Instances of Viewpoint-Based De-Banking
In April 2023, Bank of America canceled the accounts of Memphis-based Christian charity Indigenous Advance and a local church that supports it financially. The bank sent letters stating that the ministry and church were “operating in a business type we have chosen not to service” and that the ministry’s account “no longer aligns with the bank’s risk tolerance.” In operation since 2015, Indigenous Advance partners with Ugandan ministries to provide basic necessities for orphaned and vulnerable children, raise Christian families, and provide vital vocational skills training and mentorship to college students and young adults.
Media Coverage: The Daily Mail, Fox News, The Epoch Times, The Christian Post
The former leader of Brexit, Farage was de-banked by Coutts, a private bank affiliated with British banking group NatWest. A 40-page internal document confirmed that bank employees who decided to cancel Farage’s account acknowledged his “sufficien[cy] to retain on a commercial basis, but believed his political views—including on gender identity, COVID-19 policy, and illegal immigration—were not consistent with Coutts’ “position as an inclusive organization.”
Media Coverage: The New York Times, CNN Business, SkyNews, SkyNews, Bloomberg, The Guardian, Reuters, BBC
In 2022, JPMorgan Chase closed the bank account of the National Committee for Religious Freedom, a nonprofit (c)(4) that was recently founded by former Senator and U.S. Ambassador Sam Brownback. After repeated requests to reinstate the account, Chase informed NCRF that it would only consider doing so if the non-profit agreed to disclose confidential donor information and more. Over the course of the next year, Chase offered no fewer than five contradictory explanations for why it canceled the account—including a false claim from CEO Jamie Dimon at the annual shareholder meeting that NCRF’s representatives had simply failed to “fill out all the forms.”
Media Coverage: Fox Business, Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, New York Times
In 2022, PayPal froze the account of Moms for Liberty, a non-profit that focuses on defending parental rights with a massive grassroots network of parents across the country. PayPal provided no explanation for the freeze, and did not allow the organization to access the $4,500 in its account until it suddenly restored the account following public pressure from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Media Coverage: Florida’s Voice
In 2023, Bank of America sent a letter to Christian author, preacher, and podcaster Lance Wallnau informing him that it had frozen his account. Bank of America told Wallnau that it suspected his account was involved in money laundering and forced him to answer a series of invasive questions to lift the freeze on his account.
Media Coverage: CBN
In 2020, Bank of America sent a letter to Timothy Two Project International informing the Christian ministry that it was canceling its account because Timothy Two was “operating a business type we have chosen not to service.” The ministry trains pastors in over 65 countries in some of the most impoverished areas of the world, and had held a Bank of America account since 2011.
Media Coverage: Washington Examiner
In 2017, Wells Fargo payment processor “Vanco Payment Solutions” notified Christian nonprofit The Ruth Institute that it was terminating its “processing relationship,” effective immediately. The letter went on to say that The Ruth Institute “has been flagged by Card Brands as being affiliated with a product/service that promotes hate, violence, harassment and/or abuse. Merchants that display such attributes are against Vanco and Wells Fargo processing policies.”
Media Coverage: PJ Media, The Ruth Institute, The Christian Post
In 2021, JPMorgan Chase credit card processor “WePay” informed the Arkansas Family Council that it was terminating the group’s account. No reason was given at the time, but Arkansas Family Council eventually discovered the company had designated them as “High Risk”—presumably for their religious and political views.
Media Coverage: Arkansas Family Council
In 2021, JPMorgan Chase credit card processor “WePay” initially denied payment processing services to mainstream GOP-affiliated Defense of Liberty, forcing the group to cancel an event featuring Donald Trump, Jr. Chase initially cited terms of service which said they would not serve anyone who promotes “hate, violence, racial intolerance, terrorism, the financial exploitation of a crime[.],” but backed down after facing public pressure, including from U.S. Senator Josh Hawley and Missouri treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick, and allowed payments to process.
Media Coverage: Fox News, Newsweek
In 2023, JPMorgan Chase sent notices of cancelation to multiple companies owned by outspoken COVID-19 policy critic Dr. Joseph Mercola. Citing “unexpected activity on this or another Chase account” as rationale for the closures, the bank also closed personal bank accounts of Mercola company executives and their family members. While Chase has denied that it closed the accounts for “political affiliations,” it has declined to provide former account-holders specific reasons for the closures.
