Bank worker has just lectured me on my spending

My 86 year old mother was asked what she was spending a substantial amount of money on when withdrawing from her bank account she replied ‘ Dancing boys gin and the rest will go up my nose ‘
She’s a card 🤣

Yes, this. Transferring money between accounts and ordering through established retailers doesn't look remotely like money laundering, so someone's way off base here. Putting a stop on the card makes sense but the rest of it doesn't. Were the two accounts at the same bank?

You should absolutely raise a complaint.

Is no one asking the important questions?

What d'you buy, OP? And did you have a glass of wine? Make an online occasion of it?

I wanna live vicariously!

If a member of staff at a bank suspects money laundering they should report it to their Money Laundering Reporting Officer. If they advised someone that they could be suspected of money laundering, that would be the offence of ‘tipping off’, for which the penalties are severe.

I think there is more to this. If OP had large payments into one bank account in another bank, and transfers it to her usual account, and then goes on a spending spree - then yes it looks like money laundering.

And banks only have to suspect money laundering to close your account. They don't need proof.

If OP makes a complaint the worker may get told off for potentially tipping off a customer who is money laundering.

And if your bank account is closed for suspected money laundering, the bank will report you to the police. And you will be investigated

I've actually had more questions about the provenance of money recently, but that's down the fact that you need to swap accounts these days to get the best rates. [ETA My bank tells me that I'm no longer allowed to withdraw money directly from a couple of savings accounts and that I have to use electronic banking to transfer it into my current account first...not what happened with the instance I mention below. That money was only ever in my current account.]

Still a bit strange though. I opened up an ISA by handing over a cheque from my current account at another bank. (I was already a custom at the ISA bank - the same one that thought I was born in 1901.)

I had to explain where the money in the current account had come from, which seemed a bit bizarre to me. (Answer: lump sum from my pension which had been losing value just sitting in my current account.)

Just about to say that, unless they are trying to get sacked? Why would they care, however yes if you complain they'll listen to the call/the transcript.

Really? People are struggling to use their own money to buy a car!

If you want to withdraw money over a certain amount you have to make an appointment with the manager and tell them why, its ridiculous

They have probably recorded the call for 'training purposes' so ask them for a copy. You can double check you are not being sensitive and then get back to the recommending they use the call for training purposes.

Oh don't lean on me man cause you can't afford the ticket
I'm Suffragette Kitty

With apologies to Lord David of Bowie.

I understand that, which is why I asked if the two accounts were at the same bank. But realistically, a one-off 1200 spending day is not generally considered a significant red flag without other suspicious activity.

It is a bit odd to have a "shopping day" online when you could have bought stuff online at any point while you'd been saving. So I can see why spending £1200 in one day has raised red flags with the bank.

KYC Analyst here. Anti Money Laundering assessment on transactions is my job. No one sensible would think that kind of money is money laundering. Add a couple of zeros and then yes maybe. Absolutely ridiculous!

I would question your expertise. People get paid to money launder a thousand say per month as money mules. It's not uncommon.

I’m mid sixties and l’m convinced l look mid eighties because l’ve had the same thing when making large bank transfers to pay for home improvements. I’m stealing this response for when l’m next asked !!

Yes I agree. It's typical behaviour when a card has been stolen, loads of smaller purchases building up to a big purchase.

Banks can't win, if they do try to protect their customers they get complaints, if they don't, their customers get scammed and the banks have to refund money out of their own funds.

Make a complaint.
Ask for the recording of the call to be reviewed.
State that you understand their fraud policies are necessary, but you object in the strongest terms to being lectured to about your spending habits by a member of staff.

How on earth is this odd?! 🙄

It’s typical MNs that the OP has posters telling her she is lying/exaggerated & asking whether she is actually money laundering!

The audacity! It’s your bloody money! Yes, complain.

But the op is not complaining about the bank stopping the card in case if was being used fraudulently. She's complaining about subsequent treatment.