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A black female doctor is suing a JPMorgan Chase branch in Houston for the alleged crime of having racially discriminated against her.
Dr. Malika Mitchell-Stewart says that shortly after she finished her residency in December, she visited the branch to open an account and deposit her first check — worth $16,000 — from her new job at Valley Oaks Medical Group.
However, the bank’s staff members allegedly “treated like her a criminal” by asking her detailed questions about her age, her job and her contacts, and allegedly then accusing her of trying to cash a fake check.
“Dr. Mitchell-Stewart showed proof of identification. She showed proof that she was a doctor by presenting a business card. She even called employees from her medical group to confirm who she was,” her attorney, Justin Moore, complained to local station KTRK.
Mitchell-Stewart is especially upset because the tough questions ruined her so-called “special moment.”
“They took my special moment away. I felt like a criminal. I’ve never done anything wrong,” she told the station.
Listen:
“They didn’t respect anything. I shouldn’t have even been asked so many questions about my age, what I did for a living, just to open an account at Chase. In order to get Texas medical license or a medical license at all, you have to have a clean record. You have to go to school for so many years, and they just didn’t care. They didn’t respect that. They didn’t respect my credentials,” she added.
As for the actual suit, it appears to contain a great deal of racial rhetoric.
“What Dr. Mitchell-Stewart was reminded of on this day was that she is a black woman attempting to deposit $16,000 in a predominantly white affluent suburb – Sugarland, Texas in Ft. Bend County,” it reportedly reads.
“Solely because of her race, Dr. Mitchell-Stewart was discriminated against by members of Chase’s banking staff and denied services provided to non-African American customers of Chase.”
But not everybody is buying this narrative. Some critics say it’s bullschiff.
Case in point:
All banks typically have a $9-10K maximum per check that they’ll allow you to deposit. So if it’s over that amount you’re supposed to go to the issuing bank to cash it.
The banks don’t care about your job, it’s their policy that you agreed to in order to bank with them.
— Sarah Shevon (@SarahShevon) February 2, 2022
This is chase Bank policy. If you don’t have an account they require multiple forms of ID for checks over 500 dollars. If she didn’t have multiple forms of ID they need to question the accuracy of the information she provided them. I had this same situation opening an account.
— Salty Sailor 🇺🇲 (@SaltySailorTV) February 5, 2022
Is the issue not cashing a 16,000 check in full when check was from another bank and the doctor did not have a high enough balance to cover it. Most banks require a check to clear first before giving cash plus the amount would require treasury notification as over 10k
— Michael Sheridan (@heartofgypsy77) February 3, 2022
“She showed proof that she was a doctor by presenting a business card.” Is that all it takes? Hooray, next week I’m going to be a doctor too!
— Brian, a Free Floridian Fighting Communism (@BrianSeide) February 5, 2022
I’m calling bullshit on this one probably more to the story or just completely madenup.
— kenneth thompson (@kenneth74990785) February 4, 2022
Probably BS
— seatonjack719@gmaildotcom. (@seatackseaton17) February 4, 2022
— J Mann21 (@Mann21J) February 4, 2022
Do they have a point? Well, it is true that all bank transactions in the United States that total $10,000 or higher require that a currency transaction report (CTR) be filed by the bank.
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) regulations state that the bank must collected detailed identification information, including but not limited to “the name and address of the individual presenting a transaction,” in addition to “the identity, account number, and Social Security or taxpayer identification number, if any, of any person or entity on whose behalf such a transaction is conducted.”
Chase Bank officials have for their part said that they’re investigating the incident.
“We take this matter very seriously, and are investigating the situation. We have reached out to Dr. Mitchell-Stewart to better understand what happened and apologize for her experience,” they said in a statement to KTRK.
Mitchell-Stewart for her part continues to stick to her story.
“For a black female physician to be treated this way by Chase is a devastating reminder that no matter how hard we try and how far we climb, major corporations in this country still view us as if we are nothing,” her attorney said.
“Courageously, Dr. Mitchell-Stewart decided to not let Chase treat her like a criminal because she is black, and is seeking to fight back … We all should be inspired by her resolve and willingness to fight back.”
Her critics meanwhile have some advice for her: Get over it and be grateful to be making so much more money than the average American.
I say this respectfully… But I think black folks don’t fully understand, this same stuff happens to white folks all the time too. Open a new bank account and your first deposit is a payroll check for $16 grand. Be proud that you are making so much people have to verify it.
— ThatDoesntSoundRight (@DoesntSound) February 3, 2022
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