Media Coverage: The Epoch Times, Florida’s Voice
In 2021, JPMorgan Chase abruptly canceled credit cards belonging to retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, citing “possible reputational risk to our company.” Following high-profile opposition, Chase reversed its decision within two weeks, issuing a public apology to Lt. Gen. Flynn and his household.
Media Coverage: Washington Examiner
In March 2024 just before a busy election cycle, U.S. Bank abruptly canceled the long-held account of the Constitution Party of Idaho. The bank’s one-sentence notice of account cancelation—sent at the outset of an election year—offered no rationale for the closure whatsoever, only informing the organization that it was enclosing a check for the account balance the group had held in good standing since 2006. A local branch employee could only say, “The bank just decided to stop doing business with you,” but neither she nor U.S. Bank’s customer service were able to disclose why the account had been closed. The Constitution Party of Idaho was not permitted to open a new account with the bank.
Media Coverage: Idaho Dispatch, Real Clear Markets
In 2021, PayPal canceled the account of evolutionary biologist and author Dr. Colin Wright, citing an unspecified “change to your business model or your business was considered risky.” The letter also informed Dr. Wright, an outspoken advocate for the biological differences between men and women, that it was withholding his funds for 180 days. When Dr. Wright asked for an explanation, PayPal responded that he would have to “submit a legal subpoena” to find out more.
Media Coverage: New York Post
In 2021, PayPal permanently canceled the account of journalist Ian Miles Cheong, and informed him that he would not be able to access his funds for 180 days. PayPal declined to give Cheong any specific explanation as to its decision, while Cheong later reported that a conversation with a PayPal representative convinced him the decision had “everything to do with my politics.”
Media Coverage: The Post-Millennial
In 2022, PayPal disabled the account of a group called the Free Speech Union without explanation. PayPal eventually cited its “acceptable use policy”, which allows the company to take action against account holders whose views they find objectionable. PayPal further justified its actions by publicly stating: “Achieving the balance between protecting the ideals of tolerance, diversity and respect for people of all backgrounds and upholding the values of free expression and open dialogue can be difficult, but we do our best to achieve it.” PayPal reinstated the Free Speech Union only after facing significant public backlash.
Media Coverage: FIRE, UK Telegraph
PayPal’s terms of service allow it to take action against users engaged in the undefined activity of “the promotion of hate” and “racial or other forms of intolerance that is discriminatory”. In October 2022, PayPal added a prohibition against all “objectionable” activity and threatening a $2,500 fine to potential violators. This reliance on unclear and subjective language is an invitation for PayPal employees to discriminate against groups with views they dislike.
Media Coverage: Daily Wire
Andrew Sorrell currently serves as Alabama State Auditor. In 2020, a credit card belonging to one of his businesses—a federally licensed firearms dealer—was canceled with no explanation by a large national commercial bank. A year later, a credit card processor affiliated with a different national bank but ties as well, again with no explanation.
Media Coverage: YellowHammerNews.com
In 2021, Truist closed the account of the Virginia Christian Alliance. The bank informed VCA that “some or all of … [its] account activity is not consistent with the intended purpose of the account.” Despite repeated attempts by the nonprofit to gain further clarity into the decision, Truist declined to provide its rationale for cancelling the account. Notably, the nonprofit had previously been tagged as an “Anti-Muslim” hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center from 2016 to 2019.
Media Coverage: N/A
Zulfat Suara
In 2024, Regions Bank sent Nashville City Councilmember Zulfat Suara a 30-day notice of cancelation. An account holder for almost two decades, Suara banked with Regions for her personal accounts as well as for the multiple non-profits she oversees. Regions did not offer an explanation for the account cancelations despite Suara’s repeated attempts.
Media Coverage: Nashville Banner
In 2020, British banking powerhouse Barclays closed the account of two Christian ministries—Core Issues Trust and the International Federation for Therapeutic and Counselling Choice—without explanation amid sustained social media pressure from far-left activist groups. The ministries sued Barclays for religious and political discrimination. Barclays eventually agreed to settle out of court for £20,000.
Media Coverage: Fox Business, Christian Concern
Government records in Canada indicate that 837 individuals have been de-banked for ideological reasons. That number includes 267 bank accounts and 170 Bitcoin wallets that were closed as a result of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s crackdown on the Freedom Convoy, which peacefully protested government COVID-19 policy.
Media Coverage: Reclaim The Net