Attorney General Jason Miyares has joined forces with U.S. Attorney Erik S. Siebert and Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon to form the Eastern District of Virginia Equal Access to Banking Task Force. This new initiative aims to investigate allegations of "debanking," a practice where banks deny customers access to credit and other financial services based on impermissible factors under current federal and state law.
The task force will focus on addressing debanking allegations within Virginia, investigating such actions against Virginians, and seeking civil relief in federal or state court if necessary. The team comprises officials from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia, the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, and the Office of the Attorney General for Virginia.
In collaboration with federal financial regulatory agencies, the task force intends to systematically address unlawful debanking practices. U.S. Attorney Siebert and Assistant Attorney General Dhillon plan to convene regulatory partners to leverage federal resources in tackling this issue.
Individuals or entities who believe they have been victims of inappropriate debanking practices in Virginia are encouraged to submit complaints directly to the task force via email. Complaints from other jurisdictions can be submitted through the Civil Rights Division’s complaint portal. The task force will assess whether these allegations indicate violations that require government enforcement action and may refer cases for civil or criminal prosecution as deemed appropriate.
A copy of this press release is available on the website of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.