President Trump has sparked a heated debate after claiming that two major American banks discriminated against him. He claims JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America refused to work with him after his presidency, sparking concern from conservatives, crypto advocates, and free speech groups alike.
Were the banks simply following the rules, or is there more to it? Let’s find out.
Trump Says Banks Shut Him Out
Recently, Trump said that JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America turned him away after he left office. He claimed JPMorgan gave him just 20 days to move “hundreds of millions of dollars,” and Bank of America refused to open an account when he tried to deposit over $1 billion.
“The banks discriminated against me very badly, and I was very good to the banks,” Trump said, adding that “they discriminate against many conservatives.”
What Is Debanking and Why Is It Important Now?
Debanking refers to the closure or denial of bank accounts based on a person’s political views, affiliations, or even the industry they work in. It’s been a growing concern among conservatives, crypto companies, and religious groups, many of whom say they’ve been shut out of major financial institutions without proper explanation.
Banks argue otherwise. They claim such actions are driven by compliance requirements meant to prevent fraud, money laundering, and reputational damage. These risks have become more prominent after scandals like the FTX collapse.
Bank Of America CEO Blames Complex Rules
Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan addressed Trump’s remarks in a recent interview with CNBC. Moynihan noted that this is not about politics, but it’s about regulations. “We’re not playing politics, we’re just trying to follow the rules,” he said.
He also said that Trump “was after the right thing”. He explained that rules like BSA (Bank Secrecy Act), AML (Anti-Money Laundering), KYC (Know Your Customer), and reputational risk policies have become so complex that they sometimes force banks to make decisions that get questioned later.
Big Banks Call for Clearer Rules, Back Reform Efforts
Moynihan added that the banking industry, including Bank of America, is working with the Treasury and the current administration to fix and simplify the system. “I welcome getting this fixed,” he said. He also made it clear that Bank of America serves everyone and not just certain groups.
A JPMorgan spokesperson also said that it doesn’t close accounts for political reasons and agrees with Trump that regulatory reform is needed. The bank praised the White House for tackling the issue and said it’s ready to help fix it.
Trump’s Executive Order
Notably, Trump is also working on an executive order that could penalize banks for discriminating against crypto companies. Investors are excited over the move and see this as a possible end to “crypto debanking”, which has long restricted access to banking for crypto startups.
With both sides calling for change, the pressure is mounting to fix a system that many say is broken.
