Citibank Discrimination

Citibank has been accused of discriminatory lending practices affecting minority borrowers.

Case Overview

What Happened

The Citibank Discrimination case involves serious harm caused by negligence or corporate wrongdoing. Our legal team is investigating claims on behalf of affected individuals.

Who Is Affected

Individuals, families, and businesses who suffered damages may be eligible to pursue compensation through this coordinated legal action.

Why It Matters Legally

Holding responsible parties accountable requires aggressive legal representation. Our attorneys are building cases to secure maximum compensation for victims.

Citibank Armenian-American Discrimination Lawsuit

Federal regulators and private litigants have alleged that Citibank, N.A. engaged in a years-long pattern of discriminatory lending and account-restriction practices targeting Armenian-American customers. According to enforcement actions brought by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Citibank trained employees to apply additional scrutiny to credit card applicants with Armenian surnames or California addresses associated with Armenian communities — particularly in the Glendale, Burbank, North Hollywood, and greater Los Angeles area — and to deny credit, freeze accounts, or close accounts based on national origin rather than legitimate underwriting criteria.

Background of the Discrimination

The CFPB found that Citibank singled out applicants based solely on the perception of Armenian ancestry — a clear violation of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) and Regulation B, which prohibit discrimination in credit transactions on the basis of national origin. Internal communications described Armenian-Americans in stereotyped terms and instructed employees to take adverse action against applicants who fit a profile defined by surname endings such as "-ian" and "-yan" or by ZIP codes with significant Armenian populations.

Harm Suffered by Customers

Affected customers experienced wrongful credit denials, sudden account closures, frozen funds, denied increases in credit limits, and damaged credit scores. Many were forced to seek credit elsewhere on inferior terms, suffered embarrassment and emotional distress, and lost business opportunities tied to their access to working capital. Small business owners were particularly impacted, as denied credit lines disrupted operations and forced costly alternative financing.

Legal Claims and Available Remedies

Victims may pursue claims under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Civil Rights Act of 1866 (Section 1981), and state-law civil rights statutes. Available remedies include actual damages, statutory damages, punitive damages, attorneys' fees, and injunctive relief requiring the bank to remove negative tradelines and restore credit standing.

Who May Qualify

Any Armenian-American who applied for, held, or attempted to use a Citibank credit card, deposit account, or loan product and experienced denial, closure, freeze, or other adverse action between approximately 2015 and 2021 may qualify. You do not need to have been formally identified as Armenian by the bank — circumstantial evidence including surname, address, and pattern of treatment can establish a discrimination claim.

Why Keosian Law

Our firm has deep ties to the Armenian-American community across California and extensive experience litigating civil rights and consumer protection claims against major financial institutions. We pursue these cases aggressively to secure both individual compensation and systemic accountability for discriminatory banking practices.

Do You Qualify?

You may be eligible for the Citibank Discrimination litigation if you meet any of the following criteria:

Damages You May Recover

Victims of the Citibank Discrimination may be entitled to compensation for a range of losses, including:

Property Damage

Structural damage, personal belongings, and rebuilding costs

Financial Loss

Out-of-pocket expenses, underpaid claims, and denied benefits

Emotional Distress

Anxiety, trauma, and diminished quality of life

Medical Costs

Treatment, rehabilitation, and ongoing care expenses

Loss of Income

Wages lost during recovery and business interruption

Displacement

Temporary housing, relocation, and living expense increases

Building a Strong Claim

What Strengthens Your Claim

• Photos and videos of the damage
• Insurance policy and correspondence
• Medical records and bills
• Repair estimates and contractor invoices
• Financial records showing losses
• Government reports or investigation findings

Common Insurer Tactics

• Delaying claims processing to pressure settlements
• Undervaluing property damage assessments
• Denying coverage based on policy technicalities
• Requiring excessive or redundant documentation
• Offering lowball settlements before full damages are assessed
• Misrepresenting policy terms or coverage limits

Why Keosian Law

We take on the cases others won't — and we prepare every one for trial.

Trial-Ready Preparation

Every case is prepared as if it will go to trial. Insurance companies know we mean business.

Selective Case Intake

We only take cases we believe in. When we take yours, we commit fully to winning.

No Fees or Costs Unless We Recover

No attorney fees or costs unless we recover for you.

Your Legal Team

Founding Partner

Managing Attorney and Partner

Partner

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of discrimination are alleged against Citibank?

Who can file a claim in the Citibank discrimination lawsuit?

What compensation is available for Citibank discrimination victims?

How do I prove I was discriminated against?

Is there a deadline to join the Citibank discrimination lawsuit?

How do I know if I was discriminated against by Citibank?

What compensation can I recover?

How long do I have to file a claim?

Still have questions?

Related Cases & Resources

• Case Information

Start Your Free Case Review Today

No obligation. Completely confidential. Our attorneys will evaluate your case at no cost.