Checking or savings account -- Managing an account -- Complaint #4558898
Complaint Overview
Complaint ID: 4558898
Company: Citibank, N.A.
Product: Checking or savings account
Sub-Product: Checking account
Issue: Managing an account
Sub-Issue: Deposits and withdrawals
State: California
ZIP Code: 902XX
Date Received: 2021-07-20T12:00:00-05:00
Date Sent to Company: 2021-07-20T12:00:00-05:00
Company Response: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Submitted Via: Web
Consumer Narrative
On XX/XX/2021, I wrote a check to myself from a credit union account to deposit into my Citibank checking account, and I deposited it that day. I do this frequently as it's the simplest way to transfer funds from home during a pandemic. On this occasion however the check bounced because an automatic payment hit the same day for more than I anticipated. I was {$20.00} short, and the more than {$5000.00} in my saving account at the credit union was not linked, so it didn't help. Okay, my bad. Citibank reversed the deposit and charged me {$29.00}. Fine. THEN, on XXXX XXXX I wrote another check from my credit union to cover the bounced check and a bit more. Suddenly I can't sign in to my Citibank account, I can't get cash from an ATM, and it takes several calls to Citibank before I am finally told that they suspected fraud on my account. They have frozen the account for 2 weeks. I can't even SEE the funds I have in the bank, much less access them. What's more, the second check has cleared my credit union account and funds are almost certainly in my Citi account now. I don't believe that Citibank has any reason to believe I bounced a check on purpose, and the amounts are relatively low, under $ XXXX. I am not a criminal and they have no reason to suspect I am. Aside from my several calls to them, Citibank has not notified me that the account was frozen or why, nor could they explain why I can't even sign into my account. If this is legal, it shouldn't be. I plan to change banks as soon as this is cleared up, but I also want to go on record objecting to this practice as an abuse of power, unnecessarily punitive, bad business practice and extremely inconvenient to a customer who has been with them for many years. I can understand Citi freezing the second deposit until it has fully cleared. That seems fair. Freezing me out of my checking account including other funds I need should be illegal or only used when there is strong evidence of a crime. In this case there is none.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Complaint #4558898 about?
Complaint #4558898 was filed against Citibank, N.A. regarding Checking or savings account specifically about Managing an account. It was received by the CFPB on 2021-07-20T12:00:00-05:00.
How did Citibank, N.A. respond to this complaint?
The company responded with: "Closed with explanation". The response was timely.
What is the risk level of this complaint?
See the risk assessment section for details on this complaint's risk profile.
How do I file a similar complaint?
You can file a complaint with the CFPB at consumerfinance.gov/complaint. Select the appropriate product category (Checking or savings account) and describe your issue in detail.
Can I see other complaints against Citibank, N.A.?
Yes, visit the Citibank, N.A. company profile at readthecomplaint.com/company/citibank-n-a to see all complaints, risk scores, and analysis.
Disclaimer
This analysis is AI-generated based on publicly available CFPB complaint data. It does not constitute financial or legal advice.