JP Morgan Chase has reportedly ordered the closure of hundreds of bank accounts registered to the names of people who work in adult entertainment, sparking outrage and confusion across the industry.http://www.americanbanker.com/issues...1067442-1.html
Chase bank, a subsidiary of U.S. giant JP Morgan Chase, began sending out letters earlier this month to the entertainers, according to CNBC, informing them their accounts will cease on May 11.
The letter, which has been posted on social media by several of the industry names involved, says the shut down was a result of a 'review' and apologizes for any inconvenience, however gives no further explanation.
In a Wall Street Journal op-ed last Thursday, American Banking Association CEO Frank Keating wrote that the Justice Department is 'telling bankers to behave like policemen and judges'.
'Operation Choke Point is asking banks to identify customers who may be breaking the law or simply doing something government officials don’t like,' Keating wrote.
'Banks must then ‘choke off’ those customers’ access to financial services, shutting down their accounts.'
JPMorgan Chase (JPM) has closed accounts of individuals or businesses associated with the adult entertainment industry, several media outlets have reported. In one case, the adult film actress Teagan Presley posted on her Twitter site a copy of the alleged letter from Chase saying her account would be closed on May 11. Presley's husband, film producer Joshua Lehman, told Business Insider, "it was because of our industry."Yeah, lets ask the ladies here how many of their PP accounts have been shut down and money in them not refunded in the past. I personally know of at least half a dozen.
In another instance, PayPal has blocked attempted transactions by porn-affiliated customers, and in the case of porn star Teal Conrad, she was "banned for life," Al Jazeera reported on Apr. 30. In an email to American Banker, PayPal said it does not comment on specific customers. PayPal "does not discriminate against the people who use our services. We will not and have never closed a PayPal account based on what a customer does for a living," it said.