That is insane. Locking an account just to get their attention? What if you were in an emergency? I would have closed my account the same day. I recently had a similar situation, where my checking account was dormant, and the bank kept on bugging me to go to the branch to update my details. They even had an employee go to my house personally and want me to sign the documents and the signature card. They wasted a lot of my time but I declined it and told them I will go there when I have time. I guess I was lucky they don't lock our accounts here in the PH yet.