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Wells Fargo Bank NA is facing a class action lawsuit alleging the company perpetuates a culture of discrimination in branches throughout the country.
Plaintiff Frank Hightower, an African American man who formerly worked as a store manager at Wells Fargo branches in Philadelphia and Atlanta, alleges he was retaliated against after he reported observations of racial bias and discriminatory compensation and promotion practices.
“Defendant has developed and continually reinforces a centralized corporate culture that is implemented at each of its retail banking branches and human resources and recruiting departments throughout the country,” the Wells Fargo class action lawsuit alleges.
“This practice is done, in part, to ensure that a uniform Wells Fargo culture operates consistently throughout all of its retail banking branches,” the Wells Fargo class action lawsuit continues. “Within this structure also exists a companywide discriminatory culture.”
According to the racial discrimination class action lawsuit, Wells Fargo uses a quota system when considering diversity hiring. “However, compensation levels and retention of the hires based on this mandate fall far below those of their similarly-situated counterparts,” the Wells Fargo class action lawsuit alleges.
Hightower says he began working for Wells Fargo as a personal banker in about September 2012. In 2014, he was promoted to Store Manager, which was allegedly part of Wells Fargo’s plan to increase diversity among its store managers. At the time of his promotion, there were no other African American store managers, the Wells Fargo class action lawsuit alleges.
On July 1, 2015, Hightower says he notified Wells Fargo’s human resources department that a Caucasian district manager was treating a Caucasian employee more favorably than a similarly-situated African American employee with regard to increases in compensation.
After he made the report of discrimination, Hightower says he experienced retaliation from the district manager, including harassment, static salary, disciplinary write-ups, and other allegedly unsubstantiated attempts at corrective action. Hightower says the district manager’s retaliatory behavior created a discriminatory basis for his eventual termination from his employment at Wells Fargo.
Although he applied for numerous promotions and transfer opportunities in the area, Hightower was rejected. He was eventually hired as a Store Manager in Atlanta, but experienced a pay cut for this lateral transfer, the Wells Fargo class action lawsuit alleges.
Again, Hightower alleges he experienced discrimination and was subjected to unwarranted corrective action. When he questioned why his first corrective action in Atlanta was considered a final warning, he was allegedly told that it was based on “the other stuff that happened in Philly.” He alleges this statement demonstrates a continuation of the retaliation he experienced when he was working in Philadelphia.
Hightower accuses Wells Fargo of violating Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and 1991, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, Philadelphia common law, and other rights.
This is not the first time Wells Fargo has been accused of racial discrimination. In fact, a $35.5 million class action settlement involving racial discrimination by Wells Fargo was granted final approval by a federal judge earlier this year.
Hightower is represented by Zakia Moore of McCain Law PC.
The Wells Fargo Racial Discrimination Class Action Lawsuit is Hightower v. Wells Fargo Bank NA, Case No. 2:17-cv-04119, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
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21 thoughts onWells Fargo Class Action Lawsuit Alleges Racial Discrimination
Please add me,I wS treated unfairly
I know for a fact that Wells Fargo practice racial discrimination and has for years especially in the branches where there is a high population of Hispanic employees
Recently I went to Wells Fargo to exchange several $20 bills that came from their ATM and they told me that they cannot take all the twenties and give me $100 bills because one of the twenties I give them could be fake.
How ironic I stated to the branch manager when I informed her in 2015 their Branch gave me and my husband a fake $100 bill She advised me there was nothing that I could do or that she could do in order to exchange the 20 because I didn’t have an account there.
Please add me to the class action.
Include me in the litigation.
Please add me to the list. I know my credit were really good but they denied me from getting a credit card and a bank account.
I needed a Wells Fargo bank card and I know I had perfect credit but they didn’t approve it because they said my credit were really bad and I needed to check with another company.
I have gone to wells fargo because we were buying a house way back in 2003 or 2004-2006 and when i tried to open a checking and savings or even just a savings account, I felt very discriminated against, they told me my credit wasnt good enough to open an account with wells fargo that it would be best for me to find another bank to open an account that was in Bellingham, WA, I have also tried in a different town Yakima, WA at a total different Wells Fargo and it was even worse they made me feel like I am retarded or like a kid because of being on disability and wanting to open an account, they said something about its better for people like me to go to a bank that doesnt care who they open an account for. I was sad and hurt for a long time I wouldnt go to a bank, it really was mean and rude, they are very much like that in Yakima, WA I have heard of others that have been treated like we are scum or something. Thanks, Janie Snow
Wellsfargo told mee that my credit was no good and I went to a dealership and pursched
a vehicle, Wellsfargo did not fix my credit or help it.
Please please add me there racist period!
Please add me
Wells Fargo just text my youngest daughter 2 days ago saying her credit card was cancelled and she had never had a credit card of any