Businesses can refuse. But her money is in there and she has a right to withdraw. So I’m torn on this. Anyway I obviously think the bank rule is idiotic.
I hope she sues their pants off. It’s her money.
Online banking, wire transfers, paper checks, ATMs (but that can take a number of days) come to mind.
And for those who shout "credit unions" - some of those around here have had their doors locked for months. Drive up tellers have been about the only way to deal with them, and they sometimes shut down that service at a branch for a few days.
The only times I've been in a bank in person in a good while have been to deposit checks (I want to walk away with a printed receipt) or visit a safe deposit box.
Just a curiosity, and I’m not defending either side here ... when a person deposits money in a bank, the money becomes property of the bank, as a matter of law. The depositor retains strong rights to reclaim, but until one takes posession again, the money is technically the bank’s money.