Fifth Third Bank Fifth Third will not let me close my secured card. Algonquin, Illinois

That's how a secured card works.  Whether you think it is fair or not, it is in the terms of the card and every other secured card would work the same way.  They will not give you your security back until you have fulfilled your agreement by paying off the card.

Look at a similar "secured" loan for comparison.  When you finance a car the bank holds the Title.  So the car would be like your Credit Card and the Title would be like the Savings Account.  Under no circumstances are they going to give you the Title back until you pay off the loan.  Even if you had proof in the form of a cashiers check that you have a buyer who is going to pay it.  They would still make you pay-off the loan balance and after a period of time they would then send you the Title.

Oh, they will eventually pay off the credit card with your savings account.  IF you do not pay on the account and they charge-off the balance.  Of course by that time you will be reported late to the credit reports and any money in your savings would be eaten up by late fees and additional interest.

The balance on the credit card has to paid to zero before your deposit is released. As was mentioned before, that is standard practice for any type of secured loan or line of credit. But to wait 90 days after your card is closed before you could get your deposit back seems excessively long, especially since your deposit was more than your available credit on your card.  A 30 day wait would be more reasonable. Many people have monthly recurring charges on their cards, so a 30 day wait after your card is closed seems sufficient enough to catch those charges if they sneak thru.  Hopefully at least the bank is paying interest on your 1000.00, though granted in today's environment that probably wouldnt be much.