Consumer complaint received 2026-01-06 00:00:00
Product: Checking or savings account — Checking account
Issue: Managing an account — Deposits and withdrawals
Company: WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
State: OR

Complaint narrative:
Summary of the Issue Wells Fargo restricted my access to my personal account due to an investigation, but they have not provided any clear or consistent written explanation. Their XX/XX/XXXX notice claimed the account was closed, frozen, and that no incoming activity would be allowed, yet the bank continued accepting deposits including wire transfers and my Social Security benefits. They also issued new debit cards and allowed them to be added to XXXX XXXX, contradicting their own written notice. I have been unable to access my own funds, including federally protected Social Security benefits, causing significant financial hardship. 

Additionally, this is not the first time Wells Fargo has interfered with my lawful access to funds. A prior incident involving a wrongfuldeath settlement shows a pattern of the same teller making inappropriate accusations and blocking legitimate transactions. 

Detailed Timeline of Events Prior Incident Showing Pattern of Mishandling Before the current situation, I received a wrongfuldeath settlement related to my mother. When I attempted to transfer part of those funds to my spouse, the same Wells Fargo teller who is involved in my current account issues made inappropriate comments implying I was laundering money. The teller blocked the transfer and forced me to withdraw the funds in cash and send them manually. This was a lawful transfer, and there was no freeze or fraud alert on my account at that time. This shows a pattern of the same employee interfering with my access to my own funds and making unfounded accusations. 

XX/XX/XXXX Wire Transfer Posted A domestic wire transfer of {$8400.00} was deposited into my Wells Fargo account. 

The funds posted normally with no issues or disputes reported by the sender. 

No freeze, alert, or investigation was mentioned at this time. 

XX/XX/XXXX Social Security Deposit Posted My Social Security benefits of {$920.00} were deposited. 

These funds are federally protected. 

The account remained fully active. 

XXXX XX/XX/XXXX Repeated Declines on All Purchases After the wire posted, every attempt to use taptopay was declined, including very small purchases. 

This was not normal fraudprevention behavior. 

I had had to call Wells Fargo each time ; they apologized, confirmed my identity, and temporarily fixed the issue. 

The declines continued repeatedly, causing embarrassment and making it extremely difficult to access my own cleared funds. 

XXXX XXXX New Debit Card Issued Wells Fargo mailed me a new debit card shortly after the repeated declines. 

The new card allowed me to make purchases and access my funds normally. 

This contradicts any claim that the account was closed or under a legitimate freeze at that time. 

XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX of {$8000.00} Approximately two weeks after the wire posted, I went to a Wells Fargo branch to withdraw {$8000.00}. 

Wells Fargo refused the withdrawal and informed me that my funds were frozen due to an investigation. 

No written explanation was provided. 

This freeze occurred after both deposits had already cleared and after normal transactions had been allowed. 

XX/XX/XXXX Contradictory Written Notice Issued Wells Fargo sent a written notice stating : the account is closed, a cashiers check will be issued if there is a positive balance, the account is frozen pending contact with the sender, no incoming activity will be allowed. 

Contradictions : After this notice, Wells Fargo continued accepting deposits, including Social Security. 

No cashiers check was issued. 

The account was not closed. 

The freeze was not consistently applied. 

XX/XX/XXXX New Debit Card Issued Again Wells Fargo issued me another new debit card. 

The card was successfully added to XXXX XXXX, which would not occur if the account were closed or fully frozen. 

This contradicts the XX/XX/XXXX notice. 

XX/XX/XXXX Social Security XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Notice XXXX Social Security benefits for XXXX were deposited on XX/XX/XXXX, after Wells Fargo claimed no incoming activity would be allowed. 

This contradicts the written notice and shows the account was not actually frozen as described. 

Wells Fargo continued accepting deposits while restricting only my access to the funds. 

Late XX/XX/XXXX Disappearing Account Information While logged into my account, I observed transaction information disappearing or changing. 

No explanation was provided. 

This raises concerns about proper recordkeeping. 

Financial Harm Because Wells Fargo restricted my access to my funds after they were already deposited and after normal activity had occurred, I was unable to : Pay for my housing Pay essential bills Meet prior financial commitments Cover holiday expenses, which were completely ruined This caused significant financial hardship and distress. 

Supporting Documents XXXX XX/XX/XXXX Wells Fargo Notice ( contradictory statements ). 

Proof of incoming deposits after the freeze notice ( wire transfers, Social Security ). 

Screenshots of repeated taptopay declines. 

Evidence of new debit cards issued ( XX/XX/XXXX and earlier ). 

XXXX XXXX activation screenshot. 

Screenshots of disappearing or altered account information. 

Notes or screenshots of verbal explanations from Wells Fargo. 

This timeline.

Company public response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation