Having your bank account blocked is one of the biggest fears of any customer and can happen for administrative, legal or security reasons. If you find yourself without access to your money, it is essential to quickly understand what is behind the situation and act immediately to avoid losses or scams.
Trying to pay for a purchase, make a transfer or withdraw money and discovering that the account is blocked is a reality that can arise without prior warning. Until the problem is resolved, withdrawals, direct debits or card payments will no longer be possible, according to the newspaper SOL.
According to Banco de Portugal, there are four main reasons for blocking an account. The regulator also warns of the increase in fraud associated with false notifications that simulate blocks to deceive customers.
“Confirm that your account is effectively blocked and ensure that you always contact your bank through official contacts”, recommends the entity. The warning is clear: never use phone numbers or connections indicated in suspicious messages or calls.
Lack of data update
Banks are obliged to keep customer information up to date, within the scope of rules to prevent money laundering and terrorist financing. When data update requests are repeatedly ignored, the bank account may be temporarily blocked.
Before making this decision, the financial institution must inform the customer about the missing information or documents. To resolve the situation, you must contact the bank through official channels and update the requested data.
Death of one of the holders
In the case of joint accounts, the death of one of the account holders may result in a temporary block. The objective is to determine the balance existing at the date of death, information necessary for legal and inheritance purposes.
According to the rules, this block cannot last for more than one business day after the bank has formal knowledge of the death. After this period, the situation must be regularized under the terms provided for by law, according to the same source.
Suspected fraud
Movements considered anomalous, access from unknown devices or several failed attempts to enter codes can lead to the blocking of cards, banking applications or even the account itself.
This is a security measure designed to protect the customer. In these cases, immediate contact with the bank is essential to confirm whether the operations were authorized and reestablish access as quickly as possible.
Court order or garnishment
In enforcement proceedings, banks may receive court orders for attachment. In these situations, they are obliged to deposit the amounts existing in the account up to the determined limit.
The customer can request clarification about the origin of the block, unless there is a legal impediment that limits the disclosure of information. Communication is normally formal and framed in a legal process, says the source cited above.
Beware of false notifications
Banco de Portugal highlights that many scams start with messages that inform, in an alarmist manner, that the account has been blocked and that you need to click on a link to unblock it.
In the face of any notice of this type, the priority should be to confirm directly with the bank, using only the official contacts available on the institution’s website or in bank statements. Access codes, card numbers or codes sent by SMS to third parties must never be provided in accordance with .
Acting quickly, remaining calm and always checking the authenticity of communication are essential steps to resolve a legitimate block and avoid falling for a scam.
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