Personal Finance

I had an online CD with Washington Mutual Bank that matured, and I called to cash it in. I went through a prolonged automated menu system before reaching a person. Then I was transferred to four different departments, then told I was to be transferred again and the call was cut off. The next time I called I was transferred two more times. Then I was asked 3 “public domain” security questions, only one of which applied to me, then told that I failed the security test. There’s a flaw in the system — I know the answers to my own life better than they do. Next they said that the only way to get my money was to write a letter and have it NOTARIZED. My impression is that they’re trying to make it as difficult as possible to withdraw your money. I’ve had a lot of CDs with many banks, and no other has ever required notarizing.