I’m in a bit of a dilemma and unsure of what to do. When I turned 18, my mom had both of us sign up for a joint account at our bank. Now, we’re not on speaking terms, and I no longer use or intend to use that account. My mom even took the debit card and never returned it. Since I have my own account now, I don’t see the point in staying on the joint one. I checked my bank’s policy on removing myself, but it requires both account holders to be present to sign off. My mom is still using the account and refuses to meet in person or sign anything. Is there any way I can remove myself from the account? It feels like I’m stuck on it, and I don’t want to be anymore.
Hi, Step one: In the morning, call the bank and report both debit cards as lost, perhaps at a grocery store or another location. Request that online banking be locked or restricted. Step two: After making the call, visit the bank in person to close the account. Step three: Open a new account on your own at a different financial institution. The purpose of step one is to prevent any transactions from happening, such as transfers through Zelle, Venmo, or similar services. Also, check your credit reports again since new obligations can sometimes take time to show up.
Hello, What I would do is monitor the account closely, and the next time she deposits money, I’d withdraw it. Then, I’d text her, explaining that I accidentally withdrew from that account instead of my own. I’d let her know she can come collect it, or I’ll re-deposit it the next day. It was just an honest mistake, maybe it’s time for me to be removed from the account.
Hello there, It would be ideal if you could convince her to go with you to the bank to remove your name from the account. If not, I agree that closing the account is necessary.
If your mom’s Social Security benefits are being directly deposited into that account, she’ll need to quickly update the Social Security Administration with another method to receive the payments to avoid any interruptions. She might want to open a new checking account if she doesn’t already have one and update the Social Security Administration to deposit the payments into her new account.
Hey, Everyone is offering solid advice, but your mom could easily reopen the account. Even a penny left in some banks can keep it active, and a direct deposit could reopen it later. Sit with a banker, explain the situation, and request a hard close so the account won’t reopen. Have all debit cards deactivated and check on direct deposits. You could also withdraw money—legally yours—and this might prompt your mom to take action.