Can the a past due credit card garnish wages/bank accounts without notice?

i have a friend who has just called me crying stating that the citi bank took all the funds they had out of bank of america..apx 1000 .................. in which they were going to use for mortage car pay etc....they have been unemployed for three years now due to a lay off and this was the last of her money... citi bank has already put a lien on her home, is it legal for the credit card company to just ganish all funds without notice?