Hi,

I had been a customer of my previous bank for nearly 8 years before they shut down my checking account. I never had any overdrafts or any problems; they shut it down because they deemed it as "too risky" given the number of disputes I had on my account (I had some fraudulent activity and reported it). Long story short, they closed my checking account and claimed to have sent me a cashier's check with the funds from the account. Over a month later, it still hasn't arrived, the bank refuses to give me the tracking number, and they aren't working with me to send out another check.

This is all of the money that I HAVE and my rent and bills are late because they're holding on to my money. I don't even believe they've ever sent it (i.e., why they won't provide me with the tracking number when the banker claimed it was sent certified).

I have no money and I've explained this to the bank, and I get a "We don't give a damn" attitude from them. I've tried to call different departments, but whenever my account comes up, it gets transferred back to the same person who is apparently 'overseeing' my account now that it's closed, and he is ABSOLUTELY no help.

Over a month and no access to my funds. I live in a different state and the bank is a small, regional bank so driving there to get the money wouldn't help me... they won't issue a check.

What can I do? Should I hire an attorney? I threatened to do so today and the guy kind of panicked, but he's not trying to help me at all still.

Please help me. I'm a student and all of my bills are way past due because of their behavior. Thanks.

Oh, and additionally, they claimed to have closed the account on January 4th, but didn't pay my insurance which comes out of my account on the 27th every month (i.e., didn't pay December 27th). Also, after they closed my account, they still charged me a monthly fee roughly two weeks later because "action was still taken on your account", i.e., I contacted one of the companies with whom I was disputing an item; they refunded it, and the bank took out a fee. I think this is ridiculous given the fact that my account was allegedly 'closed' at that time, and that when the fraud occurred on my account for which the company subsequently refunded the money, it was nearly four months ago, and the bank already had their monthly fee taken at that time.

Sorry my writing is so choppy. I just want to know if they're violating any laws.

Another thing that occurred that was odd was that the bank manager said that I could keep my safe deposit box at the bank even though I no longer had an account there. When I asked him to put this in writing he adamantly refused.

Sketchy.

Please help.

Thanks for the info.

The bank can verify that the cashier's check has not paid. At that point a bond needs to be taken out and a new check can be issued. But there is a prescribed time that must pass for that to happen. The fear is the check will show up and be presented for payment. The check would then be paid as a cashier's check is nearly as good as cash.

If you're not happy with the way your account has been handled you can complain to the banks regulator. They can tell you who that is or you can start here. http://www.fdic.gov/regulations/resources/ombudsman/contact.html