10-year-old girl makes over $2,000 selling chickens, but the bank kept the money, family says

THATCHER, Ariz. (KPHO/Gray News) — A 10-year-old girl in Arizona likes to spend her time raising and selling chickens.

After selling enough of the chickens to raise a few thousand dollars, the family of Kinley Maner said the bank was keeping the money.

While living a rural life in Thatcher, which is located about three hours southeast of Phoenix, Kinley began spending her time raising chickens to sell at the county fair.

“I just thought that it would be fun, because when they’re little, they’re so cute,” Kinley said.

J.R. Maner, Kinley’s father, said the experience has been a lot of fun for his daughter and taught her a lot about chickens.

“It really taught her kind of strict obedience of being out there and taking care of an animal,” he said.

Kinley proudly showed her chickens at the Graham County Fair, eventually putting them up for auction.

After all was done, Kinley’s six chickens sold for a whopping $2,100.

The treasurer of the Small Stock Association wrote Kinley a check, which was electronically deposited at Chase Bank in the bank account of her mother, Kalli Maner.

“So we cashed it,” her father said. “Didn’t think it would be a big deal. And the next day, Chase closed Kalli’s bank account.”

And Kinley’s check was also frozen, meaning she didn’t get that $2,100.

Kalli Maner spent hours on the phone with Chase trying to get answers.

The family learned Chase believed the check was suspicious because bank officials looked up a phone number for the Small Stock Association and claimed it was out of service.

“Their ultimate response is that, sorry, Kinley is not going to get her money back,” J.R. Maner said. “And there’s nothing we can do unless we can verify that check.”

Kalli Maner said the man who wrote the check had even gone to the bank three times to try to get the money back.

“And they said the only way to verify it is through that number on the phone,” she said.

A whole year after the country fair, Kinley still does not have her money.

“I was a little bit upset because I deserved that money, and it was supposed to be mine,” Kinley said.

J.R. Maner said his daughter has worked really hard for her money.

“And we think that she deserves to get the money that she rightfully earned,” he said.

The family then contacted KPHO to share Kinley’s story.

Shortly after Kinley’s story was shared, the bank apologized and worked quickly to get Kinley her money.

“I was surprised when I got it, but I also was excited,” Kinley said.

Kinley said she might do something fun with a little of the money, but the rest would be going into her college fund.

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