Consumer complaint received 2015-06-02
Product: Bank account or service — Savings account
Issue: Deposits and withdrawals — 
Company: FIFTH THIRD FINANCIAL CORPORATION (MI)

On Thursday XXXX XXXX I went to Fifth Third bank to deposit a check in the amount of {$15000.00}. I went to the drive thru window and was XXXX greeted by the teller. After the teller saw the amount of the check she left the screen without informing me of what was going on and a man named XXXX appeared on the screen at the teller window that is equipped with cameras. He indicated he was a personal banker and asked with assertion for details about the check. Specifically he asked from where did I get this check and he asked did I know anything about the bank the check was issued. I knew about the check the funds were issued and asked if all the questions were necessary. At the end of the conversation and exchange I was threatened. XXXX stated to me that if I did not tell him where I got this check from he would not be able to deposit the check into my account. I asked him to return the check to me and I drove away from the drive thru window. On Tuesday XXXX XXXX my XXXX XXXX XXXX and I entered 53rd bank. We specifically asked for XXXX since I had met with her on Thursday XXXX XXXX after the incident with XXXX. We both entered XXXX 's office and XXXX acknowledged that we looked related in the initial pleasantries of the meeting. After I sat down I told XXXX that I am here with my sister who has a check in the amount of {$15000.00}. I shared with XXXX that I would like to deposit the check into my savings account. XXXX informed me that 53rd has a policy that they do not accept checks from third parties. She indicated that the only way that the check would be deposited at XXXX would be to set up an account in my sister 's name or to add my sister to my account. Since XXXX again refused me the opportunity to deposit a check into my saving account my sister and I left her office. XXXX made sure to say sorry as my sister and I were walking out of her office. Summary : I feel I was treated unfairly as a 53rd customer because I was not allowed to deposit money into my 53rd account. Such actions by the personal bankers were discriminatory in nature. I have the right to deposit money into my savings account as a 53rd account holder yet on XXXX occasions I was denied that right. I feel such actions by the personal bankers were racially motivated in that they did not see me as a customer who had all the rights and privileges as other customers. Nor did they view me as someone who they could do further business or invest such funds. Rather they saw me as a XXXX women and perceived that depositing a large sum of money like {$30000.00} was suspicious as in the case of the XXXX personal banker who grilled me on where I obtain the check. And in the case of the XXXX personal banker I was treated unfairly because other customers are allowed to have someone endorse a check over to a 53rd customer so that the 53rd account holder could deposit such funds into their account. However, my actions were always viewed with suspicion. Even though my request to deposit my sister 's check into my account was consistent with all bank policy including 53rd as a special endorsement I was not allowed to engage in this basic activity. I was denied that right by the XXXX personal bankers I worked with. Moreover, 53rd 's business code of ethics suggests that the bank values respect and inclusion. I did not feel like I was treated like a respected or valued customer. I hold a XXXX and am an XXXX.