Consumer complaint received 2024-08-21
Product: Checking or savings account — Checking account
Issue: Closing an account — Company closed your account
Company: REGIONS FINANCIAL CORPORATION (AL)

On XX/XX/year> I went into Regions Bank on XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX to open up a Savings Account with XXXX checks I received from XXXX to purchase equipment. I spoke with XXXX XXXX and XXXX her about the job I just received and my concerns about if the checks were valid. XXXX asked me if XXXX was asking me to purchase money orders and I told her no. She looked at the checks and said they look good to her, and she opened up a XXXX for me and deposited the checks herself and stated I would be fine. I also told XXXX that the company stated they would have the funds released tomorrow. I was then asked to purchase XXXX gift cards to purchase equipment and XXXX funds for equipment. Unfortunately, it was a scam that I had no knowledge of and as a result Regions closed my Checking account with over {$1500.00} in it. I went up to the Bank after calling Regions Customer Service advising me it was fraud. I was very upset and spoke with XXXX. XXXX stated they were investigating, and they would contact me and she would get my funds released. I never heard back from XXXX or Regions. I visited again and also spoke with XXXX XXXX who stated she just put in a ticket today ( after XXXX weeks of me calling and visiting the branch ) to get the funds released and that they would contact me the next day, Friday. I asked XXXX a couple times is there any particular reason why no one at Regions has returned my calls or contacted me. XXXX did not have an answer. XXXX also stated she could tell by looking at the checks that they were fraudulent. My question to XXXX was if XXXX is a personal banker why couldn't she do the same? XXXX stated that XXXX told her that she had some concerns about the checks, and she told me that. I told XXXX that was NOT our discussion, and I'm completely appalled as I would have NEVER opened a Savings and deposited the checks. I then called Regions today, again, and left a message for XXXX this time to call me. Today was the first time someone from regions finally returned my call after I left a message that it was very disrespectful no one was returning my calls. XXXX stated that they denied releasing the funds after her and XXXX told me they would get funds released. Honestly, I think XXXX dropped the ball on this and now Regions is trying to make me eat the cost. Here are the things I have a problem with : XXXX ) Already expressed my concerns before depositing checks XXXX ) Personal Banker approving and depositing the checks totaling {$8900.00} XXXX ) No one at Regions can tell me how the hold was lifted XXXX ) Both XXXX and XXXX advised me they will have my funds released XXXX ) No one at regions returned my phone call until today, XXXX weeks later XXXX ) XXXX then stating, XXXX weeks later that XXXX had concerns about the checks ( why would she deposit them ) Is it standard for a Bank not to return calls or tell a customer what's going on with their account? XXXX definitely dropped the ball on this one. Not to mention I'm currently unemployed and looking for a job so I definitely need my funds.