Consumer complaint received 2016-06-18
Company: M&T BANK CORPORATION
Product: Bank account or service
Sub-product: Other bank product/service
Issue: Deposits and withdrawals

Complaint:
My mom passed away on XXXX XXXX, XXXX. XXXX held a CD and Savings Acct for her heirs in the event of her death. She did this to make it easier for her children ... because that is the kind of mom she was. 

I am retired and spend most of my time in XXXX. I have a permanent US address in XXXX, but am seldom there. I went to XXXX to help with hospice care in XXXX and returned to XXXX after the funeral. I was devastated by the loss. She was strong and healthy, living on her own and managing her own affairs until the end. XXXX 

I contacted XXXX to have my inheritance moved from the CD and savings accounts to my XXXX account. They said I needed to close the accounts in person. After a long period of negotiation, they agreed that I could have XXXX withdrawal slips notarized and submit them with picture IDs and they would close the accounts for me. 

They would not be able to transfer the funds to my US bank but they would give me paper checks to deposit. 

I am in XXXX. A notarized signature involves making an appointment with the XXXX which takes a few weeks, and paying a {$50.00} US fee for each signature. The notarized forms were eventually obtained and forwarded to my sister, who lives near the bank, to deliver to avoid any additional delays. 

In the meantime, XXXX merged with M & T Bank. 

When my sister brought in the forms she was informed that they would not be any good and I would have to come in person to close the accounts and get the checks. 

My sister finally prevailed and I was allowed to verify all of my information by phone and email. The accounts were closed. I was not able to get the bank to transfer the money or to give the checks to my sister but they did agree to send the funds to me in XXXX. 

Weeks later I received a check that was drawn on XXXX XXXX, XXXX ... almost four months to the day after my mother 's death. When I opened the envelope I found a cashiers check for a little over {$10000.00}. The amount is significant. The XXXX accounts had been closed and the funds put into XXXX check " for my convenience. '' Receiving a check for over {$10000.00} across international borders requires submitting a form to the US XXXX reporting the transfer. This means that I had to complete the customs declaration for receiving the check ... and in order to deposit the check into my XXXX account by mail, I would have to report that I was sending the check back to the USA. I am sure that there will be many questions from both XXXX and the IRS due to this. 

I requested that the bank cancel the check aand XXXX check - XXXX for each account - be sent to me so that I could negotiate the funds without more red tape. The branch refused my request. They suggested that I fly back to XXXX or XXXX to deposit the check in a XXXX. 

I contacted M & T Customer Relations and spoke to someone on the phone who gave me to XXXX, her supervisor. They were both considerate and offered condolences on the death of my mother, but could not offer any help. Apparently, the branch manager has the final say in M & T customer relations. 

I just returned from the post office in XXXX where I sent two forms to US XXXX reporting receiving the check ... and sending the more than {$10000.00} check to XXXX. 

The cashier 's check, was sent by regular mail to a XXXX XXXX which is how XXXX does banking by mail in the USA. A XXXX XXXX can not provide signature or tracking. I hope it gets deposited to my XXXX account. 

I can not believe that in this day and age a bank in the USA is not able to do an EFT to another XXXX bank. I can not believe that any bank has to issue a paper check. I can not believe that any bank so callous to it 's customers can stay in business. M & T shame on you.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation