New York ( CNN ) -- Banks are holding more than $ 200 million in insurance payments meant for victims of Superstorm Sandy , nearly four months after the storm made landfall , New York Gov . Andrew Cuomo said Tuesday . The Cuomo administration said it has delivered letters to various banks and mortgage service providers asking they `` use maximum discretion and effort to speed the release of funds . '' `` Families need to be able to return to their homes and the state economy , which took a hit from Superstorm Sandy , needs the boost from spending on repairs , '' Cuomo said in a written statement . `` After insurance companies have sent homeowners checks to pay for repairs , the money should not be sitting with the bank because of red tape . '' A month of outrage later , Senate passes Sandy relief . The state 's Department of Financial Services found that four of the biggest U.S. banks -- Wells Fargo , Bank of America , Citibank and JP Morgan Chase -- are holding more than 4,100 checks worth more $ 130 million . The banks were not immediately available for comment , though have maintained that they were socked with a massive amount in payouts that require processing in the wake of the storm . Thousands of storm-battered residents are still awaiting a total of $ 208 million in insurance checks . Cuomo said the payouts are often issued jointly to the homeowner and their bank or mortgage servicer , which then requires the `` bank 's endorsement of the check before the homeowner may access the funds . '' Delays can follow when banks request proof of repairs or servicing required by federal mortgage agencies . But many residents have complained that they have n't received the funds they need to start the repairs . Superstorm Sandy left 132 people dead in the United States and contributed to tens of billions of dollars worth of damages , especially along shoreline communities in New York , New Jersey and parts of Connecticut . Widow tells of HMS Bounty 's last moments .
Cuomo administration says it sent checks to banks and mortgage service providers . Thousands of financially - challenged families are still awaiting $ 208 million in mortgage checks . The banks were not immediately available for comment . They have said they were socked with many payouts that require processing .