Consumer complaint received 2023-12-04
Product: Checking or savings account — Checking account
Issue: Closing an account — Company closed your account
Company: UNITED SERVICES AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION (TX)

USAA is closing the checking accounts & debit cards for my XXXX son. I am his guardian in TX. I have several guardianship accounts that I manage for my son. We also had several non-guardianship accounts that my son used to manage his allowance and food money. USAA states that my son can not have regular checking accounts while he has guardianship accounts. This policy/decision is inconsistent with with the goals of guardianship. 

As guardian, I must oversee all of XXXX financial activities. I provide oversight by having all of his income ( Social Security XXXX payments and income from work ) deposited into his guardianship account. My son has no visibility or direct control over the funds in his guardianship accounts. I direct the use of these funds to ensure that his basic necessities are paid for before other spending is allowed. Necessities include rent, utilities, renters insurance, food, medical care, etc. I am audited annually by the court on the management of XXXX XXXX. 

In addition, I am required to provide as much financial freedom to XXXX as he can handle, consistent with the requirements discussed above. XXXX rights under his guardianship are explained in the Rights of Wards document issued by the XXXX XXXX, TX XXXX XXXX. In this case, the rights listed as # XXXX and # XXXX, directly apply. 

XXXX to have a guardianship that encourages the development or maintenance of maximum selfreliance and independence in the ward with the eventual goal, if possible, of self-sufficiency ; 7. to financial selfdetermination for all public benefits after essential living expenses and health needs are met and to have access to a monthly personal allowance. 

To provide XXXX with appropriate access to a monthly allowance, we set up XXXX checking accounts for XXXX to use. First is his general allowance account. He uses the debit card for this account to pay for transportation ( bus & XXXX ), entertainment, and personal wants and needs. Second, he has an account/debit card to purchase food. I monitor all spending in these accounts as required by the court. 

By closing my son 's accounts, he has no direct access to any of his funds. In todays society, he must have a debit card, if he is to have any financial independence at all. Neither the public transportation system nor XXXX will take cash. His XXXX prevents him from driving. He orders his medications over the phone, uses his debit to pay his copay, and has the pharmacy deliver them to his apartment. He orders food and has XXXX and/or XXXX deliver it. 

While we could use pre-paid debit cards, this is a much less desirable alternative. The fees are high, adding funds is often difficult, and providing oversight is nearly impossible. It is also almost impossible to get an " account statement '' that can be submitted to the court for the annual audit. 

Having a non-guardianship checking/debit card account allows my son to use the bank 's phone app to check to see his account balance. This allows him to learn to manage his spending so that he does not run out of money before he gets his next allowance. He has no visibility of the guardianship accounts. Since I am listed as a co-owner, I can monitor all of the spending. In an emergency, I can immediately transfer money to his allowance if needed. I also have access to regular bank statements that I must provide to the court, as well as to the State when it is time to review/renew some of his benefits such as SNAP and Medicaid. 

The view of guardianship of the estate that considers it is an all or nothing proposition is simply wrong. My son is a XXXX XXXX. If he where still a XXXX there are state and Federal regulations that allow parent to oversee minor accounts. The same should be true for the XXXX. How is my son to learn to manage money if the banking system does not allow him to have a debit card? 

USAA has reviewed the attached documents and call today saying that they are proceeding with closing the non-guardianship accounts.