Lawmakers Demand Answers from Big Banks Over Alleged Discriminatory Account Closures Targeting Muslim Americans

A coalition of U.S. Senators and Representatives has made efforts to hold major financial institutions accountable in response to growing concerns about discriminatory banking practices that disproportionately impact Muslim Americans.

Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, along with Representatives Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, and Ayanna Pressley, have written a letter to the CEOs of JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and Citibank, requesting transparency and accountability regarding their account closure policies.

Recent revelations have shed light on the troubling trend of large banks closing down accounts, often without warning or redress, in the name of combating suspicious activity. These “de-risking” techniques, which were intended to reduce possible hazards, have instead resulted in the indiscriminate termination or curtailment of commercial connections with a broad range of clients. Alarmingly, these moves appear to disproportionately affect Muslim Americans, jeopardizing their equitable access to financial services.

The lawmakers emphasize the urgency of the situation by citing a recent study that found that a quarter of the American Muslim population has encountered obstacles while banking in the United States, such as account denials, suspension or closure of existing accounts, and rejection of payments via popular apps.

Such discriminatory tactics not only impede financial inclusion, but also cause considerable hardships for affected individuals, who may experience long-term asset loss, trouble paying financial commitments, and worsening of credit scores.

In their letter, the Senators and Representatives request that the banks disclose extensive information about their account closure practices, including the criteria used to identify suspicious activity and the number of accounts canceled in recent years. By demanding openness from major financial institutions, lawmakers hope to shed light on the scope of the problem and urge for reforms that maintain fairness and nondiscrimination in banking procedures.

Senator Warren and Representative Omar, who sought clarification from bank regulators in December 2022 regarding their attempts to modernize compliance standards relating to financial crimes and sanctions, have built upon their prior efforts with their most recent move.

These legislators work to protect the rights of all Americans to fair access to financial services, irrespective of their cultural or religious background, by tackling systemic problems within the banking sector.