Big Sky Times

HELENA – Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, along with a coalition of 15 attorneys general, has called upon Bank of America to address its debanking practices, citing discriminatory behavior towards conservative and religious individuals.

In a unified effort, the attorneys general have sent a letter to Bank of America’s chairman and CEO, requesting the bank to take necessary actions to rectify its debanking policies. They urge the financial institution to provide a detailed report on its account policies and practices, revise its terms of service to ensure no discrimination based on religious or political beliefs, and eliminate any restrictions related to "intolerance" and "hate" from its online banking service agreement.

The attorneys general highlighted Bank of America's history of discriminatory actions, including denying services to various groups for political and religious reasons. This discriminatory behavior extends to gun manufacturers, fossil fuel producers, contractors for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Christian ministry groups.

Expressing concerns over the bank's apparent bias towards specific religious and political views, the attorneys general emphasized the importance of upholding free speech and religious freedom. They warned Bank of America about the legal repercussions of its actions, stating that such behavior could violate consumer protection and antidiscrimination laws.

The coalition of attorneys general, representing states such as Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Virginia, have collectively called for Bank of America to address these issues within thirty days.

This collaborative effort spearheaded by Attorney General Knudsen and supported by his counterparts aims to ensure transparency and fairness in banking practices, safeguarding the rights of all customers regardless of their political or religious affiliations.