What's going on with Huntington National Bank and its Arab American and Muslim customers?
A class action federal lawsuit filed in Detroit on Thursday alleges that the Ohio-based bank shut local Arab Americans' accountants "without providing . . . any reason for doing so."
The 16-page lawsuit filed by Ali El-Hallani of Canton and Mark Manuaeel of Farmington Hills states:
Huntington's Arab and Muslim customers of Middle Eastern descent or customers perceived as Arab and Muslim of Middle Eastern descent are subject to greater scrutiny than non-Arab, non-Muslim and non-Middle Eastern customers, and must overcome a suspicion that they are attempting to aid in terrorist activity or are conducting fraudulent activity.
Huntington's actual reason for deciding to close Plaintiff's account is because Plaintiffs are Arab, Muslim and Middle Eastern, or perceived as Arab Muslim or Middle Eastern.
The lawsuit alleges that "non-Arabs, non-Muslim and non-Middle Eastern customers who have account histories similar to Plaintiffs would not have their accounts closed by Huntington.
The suit claims the bank failed to perform proper background checks on employees to make certain they did not discriminate against customers.
The Detroit Free Press reported that the Arab American Civil Rights League in Dearborn issued a statement Thursday saying that in recent months, it has “received hundreds of complaints from community members who have had their bank accounts closed for no apparent reason.”
Huntington issued a statement saying it could not comment on pending litigation but it “appreciates the opportunity to do business within the Arab-American community” in Detroit and elsewhere.
