Being denied removal from a bank account

I and a friend were members of a non profit group. I have not been a member for approx 7 years and she has not been a member for about 3 or 4 years. She recently tried to open a new bank account and found out that both our names are still on an account with the non-profit group. We are concerned about the group's appropriate use of funding and would like to be removed from the account ASAP. We have tried via emails and phone calls to contact this group because the bank says all people on the acccount need to be present to sign someone off the account. What do you think our next step should be? Our attempts to contact at least 5 different members of the group have been ignored. Thanks!

Just some lay ramblings:

 

I would suggest that if you are an authorized user of an account per the bank rules  one sure way to get folks attention is to first go cleanout the account with a cash withdrawal right down to zero or close to same.

 

Just be sure you have NO other accounts in that bank that can in any fashion be linked to same via small print in some set off clause .

Now I seem to recall someplace in PA's banking code that for an account in multiple names there was a presumption of equal shares-but I haven't read that stuff in a good while --but lets say its true and there were 6 names on account then if you and your friend go take out 2/6 that may be enough to wake folks up and be on even safer side of equation.

I live in PA but the account was opened at a NJ branch. it is a business accout not a personal account. That is why they said we all need to be present.

Well I really don't care what kind of account --who has signature powers!  

If you have signature powers then use them?  If you don't have signature powers then what is your name doing on account?

 

Think with street smarts!

 

Suppose you were dead or transferred to China--how would you be present ?

Because you have not been "associated" with the group doesn't mean you are no longer a "member".

Whatever business entity the group was, it is likely to be registered with some government regulatory agency and in order to be removed from the registration, a new registration has to be submitted officially deleting you from the group.

So keep in mind that just getting yourself off the bank account does not relieve you of liability if you are still officially a member of the group.

Beyond that, I agree with Drew.

If you are named on the account and have signature authority, clean it out and give the group a wake up call.

no need for sarcasm.

First off it has been so long I dont even have the account number. Second, I was trying to avoid going into gorey details.

The people in the group are crazy. The Director is a psycho who has lied to almost everyone he has ever met and has stolen money from his own parents among others.

My friend was the one who kept the books. She turned them over to a member who ended up also quitting shortly after this and threw the whole box away.

I heard through the grapevine that the director then told the members there was no money in the account and said my friend must have taken it. I know she did not.

Funny shortly after that he expanded his online business and opened a retail store in a very high rent area.

These are not normal people. I do not want to do anything to have them turn their wrath upon me because that is how they operate. All I want is my name off. I think taking any money out will just lead to accusations and threats from them and I do not feel like dealing with a bunch of lunatics. Been there done that.

I know for a fact that my first email was recieved because it was forwarded to other members. I thought maybe a certified letter would be my own proof about having contacted them about it and if no response after that I would need a lawyer involved.

The leader is mentally ill in my opinion. We think the main reason he is ignoring us is because he is afraid to have to be with us at the bank. He thinks we sent demons to him and he was possessed. He actually went and had an exorcism. That is the kind of person who is in charge and the members believe everything he says like a cult.

All we want is to get them to go to the bank and sign the papers with the least possible ammount of aggrivation.

 

It is registered as a 5013c

If that is what their rules require, then that is what must be done. It is not the bank's fault you did not take care of it at the time.

I never said it was the bank's fault.  I thought the account had been closed at the time.

I know what the rules are and I have no problem with that. I want to know how I can get the others to show up at the bank and remove me. There should be no problem if they would just answer an email or phone call but they refuse to.

Look--it might take me a hour or so in the morning to go to local branch to look up every account on which I have a listed power to act and the relevant account number and a few extra seconds to verify how many signatures are required-I don't need account number to begin a search   -I then ask bank for a blank check-make it out to  cash and cash it or some near equivalent. That gets attention once its done. In one case the relevant signature cards were in a central place but a polite advance call got me the cards or copy to relevant branch office and I sorted thru the relevant stuff.

 

 

 

AnniePal:

I want to know how I can get the others to show up at the bank and remove me. There should be no problem if they would just answer an email or phone call but they refuse to.

Well, obviously, there IS a problem.

You'll have to resign yourself to the fact that you aren't going to resolve this without some sort of aggravation and possibly some legal expense.

You may have to hire an attorney to get this done.

Your other option is to just ignore it and hope nothing ever comes of it.

 

 Go to the bank with a smile on your face---A friend of mine who is a darn good tax/estate  lawyer could not get something done at a major regional bank regarding his own parents accounts and he was his dads guardian--because he and bank kept having collissions over the rules and it was going nowhere fast--I walked into a different branch of said bank and a site manager looked up everything and had all his information on screen  and told me exactly what he needed to do it and to call him and to get it done-which essentailly was a couple of keystroke entries  --so he did it my way and it got done in a blink. Sugar beats salt!

 

I assure you if you have signature powers and you take out funds you'll get attention next time they check account. .

 

Why should you spend a lot of time or money to get off an account!

Drew:

I would suggest that if you are an authorized user of an account per the bank rules one sure way to get folks attention is to first go cleanout the account with a cash withdrawal right down to zero or close to same.

That's a VERY BAD idea. If you are no longer a member of the organization, you don't have any rights to the funds and removing them would constitute theft/embezzlement. It would be incredibly stupid, IMO, to risk a criminal prosecution over something like this.

Simply being an authorized signer of the account likely will not, by itself cause you problems unless, perhaps, you have other accounts with that same bank.