Consumer complaint received 2016-09-21
Company: WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
State: MD
Product: Bank account or service
Sub-product: Checking account
Issue: Account opening, closing, or management

Complaint:
I bank with Wells Fargo, N.A and on Friday, XX/XX/2016, I was at the grocery store making a purchase when I realized that my card was declined. After 2 unsuccessful attempts to use the card, I decided to use another debit card by the same bank for another account I own and that too got declined. I called customer service to inquire as to the problem, the first rep told me that I had called to report the cards lost/stolen hence the block on the cards at which point I panicked because I made no such call and I thought someone had stolen my identity and made these requests. The rep then transferred me to another representative and that representative put me on a brief hold to figure out what was going on and came back saying " Ok M'am, Wells Fargo has decided that it no longer wants to continue a business relationship with you and therefore closing all your accounts ''. At first I thought it was a big joke and I was being punked because he sounded like he was reading off a script. However It was not a joke. I asked for the reason why this was happening and I was informed that it was a business decision because the bank did not see a need to continue a business relationship with me after 13 years of being a customer of the bank!! The rep 's tone at this point had gone from professionally friendly to rude and I asked to be transferred to an executive who could explain to me the situation since the current rep I was speaking with no longer saw me as a client and therefore had no need to be professional with me. The other rep I spoke gave me the same explanation and I asked why i could not have access to my funds. I was told that my account was getting closed and it would take 10 business days for that to be finalized. However I, the account holder 's needs was not taken into account that I had no source of finance on my to last me for 10 days which I brought up to the rep. Why would the bank tell me that they are closing my accounts yet I ca n't gain access to my own funds for XXXX weeks!! 
I went back to the bank the following day and another rep told me that my accounts were closing due to suspicions of fraud. I asked for their proof and which account it happened on because at this point, their answers kept changing. That rep transferred me to another rep who again told me it was n't fraud but a business decision!! 
So it appears that WF is really closing my account for no reason and discriminating against me due to the color of my skin and my heritage!! There was no notice sent to me prior to the closing of my account! Infact, I was told that a letter was sent out on XX/XX/2016 ( the same day my account was frozen ) to me letting me know my accounts were closing with no explanation. How is this possible for a bank to have the rights to my own money which I place in their custody and pay fees to maintain the account??? The following day, my sister also found out when she was at XXXX that all her WF accounts were frozen and getting closed. 
What type of busiiness practice is WF allowed to abide by?? how is this professional or ethical?? I am being handled as a criminal without any proof of my crime. This is wrong!!! I have told WF I have nothing to hide in those accounts. I own a business and personal accounts with them and have been a good standing client!! Their investigative department needs to be audited for malpractice or contracted out to the SEC because this is just pure and total discrimination of my character and person and they are also violating my rights to due process!! If they are investigating my account, they should come out right and say it and provide a reason and where their proof is! But they are doing no such thing! Instead, they are treating me like a 2nd class citizen and I 'd bet my life that they would not do this if I had the same last name but was a celebrity instead! I bet it!!!!!!!!!!

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