This Little Girl Earns Big – But The Bank’s NEXT Move Will Have You Rethinking Everything!

A family in Arizona is challenging a major bank after it refused to release money earned by their 10-year-old daughter. Kinley Maner, a young entrepreneur, raised chickens and earned thousands of dollars, only to face obstacles when trying to access her earnings.

Kinley, who lives in the small town of Thatcher, about three hours southeast of Phoenix, took to raising chickens for fun. “I just thought that it would be fun because when they’re little, they’re so cute,” she shared in an interview with CBS affiliate KPHO-TV.

Kinley’s parents, Kalli and JR, encouraged their daughter to pursue the hobby, hoping it would provide her with valuable life lessons. “She really enjoyed it, had a lot of fun, learned a lot about chickens,” said JR, her dad. “It really taught her kind of strict obedience of being out there and taking care of an animal.”

The young girl showcased her chickens at the local county fair, where she sold six of them for a total of $2,100. Afterward, the buyer wrote Kinley a check, which her mother, Kalli, promptly deposited electronically into her Chase Bank account. “So we cashed it,” JR said. “Didn’t think it would be a big deal.” However, the next day, they were shocked to discover that Kalli’s bank account had been closed without warning.

It quickly became clear that the family’s troubles were just beginning. Kinley’s check was frozen, and the family was unable to access the money. After hours spent on the phone with the bank, they learned the issue stemmed from the check being issued by the Small Stock Association (SSA). The bank told Kalli they could not verify the check because the phone number listed for the SSA was no longer in service.

Their frustration grew as they were told, “Sorry, Kinley is not going to get her money back,” JR recalled. “And there’s nothing we can do unless we can verify that check.”

The family took steps to resolve the issue by sending the SSA in to confirm the validity of the check, but the bank refused to budge. “The guy who wrote the check has gone into Chase three different times, saying ‘Hey, this is me. You can verify it in person,’” Kalli explained. “And they said the only way to verify it is through that number on the phone.”

Kinley, who had planned to use the $2,100 for her college fund, was heartbroken. “I was a little bit upset because I deserved that money, and it was supposed to be mine,” she said. Her father expressed his frustration as well: “She’s a ten-year-old girl who worked hard for this money. And we think that she deserves to get the money that she rightfully earned.”

After more than a year of back-and-forth with Chase Bank, the family turned to KHPO’s On Your Side team for help. The station’s investigation prompted Chase to contact the family just hours later, offering an apology and a resolution. The bank quickly sent the Maners a check for the full $2,100.

“I was surprised when I got it, but I also was excited,” Kinley said, reflecting on the unexpected turnaround. Her father was equally grateful, noting, “It wouldn’t have happened if KHPO-TV hadn’t looked into it.”

Chase Bank has yet to comment publicly on the situation, but the family’s long wait for their money was finally over. This case serves as a reminder of the importance of persistence and the power of the media in resolving consumer disputes.