Consumer complaint received 2022-04-12
Company: FIFTH THIRD FINANCIAL CORPORATION
State: OH
Product: Money transfer, virtual currency, or money service
Sub-product: Domestic (US) money transfer
Issue: Other transaction problem

Complaint:
I was awarded a XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. When my funds arrived into my Business Banking  Account, I attempted to withdraw $ XXXX to place in my home private safe. I did this because I am aware of the dangers of an EMP ( Electromagnetic Pulse ) attack during War time. I already knew that war was imminent. XXXX Bank policy on withdraws are XXXX. I did not learn this until XXXX " XXXX Bank Investigator '' contacted be communicated this. She also said that the teller should have told me this. She did not. 

Once funds were sent into my Business Banking Account, and I attempted to with draw said amount, my account was flagged or in this case " XXXX '' and investigated. I had been in a business banking relationship with XXXX Bank for 6 years... never any problems and certainly no fraud of any kind. I grew frustrated when I was told by the Branch XXXX " XXXX '' that the investigator " XXXX '' would contact me the next day... but I did not hear from her until 15 days later ; and that, only because I contacted your offices here with the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau. 

After getting clarity from the Investigator " XXXX '' as to why my account was frozen. She also mentioned or repeated to me what I had requested be done, when I spoke to your offices. That was to unfreeze my account, allow me to speak to a professional concerning the unprofessional behavior, and finally close my account, so that I could take my business elsewhere. 

When the XXXX " XXXX '' call me, she told me that the funds had been coded to be sent back to the XXXX and that they were going to end the business relationship. When I asked for an explanation as to why she could not give me an answer, but I stated why do we need to do that... you have explained why my account was being investigated, there is no fraud, and you have admitted that your teller did not communicate your bank policy effectively. She then said, ok I will code it to reverse the current request. I said, ok. That was on Friday afternoon, XX/XX/XXXX, at approximately XXXX. On Monday XXXX XXXX I received an email from XXXX Bank saying that funds had been sent back to XXXX. I call numerous times to " XXXX 's '' office to no avail : I wanted simply to ask her did she follow through with what she had said, in terms of reversing the coding to send funds back to XXXX, and this was simply the system following the first order... but again to no avail. No follow up whatever. Totally unprofessional. I later received a letter from your office stating that XXXX Bank would be sending funds back to XXXX and showing the amount of the funds in the account at the time of them closing my account. I feel that I was racially profiled and discriminated against, being a African-American man. I simply wanted to get my funds that I was awarded from XXXX and handle my business with XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX 

Please assist in any professional way you can. This has caused my company to lose business and to be in even greater need of the funds initially requested. As of XX/XX/22 I have not received my funds, and I am being told by some of the XXXX Agents that I have spoke to, that the funds have NOT been sent back to XXXX. This is especially troubling. 

XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Co XXXX 
XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation