If your bank suddenly locks your online access, you may still be able to walk into a branch and withdraw cash. The catch is that a locked password, a disabled app, and a frozen account are three very different problems, and the distinction can determine whether a teller hands over your money or sends you home with a phone number.
A technology glitch might block the app while your checking account keeps operating normally. A security restriction can go much further, especially if the bank suspects fraud, an account takeover, or an identity-verification problem. The CFPB has received complaints from consumers who discovered account restrictions when they tried to withdraw, transfer, or otherwise use their funds.
