Consumer complaint received 2017-03-06
Company: WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
State: NC
Product: Bank account or service
Sub-product: Checking account
Issue: Account opening, closing, or management

Complaint:
My brother and I are Co Administrator 's for our Dad 's XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX and have been having difficulty getting Wells Fargo to assist us with that process. After our Attorney 's obtained Letters of Administration from the XXXX County XXXX XXXX XXXX Court issued on XXXX XXXX XXXX we went to a Branch of Wells Fargo on XXXX XXXX in XXXX XXXX on XXXX XXXX XXXX for the purpose of opening an Estate Account and transferring all funds owned by our Father to the Estate Account. Our Father had XXXX accounts with Wells Fargo at the time of his passing. They would not open an Estate Account for us citing increased risk to the Bank because there were Co Administrators rather than just an Administer. I did n't and still do n't believe it 's a Bank 's place to determine what type of Estate Administration is appropriate. Their role is to comply with a legal document issued by the courts in the jurisdiction where they do business. I made a trip to my XXXX residences on XXXX XXXX XXXX and did not return to XXXX until XXXX XXXX XXXX. When I left I thought we might have to open an Estate Account at another Bank and have Wells Fargo EFT the funds to that account. However around the time of my return to XXXX our Attorney determined that another Wells Fargo Branch on XXXX XXXX in XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX would open an Estate Account for us. On XXXX XXXX XXXX my brother and I went to that branch and they opened an Estate Account. The Manager even apologized for the other branches mistake in not opening the account for us. However they have only been willing to transfer XXXX checking account which had no signature cards on file to the Estate Account. There is another Checking Account and a Savings Account which have signature cards. The banks position was that those funds should be transferred by the parties on the signature cards. The Attorney handling the estate for us finally obtained copies of those signature cards in XXXX XXXX and advised that they show our XXXX owned 100 % of those accounts and the parties ( my brother and I ) on the signature cards were only Powers of Attorney before our Dad 's death. The third account is a business account where my Dad owned 90 % of the Business and my Brother 10 %. Wells Fargo said that since my Brother was an owner/officer of the business he should just write a check to make the transfer. I suppose that could be done, but a clearer line of transfer would be for Wells Fargo to make all transfers. The Banks delays are costing Attorney 's fees which reduce any ultimate inheritance. Your assistance in resolving this issue would be greatly appreciated. 


Thank You, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXXXXXX PS : We all have heard how Wells Fargo is alleged to have tried to increase accounts and deposits by opening accounts no one apparently requested. Could there be some attempts being made to keep depositors from closing accounts to keep from losing accounts and deposits. As unscrupulous as that would be for depositors stilling living who could resist those efforts its appalling if they would do that for deceased depositors who gave them and/or banks Wells Fargo acquired years or even decades of business.

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 non-monetary relief