Banking discrimination against people with ‘foreign’ names

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March 11, 2024
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Muslims and people with names seen as “foreign” are being discriminated against by banks, according to the National Coordinator against Discrimination and Racism.

PILP has received several signals from individual citizens who feel discriminated against under the WWFT (the Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act). They have to answer questions, cannot open an account or their account or transaction has been blocked. It also concerns people who transfer money to others who have a “foreign” name or mention that name in the description.

Organizations such as Discriminatie.nl and Muslim Rights Watch Nederland also receive reports of discrimination by banks. PILP thinks strategically with these (and other organizations, communities and experts) about taking possible legal action.

PILP and Discriminatie.nl started proceedings at the Human Rights Board on February 29, 2024, for and with three citizens who feel discriminated against by their banks. PILP is conducting these cases together with the Gelderland and North Brabant Regions of Discrimination.nl.

More information on these cases will follow later.

From its mission, PILP actually only assists (advocacy) organisations and communities. Therefore, unfortunately, PILP’s lawyers have no scope to provide legal support to individuals outside our ongoing cases.

People who are being checked by their bank for unclear reasons and suspect it is because of their race/nationality can report it to the national discrimination hotline Discriminatie.nl. Reporting helps to tackle discrimination. To do so, visit www.discriminatie.nl or call toll-free on 0800 0880.

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