A review of the nine largest national banks showed that they restricted or denied services to customers based on their lawful businesses, like digital assets, rather than financial risk, according to a preliminary report from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. The findings also revive long-running concerns around “Operation Choke Point,” a Justice Department initiative from 2013 that pressured banks to treat certain lawful industries as high-risk. Although the program officially ended in 201 ...

Group 1 - A new ad campaign by Americans for Free Markets (AFFM) praises President Trump for his actions against "debanking," a practice criticized for being politically motivated [1][2] - The campaign, which has a seven-figure budget, will be broadcast during major college football and NFL games, as well as on cable news and digital platforms [2] - The ad highlights the alleged pressure from previous administrations on banks to limit services for certain individuals and businesses, framing it as a violation of freedom [3][6] Group 2 - Debanking is defined as banks closing accounts or denying services, often without explanation, and has been linked to federal anti-money laundering laws [10] - Executives from leading U.S. banks reported that the Obama and Biden administrations exploited ambiguities in federal laws to achieve political goals, including the targeting of specific industries [11] - The ad campaign emphasizes the need for accountability of federal regulators and the importance of a financial system free from political interference [6][13] Group 3 - Trump ended "Operation Choke Point" in 2017, which was aimed at limiting services to certain industries, but accusations have arisen that the Biden administration has revived similar initiatives targeting crypto firms [12]