Bank denies widow access to late husband


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Julia Bolena?s husband of 53 years passed away 16 months ago of cancer.

Since then, the Jacksonville, Florida woman has been trying to access her deceased husband?s Wells Fargo savings account.

Bolena was named on her husband?s checking account with the bank, but in regards to his savings account she said, "He failed to put that particular account in trust for me. I am sure it was just a misunderstanding on his part, being the other account was in trust for me. He assumed it all went together."

While the savings account only holds $273, it is money that the widow can use as she lives on a small fixed income.

Bolena feels that she has demonstrated that she is the rightful heir. She called the probate court for help and said, ?The lady kind of laughed and she said well they know that anything under $500 is up to the bank's discretion to give it to you. But we can give you a letter, but it will cost you $250 for the letter."

So she is stuck and further frustrated because Wells Fargo continues to deduct a $5 service charge from the savings account every month.

"They won't let me close out the account and give it to me, but they?ll take the, they'll take the service charge every month." But is the bank wrong?

Wells Fargo spokesperson Kathy Harrison said, "The issue is she was not joint on the account, as she was on the checking; nor was the account set up as a 'payable on death' account which means she does not have ownership rights."

Harrison said that Bolena can access the account if she provides ?power of attorney? or ?executor? papers that would give her authority of the accounts. Julia Bolena is now seeking pro bono help to attain those documents.

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Well Fargo is by far the worst bank in the country, and this is just another example of why. My girlfriend has an account with them, and it has caused her nothing by headaches.

It's absolutely despicable that the bank won't give this woman access to her dead husband's account. You would think death would be one of a few situations that would override the typical rules.

And $250 for a letter from a court proving ownership of her husband's estate? That seems way like it should be illegal.

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if she lives at the same address and gets statements there, is a wife, and has his death certificate, she should surely get that cash.

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I'd think the bank will lose more than the few hundred, from bad publicity.

Wells Fargo doesn't care. I've had dealings with them and this basically sums up the way they do business.

It's unfortunate, but they don't even pretend to have the customer in mind.

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"$5 service charge from the savings account"

wat

Depending on the account type, If you have less than $xxx in your account you get charged a fee...but you earn $0.02 interest per month!!!

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