Consumer complaint received 2024-12-18 00:00:00
Product: Checking or savings account — Checking account
Issue: Closing an account — Company closed your account
Company: CITIBANK, N.A.
State: FL

Complaint narrative:
On XX/XX/year> a check deposit in the amount of {$30000.00} was successfully deposited into my Citibank checking account at a nearby branch. Because of the amount of the deposit and how the check was made out ( to two payees both myself and my brother names XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX ) Citibank required both myself and my brother to endorse and present the check at a branch. This was done without issue and the funds were made available that following day on XX/XX/year>. By the end of day on XX/XX/year>, Citibank had completely froze out my account, and I lost all access to online banking and my funds. I received a letter the following day that the bank decided to terminate our banking relationship, and that I could visit a branch to discuss and withdraw any remaining funds from my account. A branch manager spoke with a representative at Citibank internal services, they stated that there was no way to verify that these funds were meant for me since the check was issued by XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX and was made out by the NJ Department of Taxation Treasury in both myself and my brothers name. I asked what I needed to do to verify this information so that they could release the funds and they requested that I have the NJ Treasury Department issue a hold harmless claim in my name. I contacted numerous representatives at the treasury throughout the ensuing days and weeks, all of whom told me they do not and can not typically issue this type of claim, especially given the fact that these funds cleared to my bank after following all the requested necessary steps. I went back into the branch which contacted the appropriate department at Citibank, and they stated to me that they would not be releasing the funds to me directly and that they would be sending the funds back to the original payer of the check ( NJ Division of Taxation ) and to contact them for them to reissue the check. On XX/XX/year>, I contacted the NJ Treasury Department, of whom advised I immediately opened an investigation report online so that a case specialist at the taxation department could look into this and see what could further be done. I advised them in the case report that Citibank would be issuing the remaining funds from the successful check deposit back to the treasury department and notified them of the appropriate mailing address to reissue the new check once they received the money back from Citibank. On XX/XX/year>, The State of NJ Department of Treasury Division of Taxation issued me a letter in the mail stating that there was absolutely no indication that Citibank returned or reissued a check/deposit/payment to them and that they had successfully completed a check tracer of the check and saw that the only information was that the check was successfully deposited into my Citibank Checking account. They further advised that I contact my financial institution to pursue further remediation. I have been contacting Citibank ever since the receiving date of that letter and it took many representatives until a branch associate was able to disclose that Citibank does indeed have the remaining funds which were seized by Citisweep and their internal fraud investigation team, that they NEVER sent the funds back to the NJ treasury which I had been expecting them to do as they have stated previously, and that there was absolutely no way to appeal or further remediate this situation. Citibank has stolen money from me and while I completely understand they have every right to terminate a banking relationship with someone for any reason, and I was upset at the fact I had done everything I was requested to do to receive my funds back, I was still okay with the fact that they were not comfortable issuing me the funds back directly, and that the NJ Treasury department could just simply reissue me a new check and I could take my business elsewhere. They did none of that, and they lied and stole money that rightfully belonged to me. I am considering pursuing legal action as an absolute last resort measure. Citibank owes me money and should honor their initial word by releasing the funds directly to me or sending them back to the NJ Treasury to be reissued to me. I am happy to provide any documents directly to Citibank to verify any questions or concerns to legitimize that this money belongs to me. Thank you.

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 monetary relief