abusesaffiliationarrow-downarrow-leftarrow-rightarrow-upattack-typeburgerchevron-downchevron-leftchevron-rightchevron-upClock iconclosedeletedevelopment-povertydiscriminationdollardownloademailenvironmentexternal-linkfacebookfiltergenderglobegroupshealthC4067174-3DD9-4B9E-AD64-284FDAAE6338@1xinformation-outlineinformationinstagraminvestment-trade-globalisationissueslabourlanguagesShapeCombined Shapeline, chart, up, arrow, graphLinkedInlocationmap-pinminusnewsorganisationotheroverviewpluspreviewArtboard 185profilerefreshIconnewssearchsecurityPathStock downStock steadyStock uptagticktooltiptwitteruniversalityweb
Article

28 Mar 2014

Author:
Saeed Kamali Dehghan, Guardian (UK)

Iranians sue UK banks over closed accounts, claiming racial discrimination [UK]

See all tags
A group of Iranians…have taken three high-street UK banks to court for what they believe is a misreading of sanctions policy, alleging…racial discrimination…RBS [Royal Bank of Scotland], NatWest [Part of Royal Bank of Scotland] and Lloyds have sent letters to…British citizens with Iranian backgrounds or Iranians living in the UK, saying the banks can no longer provide financial services to them…Blackstone Solicitors…[has] issued proceedings against the banks and was seeking damages…[It] asked the court to grant a group litigation order…RBS and NatWest have agreed not to close the accounts until a final decision in the case…Lloyds said…"While we cannot comment in detail on specific cases, it is important to stress that Lloyds…does not close accounts based on ethnicity…”…An RBS spokesperson said: "[We] strongly refute any claims that we have made any such decisions in a discriminatory way. We…would never close a customer's account based on their race…”…