Consumer complaint received 2024-12-18 00:00:00
Product: Checking or savings account — Checking account
Issue: Managing an account — Deposits and withdrawals
Company: FIFTH THIRD FINANCIAL CORPORATION
State: IL

Complaint narrative:
On or about XX/XX/2024, I deposited a federally backed check ( approx. {$1900.00} ) from the US Dept of Treasury into my 5/3 checking which had been signed over to me. It is important to note that for both of the situations hereunder I am a XXXX XXXX  who operates a personal checking and business checking with this bank. Upon deposited the check which was properly endorsed by me and my godmother ( who is also a 5/3 customer ), I was told the check would clear in approx. 2 days. Yet on the XXXX day the check had not cleared and I went into the 5/3 branch at approx. XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Though I brought in detailed information regarding the check including the receipt slip and originating letter from the XXXX 's Retirement Fund, I was not provided with ANY assistance and was left to attempt to sort the reason for the check 's hold on my own. After spending over an hour talking with a banker I left without any assistance and was told the check was " on a hold '' and once I submitted the verification documents it would be released. Thus I went into the 5/3 location in XXXX, XXXX  within the next several days. The specific teller was very helpful and made copies of both my verification documents and my godmother 's and we were told the hold would be released within the next day. However that did NOT occur and instead both of my accounts were closed for " fraud ''. That about a week after, I went back to the 5/3 location in XXXX XXXX  and spoke with two bankers, without results. Finally I requested to speak with someone in the " back office '' because I believed the closing of my accounts AFTER I had verified the information was discriminatory in nature. After waiting on hold for over an hour, I was routed to a CSR who told me " there was nothing we can do '' " we don't see you turned in the documentation ''. I then asked for a supervisor and was finally routed to someone who looked further into the situation and found all of the notes left by the XXXX XXXX and the verification documents which she uploaded. The supervisor finally unblocked my account but the checks were still on hold for a day or more, which I believe to be discrimination based as a XXXX XXXX  who had a certain amount of money to access. 

On or about XX/XX/XXXX, I deposited two checks from the federal bankruptcy courts in the amount of approx. {$4000.00} total. This time I went inside the 5/3 location at XXXX and cicero and deposited the checks with the teller. At no time was I told the checks would be placed on a " ten day hold '', the teller in fact told be the checks would be available within a day or so. Thus believing what I had been told, I left the bank. The very next day I checked my account and saw that the deposits showed as " processed '' yet my available balance had not been updated. I immediately returned to the bank and spoke with a banker who told me that it was a " back office issue '' and that the checks would be on hold for " ten days ''. This of course is ridiculous as the checks show " processed '' in my account which means this bank has been unlawfully holding my money for over a week. I believe that since this is the SECOND time within a short time frame of similar actions happening to me that I am being targeted as a XXXX XXXX. 

Though all the evidence and information I possess points to the above conclusions, I hate to believe that this could be true. I am a recently transferred customer to 5/3 and had high hopes for my banking relationship. However as a personal banker and a XXXX XXXX  I am shocked and dismayed at the level of discrimination and lack of concern I have been shown. I am asking the CFPB to investigate this bank and specifically this branch so that justice and equity may be served.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation