The Oregonian | By Jayati Ramakrishnan | June 08, 2021
A former NFL player and Portland resident is suing Wells Fargo, alleging the bank refused to provide him with a small credit increase and failed to give him a legitimate reason why his request was denied.
Owamagbe Odighizuwa, 29, filed a lawsuit against the San Francisco-based bank Monday over allegations of “national origin discrimination.” He’s calling for the bank to stop what he referred to as “a pattern and practice of discriminating against people based on their race and national origin,” and is seeking $1 in monetary damages.
The lawsuit states that Odighizuwa has been a customer at the bank for 20 years, had a Wells Fargo credit card for 10 years and never missed a payment. But according to the lawsuit, the bank denied his June 2 request for a modest credit line increase for “no legitimate reason.”
Odighizuwa’s attorney, Michael Fuller, claimed bank representatives changed their story several times when Odighizuwa asked why he was denied the credit increase, alternately referencing his credit history, his bank accounts and telling him they reviewed requests on a “case-by-case basis.” Odighizuwa told bank representatives he had good credit, had a copy of his credit report and that his accounts were in good standing.
“Ultimately they were not able to provide a logical reason,” Fuller said. “Everything is pointing to this being a systematic problem with this bank.”
Wells Fargo Spokesperson David Kennedy said he couldn’t comment on the specific case, but said that the company takes allegations of discrimination seriously. He also said that the bank makes decisions about credit increases based on “customers’ credit history, banking relationship and ability to pay.”
Odighizuwa graduated from David Douglas High School and played college football at UCLA. He was drafted by the New York Giants in 2015 and spent two seasons with the organization.
Fuller said Wells Fargo has repeatedly used discriminatory practices against staff and customers.
In September 2020, a Black man incarcerated at the Oregon State Penitentiary filed a lawsuit against the bank alleging racial discrimination and seeking injunctive relief.
Paul Dawson, the inmate, said he called the bank to ask about setting up an account. The lawsuit alleges a bank employee asked Dawson if he was Black — and that when Dawson said he was, the employee told him that Wells Fargo “isn’t the bank for you” and hung up.
Wells Fargo officials have denied those allegations. They told Dawson in a letter that they don’t tolerate discrimination.
Court documents filed in March say the bank filed a motion to prevent Dawson from learning about Wells Fargo’s prior instances of racial discrimination. A judge denied the motion.
Wells Fargo has made headlines in the past for other alleged instances of racial discrimination.
Well Fargo’s chief executive reportedly made comments in September about a lack of qualified Black applicants. A month prior, the bank paid a $7.8 million settlement to Black and women job applicants who alleged discrimination.
In 2012, Wells Fargo agreed to pay a $175 million settlement following allegations that the company charged Black and Latino customers higher rates.
