Consumer complaint received 2025-01-22 00:00:00
Product: Checking or savings account — Checking account
Issue: Managing an account — Deposits and withdrawals
Company: JPMORGAN CHASE & CO.
State: PA

Complaint narrative:
I opened a checking and savings account at JP Morgan Chase Bank located at XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX PA with XXXX XXXX. XXXX XXXX on XX/XX/XXXX. I deposited a check for {$12000.00} and was told that the funds would not be available for a week. I agreed knowing it was a new account. XXXX stated that sometimes some people banking with Chase have problems with Chase being tough to stop fraud. I didn't think anything of this and of course thought this was a good thing. After a few days I opened up my account online and saw my deposit and not available. After ten days, the money was still restricted. I contacted XXXX XXXX at local branch and he stated that there was a problem with the check and it was being held by their " back office '' fraud department. Subsequently I was locked out of my online access and contacted the XXXX number. I was told in the conversation that the acct was closed and the money was being held by the fraud dept. The answer for the reason was that the check signature did not match with their files for that business. I was told to get the issuing bank phone number for them so they could confirm that the check was valid and actually intended for me. I said that Chase had the check and that the money was transferred to Chase so the money was not the problem. I looked up the issuing bank XXXX XXXX  and gave them the number. 
Over the following days in the first week of XXXX the phone operators from the fraud dept. for Chase said that they did not and will not contact the bank but needed a phone number for the contact person from the business issuing the check to me to validate the issuance of the check to me. I provided the number for the business to them. Chase said that the phone number I gave them did not match any number they have on file for the business. They said they would not contact the business number I gave them and that the funds would still be held. I said to release the funds back to the issuing bank and business issuing the check so I could get a new check from the business and bank with another bank. They refused and said it may be possible to release the funds if I get the business issuing the check, the bank manager from the issuing bank, myself and a public notary to come to a Chase Bank and confirm the check. I told them they were insane. I went to the local Chase branch where I opened the acount and met with the manager, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, and she tried to contact the fraud dept regarding my closed account and funds being held. She could not contact anyone to discuss the account and did not provide any additional information about why the check was being held. She provided me with a number for the fraud dept, which was a XXXX number that I had and was listed on all Chase paperwork, not a direct fraud or specific dept. XXXX said she was told that I should provide the number to the issuing bank XXXX to contact that number. I asked the bank manager to do this and he said he did and never could reach a representative. I went to XXXX again on XX/XX/XXXX and she called the fraud dept and said I was going to be contacted by escalation dept from the fraud dept to look at the problem. She said to wait a few days and contact her on XX/XX/XXXX if I never heard from Chase " escalation group '' On XX/XX/XXXX XXXX was not in her office and was out for the day. XXXX XXXX was also no help. I contacted the fraud dept on XX/XX/XXXX by phone at home and was told that Chase needed a phone number for the business that matched their records on file. I asked how could I provide a phone number for a business that Chase doesn't even have a record for let alone a phone number and how a phone number was going to detect fraud. I asked what fraud was excactly ocurring regarding the check and reasoming why the funds could not be sent back to the issuing bank and bank account. They only answered that they did not suspect me of fraud. They said they will not release funds with out a valid number and eventually the funds will be released to the XXXX of PA and I could claim the money from PA in several years.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation