LTL Attorneys has filed a class-action lawsuit accusing Citibank of illegally denying credit to California customers of Armenian descent. The suit alleges that since 2015, Citibank implemented a secret “redlining” policy that automatically flagged credit card applicants with Armenian-sounding surnames (such as those ending in “-ian” or “-yan”) for special handling, resulting in routine denials of new credit and unjustified cancellations of existing cards. Applications from individuals with Armenian last names were routed to a special review unit where virtually all such applications were rejected under false pretenses. Bank managers allegedly instructed employees not to discuss the policy in writing or on recorded lines, and to provide fabricated reasons for the denials to cover up the discrimination.
The lead plaintiff – an Armenian-American woman from Los Angeles – had her longstanding checking account frozen and closed without explanation, and a credit card application denied despite a stellar credit rating. The lawsuit seeks to represent all California consumers of Armenian descent harmed by this policy, claiming violations of state and federal equal credit opportunity laws. The complaint demands monetary damages and an injunction to halt Citibank’s discriminatory practice. LTL Attorneys is committed to seeking justice for the affected community and ensuring that such egregious conduct by a major financial institution is brought to an end.