How do I track down a mortgage loan satisfaction from a bank that no
longer exists.  This would be in NY.

For what reason do you want to do this--to prove to another company or
creditor that the obligation was satisfied?  Mention the name of the
bank and the street address if you know it so that some records can be
checked to see which banks might have bought out/acquired the previous
bank.  Also mention what year that the obligation was satisfied. 
Shouldn't there be some other sources that could be checked besides
the bank (realtors or real estate attorneys involved in the
transaction, if any?)?

4KEITH (I'm NOT a GOOGLE Researcher)
Accountant

I need to get this info because we sold a house in NY and moved out of
state.  We had to leave money in an escrow account. This will not be
released to us until satisfaction is shown.  My lawyer in NY has been
trying for three months to get this for us, but hasn't had any luck
yet.  He suggested that we try too, so we're doing whatever is
necessary to get this money back to us.

Mention the name of the bank and a street address or city/state
address if you have it so I can do some research for you.  Also what
year was the money put into the escrow account?  Did both parties (the
seller and the buyer) have real estate attorneys representing each
side?

4KEITH (I'm NOT a GOOGLE Researcher)
Accountant

The original bank was Walt Whitman Federal Savings and Loan, 
Huntington, NY.    They were taken over by First Nationwide.  The loan
was paid in full in 1996, and I have confirmation from First
Nationwide.  However, I have no confirmation from Walt Whitman.  This
is what I need to get the money out of escrow.  The money was put into
escrow about three months ago when we closed on the sale of the house
in NY and moved out of state.  Thank you Keith for any info you might
be able to obtain to help us.  We did have a lawyer for the sale and
the buyers had a lawyer too.

11-16-2004

Can you please explain exactly whose signature (which officer or
employee) approval you need from Walt Whitman and who is asking for
it?  It's going to be next to impossible to get approval from a
company that has gone out of business and is no longer operating.  I
don't understand why First Nationwide's confirmation was not good
enough, especially since they took over Walt Whitman and should have
been acceptable as an agent replacing them.  Have you also considered
checking your state's unclaimed property website to see if perhaps the
money is being held there?

4KEITH (I'm NOT a GOOGLE Researcher)

I think that the satisfaction from First Nationwide should suffice
also, and so does my lawyer.  Apparently Suffolk County or NY State
does not think this is good enough.  We did find out that records from
both banks are now held by Citi-Mortgage.  They have been no help at
all - not answering letters which we know were received because they
were sent Certified Mail/Return Receipt Requested.They have also been
rude and offered no help over the phone.  My lawyer in NY will be
checking other options after the Thanksgiving holiday.  I'll probably
talk to them on Tuesday to see what can be done.  I did check NY
Unclaimed Property, but it's not being held there.  It's only been
about 3 1/2 months now that the money was put into escrow.  I intend
to do whatever is necessary to get this back.  If you have ano ideas,
let me know.

**i am not a google researcher** However, I do have experience in the
mortgage industry. Two things you may want to try. Have your lawyer
contact citi to ask for a aquisition letter. This would detail that
Whitman was aquired by First National and subsequently acquired by
Citi. This would link up with something called a blanket assignment
which basically gives citi the same power to re-release your loan from
lien with the county through the chain of command. If you have
information regarding the payoff of the loan, ie: payoff statment,
copy of check used to pay off loan, a copy of your title policy and a
copy of the outstanding title search. That is if in fact that Whitman
never released your lien initially (which could have and does happen)
It sounds like that the county has no proof to release your liability
from the lien. THe only way to resolve that is to have the mortgage
re-recorded at the county. You need to have citi send the release to
the county again. Due to the sensitivity of the issue, i would ask
them to send it to you or your lawyer and you take it to the county to
have it rerecorded. see if citi will let you talk to the release
departmetn or paid in full department or a manager or something.
usually these types of situations require simple handling and
reasoning nicely with a phone rep will not necessarily get you what
you need right now. Good luck, let me know if you have other
questions. :)