Consumer complaint received 2023-07-30
Product: Checking or savings account — Checking account
Issue: Closing an account — Can't close your account
Company: M&T BANK CORPORATION (MD)

Compliant against : M & T Bank Address : XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX, NY, XXXX Phone : XXXX Point of Contact : XXXX XXXX, Branch Chief Email : XXXX To whom it may concern : I am writing to file a complaint against the M & T Bank located at XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX, NY. 

My brother XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX has a checking account ( XXXX ) with M & T Bank under his name and his business ( XXXX, XXXX, XXXX ). He passed on XX/XX/XXXX and I have been responsible for settling his business affairs. I initially contacted the bank on XX/XX/XXXX to find out what paperwork they required to disburse funds in his account to his successor which is not me. I have been in contact with the Banks Branch Manager, XXXX XXXX, at least a dozen times since my initial contact on XX/XX/XXXX and XX/XX/XXXX, and still can not obtain an update on the status of the review because the legal department has not been forthcoming or transparent in communicating to the Branch Manager the status of the review or the required steps to disburse the funds. 

According to XXXX XXXX, the legal department needed to establish that my brother had 100 % ownership in the business which makes sense. Therefore, I sent the articles of organization for the LLC and a letter from the Department of Treasury, Internal Revenue Service, both of which are attached for your review, and which show that he is the sole member of the LLC. I also submitted his death certificate, a copy of his XXXX individual tax returns that he filed under the business name and a Collection of Personal Property by Affidavit Pursuant to 15-12-1201, C.R.S, all of which are attached. The basis of the complaint is two-fold : 1 ) the banks legal department has not been forthcoming or transparent about the status of the review. In fact, when I contacted the liaison with the legal department ( XXXX XXXX ) most recently on Wednesday, XX/XX/XXXX, after checking the status of the review, she conveyed to me that the legal department withdraw my request. According to her, she sent an email to the legal department to request clarification on what withdrawal meant and as of Friday, XX/XX/XXXX, XXXX days after submitted the documents to close his banking account and disburse the funds to his successor, I have not received any clarification or communication from the Banks legal department on the status of the review. 2 ) the funds remain on deposit in the bank in my brothers account, which based on conversations with my brother before he passed may be as much as {$50000.00}, without any clear communication from the legal department about the status of the review and the steps necessary to disburse the funds to his successor. 

For additional context, my brother was living with our mother and working remote after he lived in the New York area where he opened the account. I understand that you can not compel the bank to close the account or disburse the funds. However, my objective is to receive a status update on my efforts to close the account and disburse the funds. The legal department has been less than transparent and uncommunicative in terms of the status and what if any additional paperwork is required.