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Bank of America Discrimination Class Action Lawsuit Overview:
- Who: A consumer started a class action lawsuit against Bank of America, N.A.
- Why: The consumer claims Bank of America discriminates against people of Iranian descent by singling them out and restricting and closing their accounts.
- Where: The class action lawsuit was lodged in California superior court.
Bank of America arbitrarily restricts and closes the accounts of people of Iranian descent, a new class action lawsuit alleges.
Plaintiff Mohammad Farshad Abdollah Nia claims Bank of America discriminates against Iranian people by closing their accounts because of their race, religion, ancestry, citizenship, and/or immigration status.
“(Bank of America), through its employees and representatives, identifies individual account holders with connections to Iran and restricts or closes their accounts,” states the class action lawsuit.
Nia wants to represent a nationwide Class and California subclass of Bank of America account holders who have a first or last name with an Iranian or Middle Eastern origin that have had their accounts closed within six months of a request for documents establishing residency.
Bank of America Closes Longtime Customer’s Account Without Warning, Claims Class Action
The plaintiff is an immigrant from Iran who is now a permanent resident of the US, according to the class action lawsuit. Nia says he first came to the US in 2011 using a student visa to obtain a doctoral degree in physics.
Nia says that he opened a Bank of America account in 2015. In 2019, the bank allegedly began repeatedly rejecting documents he was required to send in to prove his US residency—telling him they were insufficient and outdated.
Bank of America warned Nia it would have to restrict his account if he could not send in the correct paperwork, according to the class action lawsuit, however, it instead permanently closed his account without notice.
“Neither (Bank of America) nor its representatives provided warning to Mr. Nia prior to closing his account,” states the class action lawsuit. “All of (Bank of America’s) communications stated only that his account would be ‘restricted’ if he did not timely comply with Defendant’s demand for additional documentation.”
Nia alleges he was told by a Bank of America representative that he had provided insufficient documentation of his residency, and that, when pressed, said “we don’t have to do business with you.”
Bank of America, further, refused to clarify the specific policy pertaining to why it closed his account, never sent him a notice of closure, and was unwilling to explain their actions, the class action lawsuit alleges.
Nia says he lost reward points he had accrued, suffered negative effects to his credit score, and felt “humiliated and demeaned” by the way Bank of America allegedly treated him.
Nia claims Bank of America violated the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, California’s Race, Ancestry, Citizenship, and Immigration Status Discrimination Unruh Civil Rights Act, and California’s Unfair Competition Law.
The plaintiff is demanding a jury trial and requesting actual, punitive, and statutory damages, along with equitable and declaratory relief for himself and all Class Members.
A separate class action lawsuit was filed against Bank of America this month by consumers who allege the company tricks them into paying balance inquiry fees using “deceptive” ATM prompts.
Bank of America also faces claims by Californians that it bungled the administration of the state’s unemployment payment system, sending debit cards prone to fraud and then freezing accounts with no way for legitimate benefit recipients to access funds.
Are you a person of Iranian or Middle Eastern descent who has had their Bank of America account restricted or closed? Let us know in the comments!
The plaintiff is represented by Jason Rathod and Nicholas Migliaccio of Migliaccio & Rathod LLP and Benjamin I. Siminou and Alicia M. Zimmerman of Singleton Schreiber McKenzie & Scott, LLP.
The Bank of America Iranian Discrimination Class Action Lawsuit is Nia v. Bank of America, N.A., Case No. 3:21-cv-01799, in the Superior Court of the State of California County of San Diego, Central Division.
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3 thoughts onBank of America Targets, Restricts, Closes Accounts of People of Iranian Descent, Says Class Action
I wish to participate in this class action as well I was also effected also im half iranian inwhich I faced a lot of discrimination an raceism.
I am an iranian that Bank of America closed my account for no reason
WOULDLIKECLASSLITIGATIONCLAIMAPPLICATIONTOBEMAILEDTO.JEREMYCURD6133SKOKIECT.CHARLESLINDBERGLASVEGAS,NV89130BANKOFAMERICAN.A.VSIRANIANDESCENDENT?