Barbara Carroll, 78, filed a suit last week against Wells Fargo and claimed that she had been racially discriminated against
An elderly black woman is suing Wells Fargo after workers at a Florida branch accused her of forgery and forced her to undergo a three-hour ordeal.
Barbara Carroll, 78, filed a suit last week against Wells Fargo and claimed that she had been racially discriminated against.
In November 2017, Caroll stated that she had gone to a Fort Lauderdale, Florida, location to cash a check for $140.
The woman – who was an assistant bank manager for 17 years – was asked to present two forms of identification by the bank teller, a standard policy for non-customers, spokeswoman Michelle Palomino explained to the Washington Post.
Carroll endorsed the check using a signature and a fingerprint and said that the teller – who was white – turned her back and flipped over both the woman’s passport and driver’s license.
Thirty minutes pass by, and Carroll could tell that something was up.
Inquiring about the time, Carroll insisted that the teller return her identification and check.
In November 2017, Caroll stated that she had gone to a Fort Lauderdale, Florida, location to cash a check for $140 but instead she was accused for forging her IDs and the check
But the teller refused, grabbing her manager who also refused to hand back the items and told Carroll that they had alerted police.
The legal complaint describes that Carroll then waited another 30 minutes before demanding that she get her passport and ID back – telling the teller that she could keep the check.
The teller refused, again, stating that they would wait for police to arrive.
Carroll called 911 herself – while in front of the teller – and police arrived on the scene in minutes.
‘Ultimately, we’re hopeful that this isn’t just about Wells Fargo, that other corporations take notice and realize that there has to be some kind of change in our culture,’ said Carroll’s lawyer, Yechezkel Rodal. ‘That these things are not OK.’
The woman – who has a doctorate in criminal justice – supplied responding officers with six more forms of identification.
Officers explained to the manager that they found no grievances and the manager placed the $140 in cash and Carroll’s identifications on the counter and left.
‘That was really insulting to me,’ Carroll said, adding that the manager had verified with the source of the check, its validity. ‘She did not apologize.’
Carroll, clearly disturbed, filed a formal complaint at the bank’s corporate office. She alleges that a representative informed her that the branch was in an affluent white area and had history of treating black customers poorly.
She stated that Wells Fargo apologized and claimed that the two workers were put in ‘sensitivity’ training.
‘I was humiliated,’ said Carroll. ‘I’m a human being, and I wasn’t treated as I should have been.’
The woman is seeking unspecified damages.
‘Ultimately, we’re hopeful that this isn’t just about Wells Fargo, that other corporations take notice and realize that there has to be some kind of change in our culture,’ said Carroll’s lawyer, Yechezkel Rodal, to the Miami New Times. ‘That these things are not OK.’
Wells Fargo would not comment on the nature of the case but did released a statement condemning dicrimination.
‘Wells Fargo opposes discrimination of any kind as evidenced by our own non-discrimination policy, our commitment to diversity and inclusion in our work force, and our long-standing history of support for community organizations that embrace diversity,’ wrote spokeswoman Rosanna Fiske.