I was working on buying a multi-unit and when the seller contacted the bank for a payoff the bank would not give them my payoff as they said they're too far in the foreclosure process.

Has anyone dealt with that before and come up with a solution?

Is there a way for me to find out who the bank is that's foreclosing on the property and try to work directly with them?

No. The seller owns the property until it forecloses. The seller can give you an authorization to speak directly with the lender if he wants to, and that can help you get a payoff but the lender doesn't own the property to sell it to you.

show up at the auction with cash. That's your workaround.

I would find it hard to believe that a bank would refuse to provide a payoff demand as its a federal requirement to provide said demand within 7 days of the request. There must be more to the story.