Don't count your chickens: How a 10-yr-old girl took on the jobsworths at huge bank and won

Thatcher, Arizona: After a year-long batle with a financial behemoth, 10-year-old Kinley Maner, a young entrepreneur from rural Thatcher, has finally regained her $2,100, which had been frozen by Chase Bank. The funds, earned by raising and selling chickens, were withheld after her check was deemed “suspicious” by the bank.

Kinley had raised the money by carefully breeding and selling chickens in her community. She even showcased her flock at a county fair, a proud moment that led to a successful auction of her six chickens for $2,100. But when Kinley’s mother Kalli attempted to deposit the check written out by the treasurer of the Small Stock Association at Chase Bank, the bank flagged the check, froze the funds, and subsequently closed the account.

Bank officials claim there was a discrepancy with the Small Stock Association’s contact number, which appeared “out of service". Despite repeated efforts by Kalli to clarify the transaction and repeated in-person visits by the association’s treasurer to Chase, the bank insisted on verification over the phone.

“I spent hours on the phone trying to get answers,” Kalli told Arizona's Family. “They simply told us Kinley wouldn’t get her money back until they could verify the check.” After months, the Maner's contacted 'On Your Side', a consumer advocacy group.

Within hours of 'On Your Side' reaching out to Chase, the bank responded, acknowledged the family’s plight, apologized, and pledged to expedite the funds. Chase overnighted a new check for $2,100 to Kinley.

Bouncing back from this temporary setback Kinley has recently sold more chickens at another fair, adding an additional $1,500 to her growing college fund.