Bank Error in My Favor

[Corey Thompson]

Bought a house and 60 acres from the bank four years ago. Made improvements to the land and started selling sections out of it. I sold the house and 30 acres last October which paid off a majority of the banks lien and I left the closing with a pretty big check too. I sold the remaining acreage for 65k. The bank still had a lien for 50k. I assumed I would leave the closing with +~ 10k. The title company hands me a check for 62k. I tell them that something is wrong, the bank needs a check. They assure me no liens came up. I talk to the attorney and he tells me the bank released the entire lien on the previously transaction, instead of just doing a partial lien release. I went ahead and paid the bank off because I do lots of business with them, but what could they have done if I didn't?