempts to obtain a federal tax ID number over the course of several months, each time receiving a message that the application could not be processed with no explanation. Due to the COVID pandemic, the IRS was only accepting online applications, no mail in or fax in applications. When I tried to contact the IRS by phone, there was a recorded message stating that no one was available to speak with. The bank also required the original federal tax ID number assignment letter from the IRS, which was done in XXXX. I had no way to find this letter. I even contacted the law firm that assisted me in my original incorporation and they did not have a copy of the letter. I was finally able to reach the IRS today and was able to get a confirmation of the assignment of the original federal tax ID number. The problem was that in the header of the letter from the IRS had both my original corporate name, XXXX XXXX XXXX , XXXX, AND the name that I changed to in XXXX. I brought them the IRS letter and my certificate of incorporation from the State of Ohio. I was told the because both corporate names were on the IRS letter, they still couldn't open the account. I also had the original document of the name change, which had both corporate names on it, stamped and signed by the Secretary of State of Ohio, with the federal tax ID and the State of Ohio corporate entity number. The bank still refused. During all of this, I have had severe medical issues, requiring two hospitalizations, a XXXX, XXXX  XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX, which I also explained to the bank. I recontacted the IRS to see if they could send me the letter with only " XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX '' on it and omit the second, newer, corporate name, but they told me that, because the second name was primary, they could not do that. I contacted the State of Ohio to see if they could add the second corporate name to the certificate from the State of Ohio and they said that was not possible. 

I fell that I have provided adequate proof of my previous ownership of XXXX XXXX  XXXX  XXXX, but the bank continues to refuse to open a business account for me. In addition, the bank 's original action of depositing the original checks from the State of Ohio and then issuing me useless cashiers checks created this whole problem in the first place. Their refusal to simply return the original checks to me and reverse the deposit caused this entire issue. I'm pretty sure they wouldn't be breaking any laws by doing that. I've also been in extensive contact with the Treasurer of the State of Ohio. They said if the bank simply changed the payee on the cashier 's checks that the bank issued to me from XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX to Treasurer, State of Ohio and mailed those checks to the Treasurer, then they could re-issue the original checks in my personal name so I could deposit them in my personal account. The Treasurer actually said it was a mistake, on their part, to have the corporate name on the original checks. The bank, again, refused to change the payee, even though I had brought all four checks into the bank, along with documentation from the Treasurer. 

Again, the bank 's original action and refusal to return the original checks to me created this whole problem and they have been absolutely resolute in denying any solution to the problem that I present to them and every solution that they have presented to me has only added complexity for me. I have spent uncountable hours and days on this. Regardless of me providing adequate documentation to the bank, they continue to refuse to help me. This is so wrong and comes at a time when my physical and mental abilities are at the worst they've ever been in my whole life.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation