Is there anything else I can do to speed this up? I've read the hold is initially 7 days, followed by 30 and can be extended to 6 months. Obviously the bank cannot ask me for evidence(or anything else) due to the law but is there anything voluntary I can do? Really is a crazy system that you are kept in the dark.. While they also seem to investigate in the dark
My suggestion is, do not do anything that they have not asked. I did not have the exact same experience but once someone stole all the money that was in my bank.
One morning I got called from my bank and said if I spent these and that amounts to shop online or anywhere? I usually do purchase online but the amounts they said seemed to me that it was not me. I told them that it was not me. Then they cancelled my card, issued new card, I think they froze my account too (can not recall much). They said they will investigate and the entire thing will take 2 weeks to 6 weeks. After 3 to 4 weeks I guess, they returned the money to my bank even with some compensation and I got full access of my account.
Bank has protocols and they need to follow them in case of any accident or anything unusual happen to a customer. I think in your case they also have some set of protocols and they will follow it. It takes time but I believe eventually they will give you the access of the money.