The U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has released preliminary findings from a sweeping review into debanking practices at the country’s nine largest national banks, revealing that all of them imposed “inappropriate” restrictions on lawful businesses, including firms operating in the digital-asset sector. The review, ordered under President Donald Trump’s Executive Order on “Guaranteeing Fair Banking for All Americans,” examined practices at JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Citibank, Wells F ...

🇺🇸 NEW: The OCC found 9 major US banks inappropriately debanked crypto and politically contentious industries between 2020-2023. https://t.co/dnVjqvw423 ...

Core Viewpoint - The nine largest U.S. banks have been found to have policies that restrict financial services to certain controversial industries, a practice referred to as "debanking," according to a report from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) [1][3]. Group 1: Regulatory Review - The OCC initiated a review following an executive order from President Donald Trump aimed at investigating banks for practices that may bar customers based on political or religious beliefs [2]. - The review revealed that from 2020 to 2023, the banks had policies that either denied services to specific industries or imposed excessive scrutiny beyond actual financial risks [3]. Group 2: Accountability and Future Actions - Comptroller of the Currency Jonathan Gould criticized the banks for their debanking policies and stated that the OCC will hold them accountable to prevent unlawful debanking practices in the future [4][5]. - The OCC is currently reviewing thousands of complaints related to debanking based on political or religious beliefs and may refer cases to the Justice Department [5]. Group 3: Industry Response - The banks involved, including JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Citigroup, Wells Fargo, U.S. Bank, Capital One, PNC, TD Bank, and BMO Bank, either declined to comment or did not respond to inquiries regarding the report [6]. - The Bank Policy Institute, representing larger banks, expressed that banks aim to serve as many customers as possible and supports regulatory clarity [6][7]. - The industry advocates for fair access to banking and is collaborating with Congress and the administration to ensure compliance with sound risk management while serving law-abiding customers [7].

Nine large US lenders made “inappropriate distinctions” among certain customers, the OCC said Wednesday, a finding that falls in line with Trump’s calls to rein in what he sees as the practice of debanking. https://t.co/yfnRn5fl19 ...

Core Viewpoint - The recent allegations by Jack Mallers regarding JPMorgan Chase's closure of his accounts have reignited concerns about the debanking of the crypto industry, suggesting a potential coordinated effort by banks and regulators to limit access to crypto-related businesses [1][2]. Group 1: Allegations and Responses - Jack Mallers, CEO of Strike, claimed that JPMorgan Chase closed his personal and business accounts without explanation, raising fears of a systematic debanking of the crypto sector [1]. - JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon denied that the bank's account closures were influenced by political or industry affiliations, stating that closures were sometimes necessary due to existing reporting requirements [2][3]. - Dimon acknowledged that the bank has terminated services for various clients but emphasized that these actions were not politically motivated [3]. Group 2: Regulatory Context - The term "Operation Chokepoint 2.0" has been used by the crypto industry to describe perceived coordinated efforts by federal regulators and banks to deny services to crypto businesses [2]. - In response to the allegations, Dimon mentioned that JPMorgan has recommended reforms to reduce reporting burdens and limit unnecessary account closures, expressing support for changes to the rules governing banking practices [4]. Group 3: Future Outlook - Despite some positive initiatives from the Trump administration regarding crypto, industry leaders like Caitlin Long have warned that crypto firms may continue to face debanking pressures until at least 2026 [5]. - The controversy has also involved Trump Media, with claims that JPMorgan debanked the company as part of a broader investigation, which Dimon dismissed as unfounded [6].

RT Walker⚡️ (@WalkerAmerica)JP Morgan happily banked and laundered money for the likes of Bernie Madoff and Jeffrey Epstein.But if you’re the CEO of a Bitcoin company like @jackmallers, they debank you.Interesting… https://t.co/MNRW8ndnfa ...

Regulatory Concerns & Industry Impact - Debanking practices erode trust in traditional banks, potentially driving the digital asset industry overseas [1] - Policies resembling "Operation Chokepoint 2.0" persist, hindering the US from becoming a digital asset hub [1] Political Commentary - Senator Lummis criticizes policies, such as JP Morgan's, for undermining confidence in traditional banks [1] - Senator Lummis advocates for ending "Operation Chokepoint 2.0" to promote America as the digital asset capital [1]

Core Viewpoint - JPMorgan Chase has abruptly closed the personal bank accounts of Jack Mallers, CEO of Strike, without providing a clear explanation, raising concerns about the "debanking" of cryptocurrency executives amid increasing scrutiny of banks' relationships with digital-asset firms [1][2]. Group 1: Incident Details - Mallers reported that JPMorgan cited a "bizarre incident" as the reason for the account closure, despite a longstanding relationship with the bank spanning three decades [2]. - Each time Mallers sought clarification, JPMorgan's response was consistently, "We aren't allowed to tell you" [2]. - A letter from JPMorgan indicated that the bank had identified "concerning activity" and warned that it may not open new accounts for Mallers in the future [2][3]. Group 2: Industry Implications - The incident has sparked speculation about the continuation of "Operation Chokepoint 2.0," suggesting that banks may be under pressure to sever ties with cryptocurrency businesses [3]. - The situation has intensified discussions regarding the compatibility of traditional banks with Bitcoin-native leaders who advocate for decentralization as a form of resistance [4]. Group 3: Contextual Factors - The timing of the account closure is significant as JPMorgan is currently facing scrutiny related to its research on a potential MSCI reclassification that could lead to MicroStrategy being removed from major equity indexes [5]. - MicroStrategy holds 649,870 BTC at an average price of $74,430, which places it at risk of being affected by MSCI's proposed rule that excludes companies with digital assets exceeding 50% of total assets [5].

Core Points - The two largest banks in the U.S. have identified President Trump's August executive order on debanking as a significant issue in their recent SEC filings [1][2] - The executive order aims to eliminate "unacceptable practices" that allegedly restrict conservative individuals from accessing financial services [2][3] Group 1: Executive Order and Its Implications - The executive order accuses Biden-era regulators of encouraging politicized debanking activities through supervisory scrutiny [3] - Trump has publicly criticized Bank of America and JPMorgan Chase for allegedly debanking conservatives, urging them to change their practices [3][5] Group 2: Bank Responses - JPMorgan Chase is currently responding to inquiries from government authorities regarding its policies and processes related to customer services [2] - A spokesperson from Bank of America stated that the bank does not close accounts for political reasons and plans to engage with the administration about government regulations affecting client relationships [5]

Core Points - Pardons do not equate to a finding of innocence and do not erase the legal consequences of a conviction [1] - The increase in pardons under recent administrations raises questions about the implications for financial institutions and their risk assessments [3][4] Group 1: Pardons and Financial Institutions - Pardons can lead to individuals being "debanked," as financial institutions may still consider past criminal behavior when assessing risk [2][5] - High-profile cases, such as those involving Elliott Broidy and Mahmoud Reza Banki, illustrate the challenges faced by pardoned individuals in securing banking services [6][12] - Financial institutions like JPMorgan and American Express have cited reputational risk and past criminal history as reasons for denying services, even after pardons [10][15] Group 2: Political Context and Regulatory Changes - The political climate has intensified discussions around "debanking," particularly among conservative figures who feel targeted [8][9] - An executive order issued by President Trump mandates that federal agencies stop considering reputation risk in banking supervision, aiming to protect individuals from politicized debanking [9] - Some banks are adjusting their policies to prohibit discrimination based on political views, reflecting the pressure from the current political atmosphere [10]