First Citizen's Bank and Trust Temecula Valley Bank This bank falsely accused me of check forgery and froze my ill mother's account, preventing me from paying her rent even with power of attorney! 1120 El Camino Avenue, California

Here's a copy of the email I sent to their corporate office that explains my position in detail...

I would like to let you know that I have never been so humiliated and inconvenienced in all my life as I was on October 28th at your Corona, CA branch. Anthony and Jesse treated me like a criminal when I went into the bank, as I have since they were Temecula Valley Bank four months ago with my mother. This time, my mother is in the hospital with a partial small intestine obstruction and she requested that I cash a check that she wrote me to cover her rent. When I tried to do this, Anthony looked at the check and said quite unprofessionally, "I'm gonna be straight up with you, bro. Your mom didn't sign this check." The signature was a little bit wobbly because she is on Morphine for her pain, but it clearly was signed by her in her style of signature. I was embarrassed and insulted. I suggested he call the hospital and speak with her directly, but he refused.

Now, I realized I must get power of attorney signed over by my mother, something I had been considering because of her worsening dementia and failing health. So I got a notary and my mother quite willingly signed over power of attorney to me. I brought the documents into the branch and again I was scrutinized by Jesse who informed me that the bank was going to place a freeze on her account. This is unbelievable. While I appreciate your protecting your account holders, this is inconveniencing my mother to the tune of $50 per day in late fees, not to mention burdening her with completely unnecessary stress. These two employees up until this day had been helpful, although somewhat rude and stand-offish, so I do not by any means understand their reasoning in providing the absolute worst service imaginable.

So yesterday I called them in hopes that the power of attorney documents that they made copies of and apparently faxed to the corporate headquarters would be honored (as they were at Chase later that day). Jesse informed me that I would need a court order to access the funds my mom is counting on me to get for her. A court order.

Needless to say, I'm completely beside myself in anger and disappointment and I do not believe that there is anything First Citizens Bank and Trust can do to rectify this. With the help of a loan from St. Edwards Church I was able to pay my mothers rent. My mom is consistently overdrawn at your bank and I really do believe that you would miss her overdraft fees (a ridiculous $8 per day). I feel I have to mention the only thing you people care about, so forgive me. So I hope you'll see it clear to your 'bottom line' to unfreeze her account, reprimand the employees who insulted me and provide a written apology to both myself and my mother for the way this situation has been handled.

Thank you for your time and feel free to call or email with any questions or explainations.