(Dmytro “Henry” Aleksandrov, Headline USA) Woke Bank of America shut down the account of a conservative Christian charity that helps orphans in Uganda while telling people that “religious beliefs are not a factor in any account-closing decision.”
Indigenous Advance Ministries, a non-profit that is based in Memphis, Tenn., filed a complaint to the state attorney general’s office after it became concerned that the bank closed its account because the bank disagreed with the non-profit’s “religious views,” the Daily Mail reported.
The organization has had a bank account with Bank of America since 2015. On its website, the non-profit unapologetically stated that people who work for the organization are Christian, pro-life — from conception to natural death — and oppose same-sex relationships.
Bank of America sent a letter to the non-profit on Apr. 24, 2023, in which the bank said that the accounts of the organization were being shut down within 30 days.
“Upon review of your accounts, we have determined you’re operating in a business type we have chosen not to service at Bank of America,” the bank wrote.
Indigenous’s representatives repeatedly asked for an explanation about the closure and received a follow-up letter only one month later, in which the bank stated that the organization’s “risk profile no longer aligns with the bank’s risk tolerance.”
The organization added that it had $270,000 in its deposit account at the time.
After receiving backlash, a spokesperson for the bank said that the closure was related to a part of Indigenous’s operations that includes debt collection, which is a “clear violation” of the bank’s policies.
However, when the bank was asked to share the exact part of its policies that says it doesn’t service debt collection agencies, it was unable to do so.
The non-profit is currently being represented by the legal advocacy group Alliance Defending Freedom, which pointed out that the bank explained the account closures only after the Mail contacted the bank and started asking questions.
“Americans should not have to fear losing their bank accounts because of their political or religious beliefs,” Jeremy Tedesco, ADF senior vice president of corporate engagement, said.
“Yet instances of banks canceling accounts due to people’s speech or religion appear to be on the rise.”
