Consumer complaint received 2021-08-26
Company: FIFTH THIRD FINANCIAL CORPORATION
State: AL
Product: Checking or savings account
Sub-product: Savings account
Issue: Closing an account
Sub-issue: Funds not received from closed account

Complaint:
On XX/XX/2021, my father passed away. His name is XXXX XXXX XXXX. To my knowledge, my Father maintained his own financial affairs. To date, no one has provided a POA giving authorization to handle financial affairs on behalf of Mr. XXXX. 

On XX/XX/2021, I reached out to Fifth Third bank to notify them of my Father 's death and the documentation needed to move forward. The representative asked me if I was the executor of the will. I never mentioned a will and advised the representative that is to be determined. The representative advised the death certificate would be sufficient to notify the bank of his death. 

On XX/XX/2021, a notarized death notification letter was sent to Fifth Third bank. The document included his name, last known address, date of death, and social. I also included my identification. The bank never responded to my letter. 

On XX/XX/2021, XXXX County granted letters of administrator to me along with the declaration of heirship. I am Mr. XXXXXXXX XXXX only child. Those letters were taken to Fifth Third Bank ( XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX, IL XXXX ) and XXXX XXXX XXXX assisted me. Mr. XXXX questioned every aspect of the document. When advised I was not a resident of IL and how important it was to resolve this matter, he became aggressive with his questioning in regard to where I was staying while in IL. As a female traveling alone, that made me extremely uncomfortable. Mr. XXXX was in possession of my ID and other personal identifiable information. There was no reason to extensively question me about my accommodations when the matter at hand was my Father 's accounts. Mr. XXXX could not answer any of my questions with a clear answer. He would only provide me with information regarding the checking account. When asked about the credit card, he told me another company handles it and he couldn't provide any other details. I requested bank statements and Mr. XXXX advised me due to legal reasons, he could not give them to me. He insisted they had to be mailed to my Father 's last known address. Mr. XXXX did not provide me with a final letter at the time of my visit identifying all accounts were closed. Mr. XXXX was asked repeatedly if all affairs were resolved with my Father 's account ( s ) and he said " yes ''. 

After consulting with an attorney, it was confirmed I have the authority to request bank statements as the administrator of the estate. I also made sure my Father 's mail was forward as of XXXX in order to make sure I receive the bank statements I requested at the branch. More than 3 weeks passed and no statements were received. Mr. XXXX initially claimed he sent them, but he immediately backed down when I informed him my Father 's mail comes to me and they never came. Mr. XXXX ended up releasing 6 months of bank statements after hours of discussing with legal per him. Mr. XXXX actually told me, " Yea, I spoke with legal and decided to go to lunch before calling you back. '' Mr. XXXX has insulted my intelligence and disrespected my time throughout this process. He has impeded my investigation as the administrator of the estate. 

The bank statements from Fifth Third Bank was received on XXXX. One of his bank statements confirm egregious activity on the date of his death. An online transfer was completed on XXXX and then it appears a cashier check was released for a large sum of money. Mr. XXXX and representatives of Firth Third Bank were aware of this information and has made it impossible to find a resolution with them. No representatives by phone will assist me. Mr. XXXX appears to have a bias in the situation because he continues to treat me in a manner that insinuates I am a criminal. I am the administrator of the estate and the only declared heir. If my Father intended on anyone else having access to his funds, he would have left a will. 

Fifth Third bank allowed an online transfer to take place and released a large check to a potentially unauthorized individual. The bank never acknowledged this action and continues to impede my investigation. Mr. XXXX should have been honest about all banking activity while I was at the branch. He failed to provide me with account numbers and most important, failed to mention the savings account. 

After several failed attempts to speak with the complaint department, corporate, and the branch directly, filing a complaint is the best option. These actions potentially violate the contract between my Father and Fifth Third Bank. Mr. XXXX and Fifth Third Bank has not been forthcoming with information regarding the questionable transaction.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation